Washington (CNN) - GOP leaders and thousands of Tea Party movement protesters gathered on Capitol Hill Thursday to call House Democrats' health care reform bill a full-blown government takeover of the nation' health care system.
"My colleagues and I last week were wracking our brains trying to figure out what could we do, because quite simply Republicans don't have the votes to kill this bill," Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota told the crowd. "Every lever of power is controlled by one party now in DC. We tried to figure out what we could do. We knew that we were limited. But what we knew was unlimited was the voice of persuasion of the American people, and that's why you are here today with your voice of persuasion.
"....Let me assure you your efforts to stop this bill are being heard loud and clear. And I will guarantee you that we are committed to making sure that not one Republican will vote for this bill."
Actor John Ratzenberger, known partly for his role as Cliff Clavin in the 1980s sitcom "Cheers," slammed the Democratic bill as a form of socialism.
"These are Woodstock Democrats," he said at the rally. "We have to remember where their philosophy comes from. It doesn't come from America. It comes from overseas. It comes from socialism. And socialism is a philosophy of failure."
Police later arrested 12 protesters outside Pelosi's office for unlawful entry or disorderly conduct, according to Capitol Hill police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider.
Democrats have rejected an alternative $60 billion House GOP reform plan as inadequate for meeting the goals of expanding health coverage to most of the nation's 46 million uninsured while bringing down costs and ending controversial industry practices such as denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.
From CNN Politics
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As a Democrat, I am hoping they do not pass health care. HR 3200 was a bad bill to begin with...now it is 900 pages bigger.
Social Security going bankrupt
Medicare going bankrupt
medicaid going bankrupt
Amtrack needs subsidies or it would be bankrupt
Post Office needs subsidies or it would be bankrupt
How is the "new" GM doing now that it is no longer valuable enough to even list on the stock market?
What about Chrysler?
Oh...all the loans we are getting from the banks that were bailed out? Sure is helping huh?
What about AIG?
What about Freddie and Frannie?
When did Government ever run anything right?
The power of love – Jesus, always overcomes, the love of power – Obama
Rep. Bachman is a stupid and evil woman....she spins everything. Her main goal is to cause fear and hate amongst the equally stupid and gullible. Last year she purported that all Congress should be investigated for their patriotism. Sounds like the Taliban.
Where's the story about LIEberman staffers having 9 PRO-healthcare reformers arrested, CNN? For such a "liberal" news organization you sure give a pass the "opposition".
And another thing, I don't post on message threads attached to palin stories, so I'll say it here: For God's sake – quit posting stories about that sorry excuse of a woman! She's a HATEFUL, HYPOCRITICAL, DIVISIVE, KNOW NOTHING NOBODY whose fifteen minutes were up fifteen minutes after Grumpy Old Man introduced her in 2008. Real Americans are sick of clicking onto the politics page and seeing her cold, empty eyes and fake smile, so for all of them, I appeal to your sense of decency when I ask you to please stop!
Police later arrested 12 protesters outside Pelosi's office for unlawful entry or disorderly conduct, according to Capitol Hill police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider.
Why can these nuts go about this the right way. They did all this at the townhall meetings screaming and not letting any body voice their opinion. What is your plan teabaggers other then screaming you stupid comments – I hate taxes?
Almost 45,000 Americans die every year in the United States of America because of lack of Health Insurance.
These Tea Party activists are also taking responsibility for this tragedy.
Inasumuch as you did NOT take care of the least of these, you did NOT take care of ME, says the LORD JESUS CHRIST!
Which side are you!
Regardless of all the noise, insanity and foolishness of these Tea Party activists, H.R. 3200 will be passed by the Democratic Congress and signed into law by President Obama before the end of this year.The Tea Party activists cannot and will not stop the momentum of progress on healthcare reform. These people do not reflect the majority of Americans nor do they represent the will of the majority. They represent a minority lunatic fringe of the conservative movement. The American people have spoken and have given President Obama and the Democrats a mandate to reform healthcare and that is what they will do.
Let the right wing nuts protest, they can't stop healthcare reform. Americans are tired of being abused by the Insurance Companies.
Can't wait till 2010! Virginia and New Jersey are just a sign of things to come. America is finally waking up!
Wow i am so glad that American's are starting to wakeup and see what's really going on here. It's about the insurance and pharmacy companies robbing the American people. Now we have so many Republicans against everything that the president is trying to get done. So you can say he failed. News flash you republicans failed a long time ago. You pick people like Rush and Palin and Steel rep your party what a big joke. Let's talk about the congressman and women who taking money from these big companies to stop healht care for all. The reason they are doing it because there pockets want be fat anymore about dam time. So all you republicans can go you know where with trying to stop what is right for all Americans. So keep standing Americans we are also most there and the congressman in the senate can keep bsing if they want to because they want have jobs in 2010 and they can be just like Palin and the rest of the loosser. Bachmann is next i will go to Mn and help to get her out off for sure. She is not doing no work but she is get a check. God bless The United States of Ameica.
The Media's Balloon People!
Be sure to throw the book at them. Intimidation is not the way America respects its Representatives.
Ever notice how it is only white people that are concerned about the size of government and taxes?
There has been protest for the public option right outside the CNN staion in Atlanta, LA and NYC. Why are they covering this when the majority, who is beening represented, are right outside their centers. Wake up CNN. We want the public option now.
Poor John Ratzenberger–he hasn't done anything decent since Cheers, so now he has to go all Ben Stine and Jon Voight. Washed up actors spouting crazy, right-wing rhetoric ...
Just Like The GOP, A Punch Of Crazy White Americans!
Michele "Balloon" Bachmann, A Head Of Hot Air!
And where were these teabaggers when Bush and the Republican congress were spending us into a trillion dollar deficit?????????? I love how they are trying to blame democrats for a republican-caused problem!!! Not falling for it, sorry!
It's always perplexed me that many of these Republicans boast of their Christian salvation. I am a Christian, and I know that my Lord, Jesus Christ, would not let one person in this world die from a preventable disease because they did not have money.
Shame on you Republicans! if this reform does not pass, blood will be on your hands and you will stand in judgment before God Almighty.
"Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? but you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you..." ~ The Book of James 2:5-6
You have dishonored the poor and helpless you fraudulent, ill-informed, self-loving, self-centered so-called Tea Party Activists.
Protest the bailouts, Yes!
Protest unnecessary government spending, Yes!
But on the issue of healthcare, you are wrong and our Lord, Jesus Christ would completely disagree with you.
Who wants health care reform 1) AMA (doctors who have historically opposed any health care reform in the past) 2)AARP (i.e. older people who the GOP claims will lose their Medicare) 3) The VAST majority of people. More people than voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 Who is against Health Care Reform? 1) GOP law makers who receive most of their campaign money from the insurance industry 2)Fox News pundits (and their sheep viewers) who have said that Obama could offer the nation a cure for Cancer and the Common Cold and they would oppose it just so he would fail. The GOP says keeping an insurer from refusing to pay for chemotherapy because a person had acne is Socialism, yet they want to limit how much an individual can collect from a doctor's insurance company who has crippled them for life. Tell me whose interest the GOP has in their "No!" mentality?
If Liberals demonstrate it is OK. If conservatives demonstrate, they are called mean angry mobs. You Liberals are such a joke. You just each each others puke. Just by me being on this crummy website raised its viewers to 1,000. Just heard today CNN is near bankruptcy because noone is watching them, Everyone is on Fox, Even the Liberals.
Why are the republicans SO PROTECTIVE of the profits the Insurance Companies are making?
The size of these "massive" protests is a lot smaller than the crowds at most of Obama's campaign stops. Dang teabaggers, why weren't you at work today like the rest of us?
Me thinks the Liberals are really worried here. We can't count on Liberals to stand up for our country, all they want to do is name call and be sissies unless it is about the environment or G6 convention, then they want to smash windows, but hey that is ok with them to vandalize.
I find all you Pelosi supporters as much idiots as she is. She should be a commerical on what happens when you have too much Botox
As I have said many times before if you Liberals want this Democratic health reform so bad, why don't you take the money out of your pockets and pay for those who don't have any health insurance. You are such do gooders. put your money where your mouth is!
Once again, silence
Sheep. Nothing but sheep.
I'm all for freedom of speech, but when you totally disrespect our President with the signs that were demonstrated today, your voices become digusting. I wasn't crazy about President Bush and his policies, but I never disrespected him.