Thread: Brent Batten: Democratic leader gets ear-full health-care fo

Brent Batten: Collier Democratic leader gets ear-full at health-care forum

Posted September 12, 2009 at 7:15 p.m.

Steve Hemping isn’t a Congressman.

But he plays one on TV. Or at least in the video of Wednesday’s Tweet Town Hall on health-care reform.

Hemping, the chairman of the Collier County Democratic Executive Committee, filled the role that Democratic representatives and senators had been playing at town hall meetings across the country in August — that of defender of Democrats’ plans to a skeptical, unreceptive audience.

And he isn’t even getting paid to do it.

Hemping, who has a background in human resources management, said he asked to be included on the panel when he saw that the lineup of experts included state Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, and two doctors. “I just felt, when I saw who was going to be on the town hall, a different perspective needed to be offered.â€

Photo by LEXEY SWALL
A member of the crowd yells "we don't want to be lied to," during a health care town hall meeting at the community room at the Naples Daily News building Wednesday, Sept. 09, 2009. Lexey Swall/Staff

Photo by LEXEY SWALL
Members of the public crowd in to the community room at the Naples Daily News building for a standing-room-only health care town hall meeting at the Wednesday, Sept. 09, 2009. Lexey Swall/Staff

Photo by LEXEY SWALL
It is standing room only for the townhall meeting on healthcare at the community room inside the Naples Daily News building Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Panelists include Rep. Matt Hudson (@mhudson101), R-Naples; Allen Weiss, president and chief executive officer of NCH Healthcare Systems (@NCHFlorida); Steven Hemping, president of The Venture Group, Inc.; and Joseph Gauta, president of the Collier County Medical Society. Lexey Swall/Staff

Photo by LEXEY SWALL
Anita Petit-Homme, 24, second from left, asks panelists to reconcile the difference between the right to health care and privilege of having health care during a standing room only for the townhall meeting on healthcare at the community room inside the Naples Daily News building Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Panelists include Rep. Matt Hudson (@mhudson101), R-Naples; Allen Weiss, president and chief executive officer of NCH Healthcare Systems (@NCHFlorida); Steven Hemping, president of The Venture Group, Inc.; and Joseph Gauta, president of the Collier County Medical Society. Lexey Swall/Staff

Photo by LEXEY SWALL
Eileen Knecht claps during a standing room only for the townhall meeting on healthcare at the community room inside the Naples Daily News building Wednesday, September 9, 2009. "I don't want this power grab by the government," said Knecht about the government plan for healthcare. "It takes away our freedom." Panelists include Rep. Matt Hudson (@mhudson101), R-Naples; Allen Weiss, president and chief executive officer of NCH Healthcare Systems (@NCHFlorida); Steven Hemping, president of The Venture Group, Inc.; and Joseph Gauta, president of the Collier County Medical Society. Lexey Swall/Staff

Photo by LEXEY SWALL
Cyndee Woolley, twitter participation moderator, read questions coming in through twitter during a standing room only for the townhall meeting on healthcare at the community room inside the Naples Daily News building Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Panelists include Rep. Matt Hudson (@mhudson101), R-Naples; Allen Weiss, president and chief executive officer of NCH Healthcare Systems (@NCHFlorida); Steven Hemping, president of The Venture Group, Inc.; and Joseph Gauta, president of the Collier County Medical Society. Lexey Swall/Staff

Photo by LEXEY SWALL
A twitter-feed is displayed behind panelist Joseph Gauta, president of the Collier County Medical Society, during a standing room only for the townhall meeting on healthcare at the community room inside the Naples Daily News building Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Panelists include Rep. Matt Hudson (@mhudson101), R-Naples; Allen Weiss, president and chief executive officer of NCH Healthcare Systems (@NCHFlorida); Steven Hemping, president of The Venture Group, Inc.; and Joseph Gauta. Lexey Swall/Staff

Photo by LEXEY SWALL
Registered Nurse Theresa Morrison asks a question during a standing room only for the townhall meeting on healthcare at the community room inside the Naples Daily News building Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Panelists include Rep. Matt Hudson (@mhudson101), R-Naples; Allen Weiss, president and chief executive officer of NCH Healthcare Systems (@NCHFlorida); Steven Hemping, president of The Venture Group, Inc.; and Joseph Gauta, president of the Collier County Medical Society. Lexey Swall/Staff