By Adriel Bettelheim - CQ Politics
Well that was civil.
After a series of flak-filled town hall meetings during which members of Congress were shouted down by voters angry about the proposed health care overhaul President Obama on Tuesday presided over a gathering in Portsmouth N.H. that was noteworthy for its lack of drama.
Maybe it was the fact that most of the 1800 attendees in the Portsmouth High School gym supported Obamas goal of retooling the U.S. health care system. Tickets were distributed by local congressional offices (all in Democratic hands) and by sympathetic groups. The audience applauded broadsides the president fired at insurers. And when Obama asked for a skeptical question one man responded by asking why Obama doesnt chastise members of Congress more for having access to better care than their contituents.
Other politicians should have it so good.
Sen. Arlen Specter D-Pa. earlier in the day faced a raucous crowd of about 300 constituents in Lebanon Pa. including one man who burst into a tirade and interrupted Specter when he wasnt selected to ask a question. Most of Specters questioners criticized Democratic overhaul plans and identified themselves as conservatives.
On Monday night Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin D-Md. faced a tough crowd at Towson University that was openly hostile to the overhaul proposals and dismissive of Cardins attempts to defend them.
Free to rehash some of his talking points Obama used the Portsmouth gathering to knock down misconceptions about his goals including the oft-repeated contention that a House overhaul bill would establish death panels to influence end-of-life care. And he cast insurers as villains who hold Americans hostage by making arbitrary coverage decisions and charging onerous fees.
I believe it is wrong; it is bankrupting families and businesses and that is why were going to pass health insurance reform in 2009 Obama said.
Obama will continue his sales pitch at town hall meetings on Friday in Bozeman Mont. and Saturday in Grand Junction Colo. The White House says while some seats will be reserved for invited guests the majority will be distributed through a lottery system. In the past this has entailed putting ones name on a list by calling a phone number or visiting a Web site.
The White House says crowds wont be screened to prevent opponents of an overhaul from attending.
