Rep. Donna Edwards, a Democrat who was re-elected in November with nearly 86 percent of the vote in her heavily African-American district, earned a round of applause at the beginning of her town hall forum when she said she would not tolerate any rude behavior.
“You have to be respectful,” Edwards said. “Because I don’t know what’s been going in every place else around the country. But I know that that is not the 4th Congressional district of Maryland.”
She rejected the “hyperbole” and “noise” from health care opponents and told critics in the audience that while the health care system may appear to be in good shape in wealthier communities, “it is broken for millions of Americans.”
During an hour-long question-and-answer session at a public library, Edwards denied that people would be fined for choosing not to purchase health insurance; pledged that undocumented workers will not be covered under a government plan; and said the health care plan will not hurt the majority of the country’s small businesses.
The mostly Democratic crowd shook their heads and muttered to each other when skeptics of the President raised doubts about his health care agenda. The conservatives in the crowd did the same when supporters of the President offered their opinions. But no one was shouted down.
The heated exchanges came after the meeting, when a handful of frustrated constituents griped to reporters that Democrats in Washington are doing too much, too fast on the health care front.
“Barack Obama is taking more time to find a church than he is with Congress putting this thing together,” said Steven Walton of Bowie, Maryland. “Health care is one sixth of the national economy. That’s huge. And they’re throwing it together in a matter of months?”
Mark King of Germantown - who warned that the President is implementing socialist policies - compared himself and other administration critics to those who rallied against King George during the American Revolution.
“If we just reflect a little bit, this is how the country got started - people came to town hall meetings and they expressed their opinions,” King said.
Another man, John Peele of Prince George’s County, made a different historical comparison, likening the Democrats to Nazis and suggesting that Obama is like Hitler because he began his term in office as a well-liked national figure before consolidating power. Peele also questioned Obama’s citizenship.
“It’s national socialism,” Peele said of the administration’s economic plans. “I don’t want national socialism. I want freedom. You don’t want to sign your life over to something that they have total control of.”
All of the health care reform critics at the town hall were residents of the 4th Congressional District and said they had come on their own volition as concerned citizens.
None of them said they had been directed to the town hall by interest groups opposed to health care reform – an allegation levied by top Democrats throughout the week.
However, one Democrat from a neighboring Congressional district, Eunita Winkey, said she had decided to attend the forum after receiving an e-mail from Jason Waskey, the Maryland state director for Barack Obama’s political organization, Organizing for America.
From CNN Politics
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The people who are happy with their insurance could care less about the ones that either don't have insurance, or are being ripped by their insurance companies. If you llike your insurance, you can keep it. The republicans want you to not believe this. If I were the dems in power, I would do the bill the way we want and forget the republicans completley. They want America and Obama to fail.
my God the government is trying to control the American people at these town meeting, they thing they are all conservitives but they aren't they American worrying about their health care. Its beginning to look like Obama is going to make this country is gearing to be communist. HI Obama
What a joke , wake up folks. These are the same people that are managing medicare and social security , both of these are bankrupt.
None of them said they had been directed to the town hall by interest groups opposed to health care reform – an allegation levied by top Democrats throughout the week.
However, one Democrat from a neighboring Congressional district, Eunita Winkey, said she had decided to attend the forum after receiving an e-mail from Jason Waskey, the Maryland state director for Barack Obama’s political organization, Organizing for America.
Looks like the "astro-turfing" is coming from the left.
As a Jew, I am sick and tired of these ignorant idiots throwing around the Nazi and Hitler references.
Florida and others take note. conversation respect reasonbleness. otherwise you accomplish nothing good. you have two ears and one mouth. take the hint!!
Yes, act like adults. You can voice your opinion and not act like a
wild untamed animal. Because thats what some of you look like on TV.
Is that how you teach your kids to act when there is a disagreement?
Get the facts before you go on TV acting a fool! The media should be involves in stating whats true and not true. Lets get the facts people and stop listing those those crazy Republicans. They still wanna get their cut from the private insurance companies. So no that dont' want reform.
You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. The Obama/Pelosi Democrats are peddling Socialism.
That's a load of crap, many many poor and jobless people get plenty of freebies when it comes to healthcare.
STOP this health care reform; its too expensive and we can't afford it!
Congresswoman Edwards needs to run for the US Senate seat up next year. She had a good meeting and said specifically what she supported in a plan period. It is time in Maryland to move past the status quo mostly decades holding politicians and get a new purpose to be in office, serving others,not themselves.
NONE of the gatherings have shown people to be brandishing swastikas.... Nacy pelosi is an OUTRIGHT LIAR. These are law-abiding Americans exercising their right to free speech. And the democrats and Obam's answer is to stifle it. Talk about Hitler and swastikas....... look in the mirror, lefties.
wow, CNN, "likening the Democrats to Nazis and suggesting that Obama is like Hitler: is " "a different historical comparison"? It's okay to report on morons, paranoids and the otherwise politically insance, but it's not okay to do so with a straight face, suggesting that this is somehow legitimate commentary. Surely, more intelligent arguments were presented?
Hrm...no angry mob in a predominantly black district? How could that be?!? It doesn't fit he stereotype! Methinks the white-republican buses wouldn't venture in there waving Nazi SS flags for fear of getting their butts kicked. LOL!
Why is all the "rowdy mob-like " crowds are in small towns with populations of 2000 to 5000 people, one ethnic group that suggest they never interact with other people outside their communities and lack reasonable knowledge such as:
MEDICARE, MEDIAID, WELFARE, SECTION 8 HOUSING, FOOD STAMPS ETC ARE ALL GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMS.... IDIOTS
hold up hold up hold up!!!!!!!!!! LOL CNN post my comment: this dosent even sound right!!! Im from southern Md. Trust and believe these people you interviewed are not from 4th D.
These criticism these folks expressed first of all are straight talking points from rush limbaugh and the right-wing nut machine.... and its funny that Hamby is emphasing that the district is majority AA and better believe I know this district like my back hand. i can bet 100000 dollars not near one of these people were AA or even a resident of 4th D.
The gathering of noisy groups of Conservatives who shout out the same slogans and carry preprinted signs is about as spontaneous as an Ahmadinejad election rally. Their methods of participating in these events is to disrupt the process and shout down any ideas that are not their own.
What is ironic is that the appear to be middle class people whose lives and whose children's lives will deteriorate in quality due to the policies of those they support. For their loyal obedience to their masters, they will get crappy jobs, no benefits, lower wages, less accessible health care, unaffordable colleges, and a fragile global economy. The American flag bumper stickers on their cars are all printed in China.
They have been hornswaggled by con-men in $3500 suits.
Of course, the greatest problem in a democracy is that half the voters have a below average IQ.
She will tolerate whatever her constituents deem necessary to get her attention . . . but hey, she is evidently over an area that is use to welfare handouts so of course they will respect her because they don’t want to bite the hands that feed.
no Nazi symbols? O'Reilly wasn't there?
Good for you Maryland and all the good citizens (GOP and Democrat) that put the tough questions to politicians
That is how a good bill will get crafted
Asking "Hard" questions is fine, even if they are ignorant or purposely misleading. Terms like "national socialism", "Nazi" or "Not an American Citizen" are just example of how uneducated and/or lazy (to search for the truth) those constituents are. Questions like "Spending more time picking a church" may be more relevant but the guy needs to understand that Congress is just outlining the frame work of the changes needed, not implementing them. Months to plan a project are not unreasonable. The political reality is any changes that need to take place in health care need to happen this year otherwise we are stuck with rising health care premiums, more and more American's without coverage and increased insurance and drug company profits (Good for your 401k if you have one, bad for your health). All this when every other industrialized nation has some form of single payer process and they have no issues covering all of their citizens at half the cost (or less).
During an hour-long question-and-answer session at a public library, Edwards denied that people would be fined for choosing not to purchase health insurance; pledged that undocumented workers will not be covered under a government plan; and said the health care plan will not hurt the majority of the country’s small businesses.
well good then. I expect Ms Edwards to vote against any of the bills currently in or through committes because IT DOES cover illegals, does require coverage and does hurt small businesses.
This is exactly what is needed. When everyone is yelling and screaming at these town hall nobody is getting to ask the tough questions. Grown people need to verbalize what they don't like about the bills. 85% of the people screaming they don't want socialized health care have parents on medicare, have kids that go to public schools and like being protected by the police and fire departments all socialized programs.
"All of the health care reform critics at the town hall were residents of the 4th Congressional District and said they had come on their own volition as concerned citizens."
I didn't rob that bank. I didn't beat my wife. I didn't shoot that man. The house caught fire all by itself. I mean, duh? The only thing that makes it even remotely believable that they might have come on their own is that they apparently didn't behave like foaming-at-the-mouth, talking point vomitting lunatics. The real question though, CNN, is what are these people saying? Does it have substance? Is it even remotely informed and factual? Focusing on "someone criticized health care reform" without stating what their criticism lends the criticism undeserved superficial legitimacy by avoiding addressing its substance...if it even had any. Commentary regarding Nazis and Hitler obviously does not and evinces a particularly disgusting breadth of ignorance.
Apparently these people were a little more polite than other people at other town hall meetings. I wonder how many of them would have come out if there were no major issues before Congress like a major reform of health care. I doubt that many would.
Those who are against reform I believe protest too much.
If so many are so happy with their plan then that plan will not go away.
For us who are not happy give us the single payer non-profit option.
My guess is more people are unhappy with their coverage and that would mean more people would want an option from the private insurance plan. That is were the problem lies. The fear by the private insurance companies that they will lose out on all that profit money.
My health is not for profit. Keep your profit care just let me have single payer non-profit health care. I am not denying you yours why are you denying me mine. If your health care is so good then you will not be leaving it no matter what. Right?
So the ONLY ones at the meeting who were "orchestrated" were the Democrats!
Democrats = Lying, hypocritical, anti-people, pro-dictatorship.
Good for you Donna Edwards. You represent me and if there are critical comments there is always a positive way to address any issue. Our children are watching us and if they adopt any of what I have seen lately at various Town Hall meetings, the school districts will be expelling a lot of students.
How can we teach our children how to handle conflict when I as an adult need to also learn that same lesson.
Disagree as adults not as idiots or bullies.
4th Congressional District? What's the demographic? Did ever single one of those people standing up to criticize have health care access and coverage? Aside from the idiocy of making nonsensical veiled references to revolution and using the word "socialism" as though it has something to do with "fascism" (two diametrically opposed concepts, by the way), implying that health care reform is being thrown together in a matter of months is completely insipid: we have known for decades that it was going to reach a head and become an absolute necessity and the people advising the POTUS and Congress on what needs to be done have been studying it for years on end, conducting research and studies and using facts, empirical evidence and (I know yo uhate this word GOPers) science to inform their decisions. The idea that this bill is the equivalent of a college term paper slapped together during an all-nighter is ludicrous.
Wow, the GOP bus must have missed a stop.
Glad to hear that a discussion was able to happen.
Why don't they address why the health care system is broke? In Pennsylvania we need tort reform and I know first hand when my father faced an overwhelming medical crisis that had we not researched government programs, he would have lost everything. These people are NOT without care....they just need to learn what the hospitals will not tell them because it affect their bottomline. Stop scaring people and inform them of their rights to an already existing government health care and see that the providers follow thru. There is alot to be done in health care reform BUT it is not government run health care. Everyone will suffer for sure. All you need to do is look at Medicare and Europe. Talk to people and see how their care was managed. You will be shocked! Those who get good care in England pay for supplemental insurance. Sweden and France...forget it. Canada....they come to the US when necessary. Get real folks and ask tougher questions.
The mass of people opposing this Health Care bill are showing their frustration at not being heard. Our elected officials are exhibiting their usual mind set, "The public doesn’t know what's best so we will decide for them". No matter how we express our disapproval of this bill the media & Obamanites are turning a deaf ear to us and say we are radicals. As voters and citizens we are tired of this!! We have tried emails, phone calls, etc. but to no avail and we have a right to be heard.
“It’s national socialism,” Peele said of the administration’s economic plans. “I don’t want national socialism. I want freedom. You don’t want to sign your life over to something that they have total control of.”
**********************
We are not saying that. That is not what we are trying to accomplish. We are saying we want a public option. The key word is option. Another word for option is choice. We are not taking away your choices, we are adding to your choices. This increases competition and copetition will lower prices. Tax cuts and tax credits do not lower prices.
We can tell that the opposition to universal healthcare did not send their minions to this townhall meeting because there was a healthy debate and exchange of ideas. They may have changed their tactics because they were so easily and publicly debunked and exposed for the organized, angry, misguided and misled mobs that they were.
They know if an intelligent debate on this topic took place, they would lose.
Peter Hamby, please proof read your article befor you post it on the internet.
The congresswoman said that no undocumented workers would get this benefit. Since a lot of illegal aliens have forged or fake papers to get a job, how will we stop this. Obamas plan is to make them citizens so they will vote for him. This clown will destroy the country.
When you start to lose the base, it's a bad sign. Tea Party types from outside of PG county are not likely to venture into PG county to express their opposition. If Donna Edwards is getting grief in her overwhelmingly democratic PG county district, that is bad since that opposition is home grown democratic opposition.
So it's just "hyperbole and noise" to consider it an idea bordering on insanity to waste trillions of dollars on a health care system that works fairly well for most people? In the current state of the US economy?
There are few more contemptible than an "I don't care what it costs; those nasty rich people can pay for it" Liberal trying to buy votes with other peoples' money.
Whether you agree or disagree with healthcare reform, it is nice to see at least during the forum that people acted like adults. This is a complex topic that is hard for anyone to wrap their hands around but the only way to understand it is talk about, ask questions, and hear from our law makers. The continued disruptions at these forums harm everyone because it reduces a complex topic to 2nd grade level.
Typical new slant of CNN a la John King...all comments were from critics of the President...not one in support..one of the reasons you received a "D" as did the Republican "leadership" in your "report cards" last night.
Why aren't these marks being presented along with the presidents?? Everyone is angry and confused and sadly no longer has a press that actually presents facts and balance!
If our representative really took the time and listened to the questions and answered them honestly, there would be no yelling or screaming. The American citizens deserves and demands answers and not rhetoric. What even Health care changes are made, those on the hill ( President, vice President and members of congress) should be subject to the same health care they so strongly believe in!
Shades of socialism.....people are upset and they should be.....these democrats are getting really creepy....how about that snitch web page that the Obama administration put on the White House web page....and they too stupid to take it down.
I've been able to listen and listen to my party's interpretation of the president's healthcare bill and agenda. And I was fine with that. HOWEVER, as of late I'm beginning to feel that I'm being misinformed. I would like to be able to go to a town hall meeting and hear for myself the honest questions and answers. I think these disruptive tactics will only serve to hurt every last one of us in the end. I hope I'm wrong. But if there's nothing to hide, then let them have their little town hall meetings. Let them talk without our being disruptive. Let them be proven wrong by their own accord. Please! We are a better nation that this. This is NOT the America I believe in . . . and this new kind of GOP is not the party I belong to.
why is it that most people who are at these meeting are retired, white folks, who are storming these town halls, maybe if we had a more bi-partisan view of things, their wouldn't be so much disrepect going around. I think we need intellegent questions asked, not I want my country back, or this Prez. is Hilter, etc. That's not the cause here folks, wake up and stop your maddness hate cause you lost, and can't stand a well educated, bright man. Regardless of his skin. Isn't he part white anyway!
Real simple Donna, if you cut out the ILLEGALS, the people who CAN get healthcare but don't sign up for it, the 20 somethings that CHOOSE not to get it you are left with about 8-10 million people WHO WE SHOULD HELP, they are the ones that make TOO much to get he free care, but not enough to buy it on their own.
Offer them vouchers to choose there own plan OR give the smaller companies the same buying power of the larger companies so that they CAN OFFER GOOD HEALTHCARE.
Lastly, TORT REFORM will bring down all of our COSTS that work for a living instead of watching Judge Judy and Oprah everyday.
This would solve the problem, YOU DON'T tear down the whole house if you have a little water in the basement, you FIX THE BASEMENT.
WHY would we screw over 300 million people to fix the 8-10 deserving people?
Sory Donna, you may have been elected, but I forgot more than you know, but you are carrying the water for the fraud in chief as expected.
They got their questions answered. That's how it should be.
When one group yells and shoves and disrupts, they are bullies and hope to control everything and everyone. And THAT is scarey. THEY are like Hitler using their bullying tactics to control everyone.
Democrats need to be doing more at the meetings to make sure that the congressman and women know that we want to see progress. Just because a couple unhappy and delusional republicans want to do nothing,; which clearly is working for everyone now as they started the economic down fall and clearly did nothing for us the past eight years, that is not how the majority feels. I am sure many republicans will get upset with this comment but when a reporter ask an unhappy person what is their take on the administration and compares them to Nazi's they are nothing more than uneducated and quite frankly sad individuals.
CNN and other news agencies need to stop playing dumb and start reporting these attacks as republican sponsored and concocted schemes to cause chaos and disruption to help out insurance companies. These "upset" guest could probably care less however someone in the republican think tank decided this would be a good move to attempt to slow down health care reform.
Now this is how civil discourse is supposed to work.
I love it the libs are now telling angry people the need to be calm and respectful, when they were leading the charge for people like Cindy Sheehan and the Code Pink organization 2 years ago Sure a lot of hypocricsy in the lib world isn't there?
We (the American people) give unemployment, food stamps, housing, tax credits and health care to those that are less fortunate.
At what point do you say "enough, you must give something in return" ?
It is ridiculous to say to someone who makes more money that they must pay for two familys health care premiums on top of their own.
So all conservatives can gripe about is some vague sense of consolidation of power and the alleged quickness of the process? They can't talk about any specifics regarding healthcare reform? It seems like they're confused and afraid because they're completely in the dark about any of the facts.
Republicans need to stop schilling for the insurance industry and start talking policy! Not having any reform is unacceptable!
I have to admit Edwards is right in saying that for millions the health care works ..but there are many it doesn't work for...and that is true...and again..can you see the picture...goverment is the one hurting those it's not working for (see Medicade)...too much greed flows through those easy channels.and who suffers for it....the toddler who is malnourished in America, the disabled who can't get the needed equipment to have a viable life...the elederly who can't get their medications to ease their sufferings.....there individuals are our spiritual brothers and sisters....those that have much are wrong to abandon them.
Another not-so-stealthy spin job by CNN socialist Peter Hamby.
Journalism is dead in America due to the misinformation jihad on citizens by democrat shills like Hamby
"she would not tolerate any rude behavior" Oh, how motherly of her.
when someone speaks ill of healthcare that is "rude behavior". BUT when people speak that bush et al are criminals that should immediately imprisoned without trail (unlike terrorists) that is ok?
i get so confused by reality.
I find it humorous Bush had people sitting outside his ranch and everywhere else for years calling him a war criminal and a every other vile thing. Now you see mostly elderly in these meetings and the "Community Organizer" is against community organizing. I was willing to give Obama a chance but not anymore. He has gone too far and is more partisan than any president we have had in at least 20 years.
Most of the people crying "socialism" don't even understand the meaning of the word.
over 30 % of those uninsured make over $50,000 a year and are more than able to purchase their own.
stop shoving stuff down our throats for the benefit of the few. the government can't run anything right.
the Big 3 entitlement programs, medicare, medicaid, and social security are BROKE
DO NOT add another entitlement program that we CANT pay for.
This is only the beginning of the revolt against the dnc, also known as the Socialist Party of Amerika.
This is a takeover of the Healthcare industry by the government. Plain and simple. The Democrats refuse to listen. They won't answer the questions because they can't answer the questions and when they do they are lying. People are angry because this administration refers to them as "mobs" and "astroturf". The Democrats are in this regard making a HUGE mistake. Only listen to the liberals and silence the conservatives. Only this time...EVERYBODY is concerned, not just the liberals.
Americans are rejecting socialism straight up and this is what it is all about. Obama is losing support like a concrete block because the people are realizing what is happening to democracy in this country. When the White House blows off the people who are concerned and worried...it's a sad day in this country. Imagine if George Bush had done this to the war protestors!!! He had more class than Obama.
Democrats are hypocrits. Republicans are hypocrits. While they both appear to have different agendas – they are really both the same. POWER! Both Republicans and Democrats spin half truths so as to "fire up" their constituents against their opposition. Why can't you half-wits figure this out? This is not a football or basketball game wherby you cheer your team and question every call against your chosen team! Wake Up! Politicians are only USING YOU!
that"s what it is about talking about our differences TALKING
I am not wealthy by any definition, and my health care is fine. Let's try to fix only what's broken, not the entire package.................
You, the bureaucrats in government, are not responsible for my health care, not my wife's health care, not my children's health care. I AM.
Stop trying to pull me into the total government trough.
Rep Edwards stated that citizens will not be "fined" for choosing not to purchase health insurance. There is, however, this provision:
‘SEC. 59B. TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE.
‘(a) Tax Imposed- In the case of any individual who does not meet the requirements of subsection (d) at any time during the taxable year, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 2.5 percent of the excess of–
‘(1) the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year, over
‘(2) the amount of gross income specified in section 6012(a)(1) with respect to the taxpayer.
This is the actual language of the legislation. It my not be a "fine", but it certainly looks like a tax penalty. It also leaves up to the powers that be to decide the definition of "acceptable".
"However, one Democrat from a neighboring Congressional district, Eunita Winkey, said she had decided to attend the forum after receiving an e-mail from Jason Waskey, the Maryland state director for Barack Obama’s political organization, Organizing for America."
yep, dems bussing in people to pack the meetings with yes men.
Who says the right wing have their IQ over 80
Everyday average people have real concerns about the government getting too involved in our healthcare. They don't want a public option that is a trick to get more and more people on taxpayer subsidized health insurance. We tax the hardest working people to pay for the laziest people and we're kinda tired of it. Everyone (every adult) should work. Everyone should pay some federal taxes. Everyone should pay for their own food, clothes, house and healthcare. Then if everyone is working and contributing to society, a little help for the poorest people would probably be okay...but right now with 300 Million citizens we have a work force of less than 150 million (less than half) and of those only about 100 million actually pay federal income tax....this is not a sustainable system.
Wow, that bill, is 1,067 pages double spaced. For those of us that can actually read, that comes out to about 450 pages. Too bad the Red Neck Nation is illiterate; lest they would actually put aside their racism and read the dang bill.
I have never before been more embarassed by my country. These people are fighting for big business that is putting the screws to them. i pray that when its their time to have illness or injury, that God will save them; becuae their insurance carrier surely won't.
You don't have to agree with the other side, but you do have to listen. Thats the way any discussion should be held, weather or not you agree. Pushing, shoving, heckling, that wont get your point across, liberal or conservative.
In today's environment, a toughtquestion = vast right wing staged conspiracy astro-turfing biscuit eatin' nutjobs.
I live in Maryland and I will bet my life on this and that's none of these people especially the idiot referring to Barack as Hitler were from MARYLAND. Maryland is made up of mostly Democrates who are not that vocal and wouldn't disrespect the President in that way. What's funny is that of all the people there in support of the health care plan CNN only spoke to the couple that were opposed to the plan.
Talk about biased reporting shame,shame, shame CNN.
How much are the lobbyist paying you CNN?
If your not guilty then post my comment
This is the way Town Halls are supposed to be. You can express your anger and dismay. just don't deny someone elses' chance to express their viewpoint.
Can someone honestly tell me what the difference is between the Social Security , Medicare ,Medicade programs and a new health care proposal? Everyone is crying "Socialism" because it was a word thrown around during the campaign to spread fear against the Democrats.
The United States has been a "Social Democracy" for the last 80 + years. People who scream that president Obama is leading us into a socialist state will be hypocrites if they take social security, medicare, medicade, unemployemt or benefit from ANY social program that has already been in place for years.
"None of them said they had been directed to the town hall by interest groups opposed to health care reform" - because those groups have been telling their sheep to say that they are speaking out on their own behalf...