Washington (CNN) - Foes of the House Democrats' health care bill rallied outside the Capitol Saturday afternoon, hours before what many of them anticipate will be a setback for their position - approval of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's bill.
"It may pass out of the House tonight. We do realize that," Jenny Beth Martin, event organizer for the Tea Party Patriots, said. "But there is the Senate still. And we are going to leave no stone unturned and fight the government taking over our health care."
Chanting "Kill the bill" and "Hell, no" throughout the nearly 90-minute rally, the few hundred attendees kept up their opposition despite having a much lower turnout than a similar rally held on Thursday.
More than a dozen Republican lawmakers spoke to the protesters and encouraged them to keep up the fight by speaking to wavering Democrats and their families, friends and neighbors about the legislation.
"We are here for one purpose: Kill the bill!" said Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee.
"America doesn't need socialized medicine. We need jobs," Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Georgia, said.
"I diagnose [this bill] as a dead, rotting stinking fish that we will not eat," said Rep. Paul Broun, a Republican doctor from Georgia.
And in a fiery speech trying to convince the conservative "blue dog"
Democrats to vote against the bill, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina, asked, "Are they a blue dog or a lap dog? We'll find out."
Earlier Saturday, President Barack Obama urged lawmakers in the House to pass the pending health care legislation.
"Millions of Americans are watching right now," the president toldreporters in a brief news conference in the White House Rose Garden. "Theirfamilies and businesses are counting on us. After all, this is why they sent us here: to finally confront the challenges that Washington had been putting off for decades. To make their lives better. To leave this country stronger than we found it."
Obama's comments came shortly after he had returned to the White House from Capitol Hill, where he met with the House Democratic leadership.
From CNN Politics
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Let them protest. Its a free country and that the beauty of America is that you are free to state your opinion. But quite honestly they are really wasting their breath. Liberals are going to win this vote and this bill will pass. So they might as well start getting ready to accept it. I truly wonder how many of these people really even know half of what this bill stands for and what it would create for American citizens. I bet if they really sat down and listened they might actually be for it and not against it.
2010, and 2012, cannot get here fast enough. Obama is a disaster.
This bill and the DNC direction is all wrong for America.
Only in America can something like this happen!!!!
My sister-in-law developed grand mal seizures 30 years ago after the birth of their daughter. She has been on a variety of different medications over the years, some have been effective in controlling the seizures but only for a limited time. A few years ago she started a new kind of medicine that had been very successful. Two months ago my brother's company changed insurance plans to save money. The new insurance would not pay for the medicine she needs. Her doctor wrote a letter explaining her situation and my brother pleaded with the insurance company. The insurance company agreed she could have the medicine with a co-pay of $480 for a 30-day supply. The prior insurance had a $25 co-pay. Thursday evening she was rushed via an ambulance to the ER because her seizures were uncontrollable. They gave her the medicine she needed and her seizures stopped so she was sent home. One would think it would be a lot less expensive to provide the medicine what works instead of having go to the ER. How many Americans can afford $480 a month for any kind of drug!!
Rosalyn Casson – One question. Name one thing your Obama has done to make us proud. If you don't have anything educational to say please leave the space free. CNN is very chossy abou tpeople taking up space and not praising Their muslin lord OBAMA>
Part of the voting is on Rep. 28
Dem. 82
STOP THIS ATTACK ON THIS NATION.
This is against what we are as a nation, we are not CANADA, we are not United Kingdom we are the United State of America the Land of the Free.
This is not what America is all about, wake up America.
CNN, I heard Lou Dobbs say you TRY to be in the center, but from what I see..........CNN, only prints comments that are positive to Obama. Others at my office have commented on the same thing. Interesting because every comment seems to be printed when I blog on Fox web sites. Are you trying to beat msnbc in your bias?
Hundreds protest? Hundreds? Meanwhile millions wait. Okay "tea partiers" I have a question- actually 2 questions,
1st Question I get why the insurance companies are against this (after all if UPS or Fed Express could get rid of the Post Office and charge whatever the hell they want for sending packages I could understand them wanting to do so). I also get why the GOP leadership is against this bill as well (one need only lokk at how long they were out of power after being against Social Security) But why oh why are regular people against this?
2nd Question. If it really is about te money wher the hell were you guys when George W Bush decided we should spend 12 million dollars an hour on a war against a counrty that never attacked us? It has been a while but when W took office we were looking forward to surplusses as far as the eye could see. But that didn't seem to bother you did it?
H. R. 3962 will pass!
Rep. 48
Dem.129
Dems got it 219 votes!
235 votes in!
Republican mathematics makes that "Tens of thousands protest health bill amid looming vote".
238 votes in! yes!
$1.1 Trillon United States to pay for Health Care is a lot of Money?
Frist, 240-194 votes!
If you are for this bill call-(202)-585-3885 only if you are for this bill.
Second, Vote-176-258-1
Many if not most physicians do NOT support the Democrat House bill despite CNN's and the White House's reporting that the AMA endorses it. Physicians that were affiliated with the AMA are no longer supporting the AMA (not joining or rejoining). Most physicians are now no longer members of the AMA. The latest endorsement by the AMA (actually trustees/ president) have been denounced by even AMA members including AMA delegates. The AMA Delegates are now pushing for a vote to revoke the AMA's endorsement. I'm surprised that CNN hasn't reported on the latter, only that the AMA endorses this bill.
CBO and the U. S House not in order and they are acting like hens!
Why is it that these same rednecks, who are sooooo opposed to government spending on healthcare, are perfectly fine with us spending unlimited amounts of federal tax dollars on weapons, invasions, occupations, nation-building in other countries, etc.
In fact, some of these rednecks even encourage it.
What good is it going to do us to conquer the world and force our will on everyone else if we can't even take care of our own here at home?
Do these rednecks really want the United States to be a military empire with a FEUDALIST economy? If they had THEIR way, that's exactly what we would be!
Motion to recommit Final vote
Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite
R0Florida 5th District one min.
Vote coming Rep. Bruce Braley
D- Iowa 1st dis. can not get his words in.
Oh yeah...let's not spend a dime on healthcare for Americans here at home...but let's spend TRILLIONS of federal tax dollars on guns, planes, tanks, ships, and weapons so we can conquer the entire world and FORCE everybody to be just like US.
Rep. Steny Hoyer D-Maryland is on fires. yes!