Republicans In The News
Ellen Sauerbrey: Cardin Town Hall meeting wrap up
Date: Tuesday August 11, 2009
Contact: Ellen Sauerbrey
I am still amazed at the turnout for the Town Hall meeting. I saw a few people that I knew but most of the faces were new ones and many who I talked to had traveled great distances to be there. People who got in the door were so intent on being heard that they were willing to wait in line for hours in the heat. In my own years in public service, I have never experienced passions running so high over any issue of public policy. The meeting began with a presentation by a young woman who has a tragic and complicated story involving her child's access to health care and was followed by a slide show. This led to hecklers who wanted to ask questions and get straight answers. As one man repeatedly hollered out "You don't get it, we don't want it!"
What was accomplished by the Town Hall meeting? Certainly Senator Cardin got an earful from an upset crowd that overwhelmingly opposes more government involvement in health care, expressed that government has not demonstrated the ability to do anything efficiently or cost effectively, and fear this program will bankrupt the U.S. The media was able to observe a crowd of ordinary citizens - many young to middle aged, retirees, health practitioners, students, businessmen and women who expressed their feelings passionately but peacefully. Many questioners thanked Cardin for having the Town Meeting. One woman who supported the plan, thanked the audience for the courtesy to ask her question and hear the answer without interruption.
Senator Cardin must be given credit for standing in front of his constituents but the question remains will he pay attention to their views?
Senator Cardin repeatedly presented a false choice by responding to questions saying "If nothing is done"....(whatever issue was being raised)..."it will be worse". No one was saying, do nothing. Questioners actually gave him a lot of things they want to be done. A question asking why there was no tort reform in the measures generated thunderous applause. Others asked why more competition could not be created by allowing people to buy across state lines, what about medical savings accounts, why not reduce the number of mandated benefits, and why not focus on addressing the fraud in Medicare and Medicaid. And give individuals and small businesses tax breaks to purchase their own insurance.
The Senator parroted the disingenuous position that a government option would add competition and that he is not in support of a single payer system. People weren't buying. They understand that a public option subsidized by the taxpayer will undercut the private sector and soon put choice out of business. He was not able to give a satisfactory answer to a question about creating incentives for businesses to drop coverage of their employees. Again the response was "If we do nothing...."
The biggest applause came to the question about providing health care to illegal immigrants. The Senator dodged by saying it is not in the bill, as he did when asked about the plan funding abortion. He also dodged the issue of inclusion of Congress under whatever program they forced on the public. He stated that he is on a public plan - Medicare.
The bottom line was that people want to see narrow fixes to existing problems but do not want government to destroy a system that generally works for them.
Ellen Sauerbrey