Did anyone here attend? I put this one off and will likely attend the one in Gastonia on Thursday, instead.
Posted on 08/26/2009 5:20:19 AM PDT by MitchellC
WEDDINGTON More that 1,200 people crowded into Weddington High School Tuesday night for a boisterous town hall meeting that evoked passionate sentiments not only about health care, but also immigration and the Obama administration.
“It's not about covering the uninsured in this country, it seems to me it's all about control,” Union County businessman Tony Mangum said, voice breaking. “I get emotional because I fear we're losing this country.”
A crowd that filled the school auditorium and overflowed into the cafeteria came out for the first of three town halls this week hosted by U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick of Charlotte.
Myrick, a Republican, opened the gathering by outlining her own opposition to Democratic health care bills and support for alternatives, including tax credits and continued reliance on the markets.
Across the country, such meetings have evoked strong feelings, particularly among opponents of a health care overhaul.
Myrick appealed for mutual respect as dozens of people lined up to speak. For the most part, the crowd obliged. But the audience jeered one critic whom sheriff's deputies escorted out after he called the crowd “the rudest he'd ever seen.”
Most speakers who came to the suburban school shared Myrick's opposition to proposals from the Obama administration and Democratic-controlled Congress.
One man described himself as part of the “silent majority.”
“The alarm sounded in my head with the stimulus bill,” he said, “Liberals would have you believe (the health care overhaul) is for the benefit of all. That's hogwash. It's a power grab, pure and simple.”
Others said they worry about the prospect of “socialized medicine.” A retired man said he was “petrified” about the direction of the country, including this week's decision to investigate CIA interrogations.
“I'm just concerned about where America's going,” he said. “I'm worried that we're going to be ruled by a foreign country in 30 years.”
One woman who identified herself as a nurse described what she called abuse of the system by Medicaid patients, particularly in the emergency room. “When something is free it's taken advantage of,” she said.
Others said they don't want illegal immigrants getting free health care. The proposals being negotiated in Congress do not provide coverage for illegal immigrants.
Critics also spoke up. One man noted the rise in the cost of health care and insurance.
“Why don't you abandon partisan posturing and put the good of your constituents ahead of entrenched business interests?”
“First of all I haven't been doing ‘partisan posturing,'” Myrick replied, “because this (health care) bill was written completely by Democrats.”
Another man asked Myrick if she opposes the federally funded health care programs of Medicare and Medicaid.
“You can't be on both sides,” he said.
Throughout the lengthy meeting, Myrick listened patiently, tamping down jeers, listening to critics and applauding people for being involved.
“You're the government,” she said. “I work for you.”
One woman upset with health care reform and President Obama said, “We have a beer-drinking, cigarette-smoking, name-calling president. America is upset and we're not going to back down.”
BINGO! We have a winner!
One older man worried the USA will but controlled by a foreign country in 30 years? It happened last November gramps.
Sounds like a good crowd. Is she a lib? Weddington is pretty conservative. Charlotte is starting to look like Mexico City on the east side.
Excellent meeting it sounds like! More and more Americans are coming forward and being heard! Sue Myrick is one of the good ones in Congress, though. God bless her!
“We have a beer-drinking, cigarette-smoking, name-calling president."
“We have a beer-drinking, cigarette-smoking, name-calling president.
She left out a couple more.
“The proposals being negotiated in Congress do not provide coverage for illegal immigrants.”
Writer just HAD to perpetuate the lie. While technically correct, it is absolutely functionally wrong. If you are not allowed to determine a person’s immigration status then they will be provided “free” health care by default. Without screening, it is only those who obey the law who will NOT voluntarily exclude themselves. And EVERY illegal immigrant has already broken the law at least once.
It is smoke and mirrors libtard lies...and it is an assault upon the American people and way of life. Damn them all to hell.
Damn it. Changed thought in mid sentence re those who obey the law. Y’all know what I meant.
Hard to think straight when so mad.
One theme I’ve seen, consistently, from the left on this issue -
if you call them on their lies, you’re rude.
Bttt. Southernnorthcarolina is nearby. I couldn’t keep the baby out that long, with uncertain parking and bathroom facilities.
Although, with only 1,200 people there, I might have managed it in retrospect. It’s a big high school, lots of parking.
Another man asked Myrick if she opposes the federally funded health care programs of Medicare and Medicaid.
Her answer should be yes.
LBJ deliberately lied about the cost of the program to get it passed.....it is now being used as a cry by the left that its a beloved and therefore sacrosanct program and see? people LIKE it. It sucked in 1964 and it sucks now.
[My understanding is you have no choice when you reach an age but to be on it.]
Given that the House Ways and Means Committee rejected an amendment that would have required the government to verify that those enrolling in the "public plan" are not illegal immigrants ... I'm calling BULL5H1T on this statement
it is about control,,,look at the unions...thats obama’s army and what they control... if they can take over healthcare they control who gets jobs in nearly every sector of our lives.
its kind of like the last piece of pie.
Fat Teddy wasn’t on Medicare was he?
Isnt it the Dems who hate cigs and want to crush the cig industry?
“””I put this one off and will likely attend the one in Gastonia on Thursday, instead.”””
Really? I’m in Gastonia. Anyone meeting up?
“We have a beer-drinking, cigarette-smoking, name-calling president.”
If thats all he was, that really wouldn’t bother me that much......
That's the most refreshing, hopeful thing I've read in a long time.
BUMP!
Mrs. Myrick is an excellent rep.
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