Posted on 03/25/2010 8:39:20 PM PDT by Libloather
Cheers reign but jeers also greet Obama
By Deirdre Cox Baker, For The Globe Gazette
Thursday, March 25, 2010 10:05 PM CDT
IOWA CITY — Dr. Erik Edens stayed outside the University of Iowa Field House for hours Thursday, steadfastly holding a sign that read: “Destroyer in Chief … Stop Socialism.”
The 46-year-old Davenport native, who is now an Iowa City physician, was one of 250 protesters who showed their feelings during President Obama’s visit Thursday.
“I’ve never done anything like this before,” Edens said, explaining that he thinks the health-care reform bill that Obama signed Tuesday will destroy much of American society and the private insurance industry. Competition is important, he said, and the last thing Edens wants to deal with in his practice is more government paperwork.
The reform, however, is very welcome to longtime activist Karen Metcalf of Bettendorf. More Americans will support the plan as they learn what’s in it, she said. Under the bill, her 21-year-old son can remain on his parents’ insurance plan for five more years and that “just takes away the nervousness,” she said.
“The sun’s streaming down this morning,” she added. “It’s like a smile on all that’s happening.”
Protesters pumped up the volume Thursday, using a megaphone to magnify specific views over the crowd noise. At times, they and supporters were only a few feet apart on Grand Avenue, screaming at each other.
“We cannot afford this!” shouted Jeff Shipley, a 21-year-old University of Iowa student from Naperville, Ill. “Where is this in the Constitution?”
One of those applauding Shipley was Ken Brinur, 59, of Omaha, Neb. The stock trader drove to eastern Iowa to protest the plan, he said, predicting that change will come in November when voters oust many current members of Congress.
Linda Beard of Davenport was hiking in the Grand Canyon when health-care reform passed, and the advocate said she was thrilled at the news. She thinks the plan will save lives.
Quad-City residents Beard, Metcalf, Bev Strayhall and Sharon Holle joined other Obama supporters in downtown Iowa City three hours before the president arrived. About 100 people marched to the old Field House, carrying signs with slogans such as “Standing together for health reform.”
“This is like going to a football game that we’ve already won,” said Tom Carsner of Iowa City. The struggle to find tickets to the speech was reminiscent of trying to get into a Hawkeyes game, he added.
About 3,000 people actually received tickets to the speech from among 15,000 who applied.
One person who applied early but did not get a ticket was Loren Wright, 24, of Muscatine, Iowa. Wright and two buddies, all of whom attend Muscatine Community College, drove to Iowa City to join the protesters.
“You can’t force people to be compassionate to others,” said Ben Janowski, 20, of Muscatine.
He compared health-care reform with the Americans with Disabilities Act, both of which represent too much government interference.
Wright is not opposed to health-care reform but thinks he was not represented in the congressional vote earlier this week.
“The American people agree. We don’t want this forced on us,” he said.
Tom Cobb, a former Davenport resident, said he wishes the reform bill contained a public option. Still, he has a plan to get the insurance coverage he lacks. The 57-year-old medical researcher lives in Iowa City and said he hopes to marry a woman from Canada or New Zealand and become eligible for her coverage plan.
“Our health system is in pretty good shape,” Cobb said. “It’s the insurance industry that has the problems.”
Wonder what that would look like.
I’m glad for these young kids standing up and voicing what is wrong with all of this. First it isn’t in the Constitution and even if it was, we cannot pay for it. We are trillions down the hole, so far down, you’ll need to pipe air in and feed us with a slingshot.
“Under the bill, her 21-year-old son can remain on his parents’ insurance plan for five more years and that “just takes away the nervousness,” she said.”
I have two boys, both just passed 22. THEY PAY FOR THEIR OWN INSURANCE. A catastrophic plan for a 22 year old with a HSA is about $129 a month where I live. I would love to slap this woman, who thinks we should pay for her silly son.
I’ve never expected anyone to pay anything for me or mine. Our only child was paying her own way at 21. What is it these people have against teaching youngsters to stand on their own?
Somewhere a kid gets it, and an angel gets its wings...
Under Democare kids can stay on their parent’s insurance until 26 years old. What if the parents don’t want to pay? Can parents be forced to pay?
“Tom Cobb, a former Davenport resident, said he wishes the reform bill contained a public option. Still, he has a plan to get the insurance coverage he lacks. The 57-year-old medical researcher lives in Iowa City and said he hopes to marry a woman from Canada or New Zealand and become eligible for her coverage plan.”
Typical Obama freeloader. Meet a New Zealand woman? Yeah Iowa is pretty close to NZ.
The 57 year old freeloader must consider himself a prize catch. Good luck with that.
“The 57 year old freeloader must consider himself a prize catch. Good luck with that.”
LOL! Love it. Another delusional Obama voter. How many women are going to want a spineless moocher?
If we do not take the House and Boehner does not keep his pledge to DEFUND it - I may steal this guy’s idea and head to NZ.
yep
If her 21 year old son went into the U. S. military, he would have insurance from that time—plus good pay, great educational opportunities, a fine opportunity to see the world, and the gaining of experience to make him a self-reliant young man.
Idiocy like this knows no bounds, but those fools get the same vote we do.
Greetings I still care:
Guess the latest “donut hole” joke is on her. The nervous one has to wait four years before her disgustingly lazy, 21-year-old society leech becomes eligible for one year of 0bamacare coverage.
Covering my own health insurance need since I turned 18,
OLA
The 57-year-old medical researcher lives in Iowa City and said he hopes to marry a woman from Canada or New Zealand
I'll purchase a one-way ticket to eigher destination for Mr. Cobb; on the promise Timmie surrenders his passport, renounces US citizenship, and never returns.
Cheers,
OLA
How can a 57 year old medical researcher NOT have insurance? Does he work for a living?
You’re aware that the term “G.I” means..Government Issue, right?
Greetings boop:
My guess is Mr. Cobb doesn’t want to squander his earnings on the essentials, such as purchasing health insurance; because he is too busy keeping up with the Joneses.
Cheers,
OLA
Yeah, it's all about you, isn't it, Karen?
Stupid liberal.
Can we say..."compassionate" conservatism???
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