Posted on 08/26/2009 5:32:34 AM PDT by MitchellC
It was Republican Sen. Richard Burr versus the Democratic congressman Tuesday night as they fielded questions on North Carolina television in a lively discussion about national health care.
Burr, though agreeing that the current health-care system is "unsustainable," said the proposals by President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats would cost too much, raise too many taxes and impose too many regulations.
"I don't want the government handling any more," Burr said in agreeing with one caller who said the federal government had mismanaged too many programs in the past.
But Burr of Winston-Salem was a lonely voice on the one-hour program broadcast on UNC-TV, as Democratic congressmen David Price of Chapel Hill, Brad Miller of Raleigh, Bob Etheridge of Lillington and Mel Watt of Charlotte voiced strong support for bills in Congress to make health insurance more affordable to more people.
After one caller said health changes were being pushed down the throats of an unwilling public, Watt remarked: "If he thinks the majority of the public doesn't support some kind of health reform, I don't know what nation he is living in."
The UNC-TV broadcast was the last of a busy day of health-care events in North Carolina on Tuesday. At lunchtime in Cary, the John Locke Foundation, a Raleigh-based conservative think tank, held a health-care discussion -- one in a series across the state.
Conservatives at the session suggested that the nation explore alternatives to fixing the health-care system, such as expanding health savings accounts.
Later Tuesday, about 200 people gathered in Raleigh for a rally against Obama's health-reform efforts, billed as a "Constitutional Town Hall" meeting. The event featured impersonators of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine and cardboard cutouts of leading North Carolina elected officials who were invited but did not attend.
Watt remarked: “If he thinks the majority of the public doesn’t support some kind of health reform, I don’t know what nation he is living in.”
Nice trick. But “some sort” does not translate into “support for”...lyin jerk.
[I despise these people....]
I like Burr, but I don’t know that I could have stomached Mel Watts and Brad Miller for that long.
What a pair they are.
Two guys who exemplify what is wrong with our government.
I would have, but was unaware.
See, if you were on the NC Ping List (TM) you wouldn’t have that problem.
Feel free to join the NC ping list. I’m trying to keep folks aware of this stuff - as soon as I become aware of it, of course.
Brad Miller was acting weird the entire time, especially at the beginning. He looked like he was going to break out into a cold sweat.
That’s because he wanted to slither back under his rock.
I watched and called in with a question, but wasn’t picked up. Burr was excellent. The Lib Dem’s responses gave me a rather uneasy feeling. They were very relaxed defending the propositions presented in both chambers.
If you are against the socialization of the balance of our health care system, diligence is due. If these guys can be as supportive here between VA and SC, we’ve got to step it up a notch.
My relief to be out from beneath the representation of Mel Watt was reinforced last night as well.
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