Thousands in Missouri Decry 'ObamaCare' in Advance of Presidential Visit to Saint Louis

Bob McCarty Writes ^ | 3-10-10 | Bob McCarty

[BobMcCartyWrites]

Less than six hours before President Obama's scheduled arrival, more than 2,200 people packed the St. Charles Convention Center for a health care town hall.

[BobMcCartyWrites]

It was no accident that, less than six hours before President Barack Obama was scheduled to arrive at St. Charles (Mo.) High School and make a push for government-run health care, more than 2,200 people turned out at the St. Charles Convention Center for a health care town hall meeting hosted by U.S. Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) of Missouri's 2nd Congressional District.

Hosted via teleconference from Washington, D.C., this marked the second time Congressman Akin has hosted a town hall. The first, he said, took place soon after Sept. 11, 2001. This one was held to discuss the threats posed by a government-run takeover of the nation's health care system.

Borrowing from the title of a Tom Clancy novel, he described the legislation now pending at the federal level as a "clear and present danger to America."

"We have the best health care system in the world," Akin explained to the capacity crowd in his Republican-dominated district before noting that what's broken is the "how-do-we-pay-for it piece.

"The bill we're talking about is the worst bill I've ever seen in Congress," he said, adding that it will "destroy health care in America."

Akin went on to point out that the bill is unconstitutional and will create a framework that has failed everywhere its been tried -- places like England, Canada and Tennessee -- and brought a colleague of his in the House to attest to how something called "TennCare" worked in Tennessee.

A physician who practiced 31 years before being elected to the House, U.S. Rep. (Dr.) Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) said not one member of the House Physicians Caucus -- a group of doctors with more than 300 years combined experience -- was consulted by either the White House or Democrat Party leaders in Congress when the current health care legislation was crafted.

The state of Tennessee launched TennCare, he said, in 1993 with $2.6 billion being spent on the program. Ten years later, it cost some $8 billion and costs of the plan were "shifted to the private sector" as a "hidden tax."

"(It's) the mother of all unfunded mandates," Congressman Roe said before relaying a comment one of his constituents made during a conversation about the plan.

"You fix your cat," he said. "You kill this bill!

"(The people of Tennessee) would tell you 'Don't go near it,'" he concluded.

Answering a question from an audience member about what individuals can do "to support Republican efforts to provide real health care reform," U.S. Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said, "I think the most important thing is to say that we can't fix the Senate bill.

"You can't fix this bill," Pence explained. "The reconciliation bill that they're talking about will be subject to all kinds of procedural barriers.

"Anyone who believes that you can fix this bill through something called reconciliation has either misled themselves or is misleading you."

Other House Republicans participating in the meeting were Reps. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) and John Shadegg (R-Ariz.).

Also in attendance was Missouri's Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder as well as several state legislators, including State Sens. Scott Rupp, Jane Cunningham and Eric Schmidt and State Reps. Alan Icet and Cynthia Davis.

Jamie Allman of FM Newstalk 97.1 emceed the event.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Check back later in the day to see videos and other posts about the event.

[misharu]

Akin is my Rep and thank G-d for him!

[GailA]

TOLL-FREE PHONE CALLING

1-800-828-0498

1-866-220-0044

These toll free arrangements were set up by Obamuniust organizations to support (pause for sticking out tongue) “health” “care” “reform.” Use them! After all, they are free! . At the first number you must wait through a brief Obamunist tape recording. Just hang on and when the recording is over, you will get the Capitol operator. Just ask for your Rep or Senator’s office. Then you will either talk to an aide or have the chance to leave a message for him/her to vote NO on the health care bill.

When you use the second number and the Capitol operator comes on, just ask for your Rep or Senator’s office

1-800-828-0498
1-866-220-0044

“Code Red” – Tennessee Democrat Congressmen Targeted

Never mind about the so-called “fixit bill”: the way to defeat Obamacare is is by defeating the Senate bill in the House when it goes to the floor for an up-or-down vote on Thursday, March 18th.

PLEASE CALL ………....... WASHINGTON DC ..….. LOCAL DISTRICT …..…
Rep. Lincoln Davis 202-225-6831 Columbia office: 931-490-8699
Rep. Jim Cooper 202-225-4311 Nashville office: 615-736-5295
Rep. Bart Gordon 202-225-4231 Murfreesboro office: 615-896-1986
Rep. John S. Tanner 202-225-4714 Jackson office: 731-423-4848
Rep. Steve Cohen 202-225-3265 Memphis office: 901-544-4131