After Swastika Incident, Rep. Scott Holds Health Care Town Hall

In Jonesboro, Georgia, an energized crowd of about 700 gathered to attend a town hall meeting organized by Congressman David Scott. Scott, an African American Blue Dog Democrat, represents a largely white area. A few days after a recent town hall meeting where Scott lectured some in the crowd for "highjacking" the healthcare debate, a large swastika was painted outside his Smyrna district office.

It was clear that the meeting was going to draw media attention. Satellite trucks from the four major networks lined the road leading to the school, the parking lots were full, and journalists with microphones were everywhere.

The long line snaked from the entrance of the school all around the building. The multiracial crowd, which spanned all ages, seemed anxious but orderly. Signs of all sizes, some professionally-made, some crudely crafted, dotted the landscape.

Billy Bob Prather, a sixty-seven year-old retired plumber, held a sign that said "No Obamacare for Georgia." He and his female companion (who requested not to be identified) said they had spoken about the healthcare plan at church and in gatherings at neighbors' houses. Several neighbors had discussed a strategy of "calling out" Representative Scott if he tried to smooth talk them. They were disappointed that more of what they called "their side" was not evident in the crowd but were still optimistic their neighbors would show up.

• • • • • Three veterans outside the town hall hold signs. One reads, "represent All Americans (I.E. Minorities, Unemployed, Vets, young People...) That Needs Healthcare."

Several members of the crowd thought it was important for reason to prevail in the debate. Marianna Kaufman and her friend Alfredo Duarte wished more people would realize that Medicare is a government run program. Avowed Democrats, Marianna and Alfredo suggested that the White House do more to educate the public and rebut unfounded Republican criticisms and urban legends regarding the president's plan.

A group of young men chanting loudly and waving homemade banners said they were veterans who, having fought for the country, were now fighting with equal fervor for healthcare for all Americans. Jeff Adams, a thirty-seven year-old Gulf War veteran, was particularly troubled by the vitriol exhibited at town hall meetings. "This outrage has to do with more than healthcare," he said. "Look at our President. Many are just exhibiting obstructionism and racism simply because of who our President is."

Another young veteran was perplexed about religiously motivated arguments against healthcare reform, hoisting a sign that read: "Real Christians want healthcare 4 all Americans."

Hannah and her mother Grace held a huge banner demanding "Healthcare Reform Now." Grace has terminal cancer and does not have health insurance because of pre-existing conditions. Hannah is very concerned that a civil debate about healthcare has been replaced by the rantings of extremists. She considers the swastika incident at Representative Scott's office beyond the pale.

Hannah believes that while some of the outrage at recent town hall meetings reflects people's authentic concerns, some are using the debate to "foment discord and anarchy." She considers recent accusations that the Obama Administration's healthcare plan includes death panels "ludicrous."

The crowd filed into the building in an orderly fashion and quickly filled the gym. Those who wanted to ask questions were given numbers that would be called in order. Numbers went quickly. I was one of the first to enter, but I received number 167.

Congressman Scott entered the gym and quickly asked if the meeting could start with a prayer for guidance, almost as if in an attempt to disarm the crowd. This was followed by the pledge of allegiance, and then the congressman launched quickly into his opening remarks. First off, he noted that since no bill was pending, everything that the crowd said could still receive thoughtful attention. Also, he made assurances that no matter what bill emerged from Washington, there would be no government coverage of abortion, as this is prohibited by the Hyde Amendment.

He stressed that talk about death panels and "pulling the plug on Grandma" were all false and irresponsible rumors started by those wanting to create mischief. This was met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation. Lastly, he pointed out that the public option was just that: an option intended as a fail-safe measure for those who either chose to join or who were rejected by private insurance companies. A public option would also help to make private insurance more competitive and responsive.

At one point, a Dr. Brian Hill rose to his feet to question Representative Scott. Dr. Hill garnered national attention after verbally tussling with Representative Scott when Hill asked about healthcare reform at a meeting devoted to discussing a local road project. When Scott verbally slammed Hill--suggesting he might be a plant--Hill appeared on a variety of news shows, representing himself as a concerned physician whose views were being ignored.

Hill's question-suggestion this day was that any healthcare plan should adopt best practices since the current system, including Medicare, was obviously not based on best practices. "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, is just insanity", he shouted. He also received a mixture of cheers and boos.

As the forum continued, Scott seemed to wax alternatively eloquent and weary as variations of the same questions were asked and answered over and over.
T-shirts worn by individuals representing groups like Move On.Org and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) dotted the audience, but there seemed to be little organized activity from any one group.

As I left the meeting after two and a half hours, individuals were still pushing their disparate agendas. James Newman of Lawrenceville, dressed in a blue and white colonial uniform, including a powdered wig, loudly explained he wanted to remind Congress that, "They work for us and not the other way around." Representatives of the group Organizing for America were actively soliciting signatures on a petition to signify support of the President's Health Insurance Reform.

The debate continues.

 

 

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Comments

[lainey]

Great article Glen. Your words eloquent and your objectivity appreciated. I want insurance for all and I loved seeing the signs from the three veterans; they are living proof that fighting for justice at home and within systems is equally as important as service overseas. I honor their service to our country as veterans (thank you for your sacrifice) and activists. I honor all who are struggling for the least among us. We will see victory...­we must.

[Glen McDaniel - Huffpost Blogger]

At the Scott healthcare town hall a woman read a long list of individual rights that would be abrogated , and specific examples of goverment intrusion into people's lives. At least some members of the audience seemed sceptical about the authenticity of these "facts". I am not sure how many peopel have really read through any of the pending bills, and certainly not bills running into the thousand of pages.

More likely these are just either urban legends or items that have been reapeated by someone and then rapidly gone viral on the Internet.

Interestingly this woman did not seem partticularly happy when scott asked het for her list so his aides could verify that these items were in fact contained in the documents cited.

[Squeglen]

People, is it me or does it seem like all the representatives that were out there last week yelling and screaming hatred, carrying swatika's, saying Obama was trying to run the health care system with death panels, are now today coming out and backtracking? Is it me or is it time to vote these people out of office because they cannot seem to say anything truthful, say things just to stir up the crowds, and then say, that wasn't me, I didn't mean that.

This is exactly the reason why it has taken 40 years to try and get health care coverage for all because you have people on the right, MAYBE they don't understand or cannot read a bill or have never read it, which by the way is still not a bill, so they cannot talk facts.

People, we need to get health care for all, we are suppose to be the richest country in the world, yet we have the largest death rate here all caused by insurance companies denying people help when they get sick, yet the gladly take their premiums every month.

HEALTH CARE NOW.

[yliza]

Kudos to all the supporters of health care reform/public option who attended this town hall to show their support for David Scott.

This is what we can do to combat the right-wing machine. We outnumber the fanatics by a huge margin, we need to be seen. I plan on going to my nearest town hall (my coward rep isn't holding any so I need to go to the next county, incidentally).

[takingUSback]

acorn ?

[SoccerNana]

What does the "Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now" have to do with health care reform? Absolutely nothing.

Oh, in case you didn't know, ACORN is the acronym for the aforementioned organization.

[t iessa]

We know what it is.

Evidently, according to some, ACORN is mentioned a couple of times in the 1017 page healthcare reform bill, Taxpayers would subsidize ACORN's health care benefits (page 65). The Government would pay ACORN to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan (page 95).

I think we all had enough of their "voter registration" drives during the campaign.