Thread: Barack Obama faces revolt over health care overhaul

Barack Obama faces revolt over health care overhaul

US President Barack Obama faced a growing revolt against his $1.5 trillion health care reforms as his approval rating slumped to an all-time low and Democratic congressmen received death threats.

By Toby Harnden in Washington
Published: 9:46PM BST 06 Aug 2009


US President Barack Obama

On the eve of Mr Obama's 200th day as president, his ratings slumped to 50 per cent, while a series of public meetings called by Democrats to promote the reforms have degenerated into mob scenes and a congressman received a death threat.

With progress of a health bill - which the White House had hoped for in July - stalled on Capitol Hill and rising concern over Mr Obama's handling of the economy, his national approval rating fell by seven per cent from last month. The new low is a far cry from the stratospheric ratings of his heady first days in office.

Obama's health care revolution explained Democratic congressmen charged with selling Mr Obama's controversial plans to reform the US health care system have become a target of public anger over fears that middle income Americans will be hit hardest by rising insurance premiums to cover the cost of improving care for the poor.

They have been confronted by jeers, catcalls and accusatory rhetoric at the start of the summer recess - and worse.

Representative Brad Miller of North Carolina said he would not be hosting any "town hall" events this month and would instead make himself available to constituents for private one-on-one discussions about health care reform after his life was threatened.

"The call to the DC office was, 'Miller could lose his life over this'," LuAnn Canipe, Mr Miller's communications director, told the Talking Points Memo website.

"Our staffer took it so seriously, he confirmed what the guy was saying. He said, 'sir is that a threat?' and at that time our staffer was getting the phone number off caller ID and turning it over to the Capitol Police."

Mr Miller's move came as a bitter political fight escalated between Democrats, who argue that the vitriolic demonstrations were staged by political activists backed by powerful special interests groups, and Republicans, who portray them as spontaneous expressions of opposition to Mr Obama's plans.

Miss Canipe said: "Our point is, we're not going to be bullied into having a town hall so it can then be interrupted by the fake grassroots folks."

Which side wins in what has become a war of perception will hold a crucial advantage in the autumn, when Mr Obama had pledged to deliver a new health care law that will massively extend coverage to the uninsured.

Representative Frank Kratovil of Maryland was faced with a life-sized cutout picture of himself with a noose tied around its neck.

The Democratic National Committee has broadcast an advertisement claiming that "desperate Republicans and their well-funded allies are organising angry mobs" in an attempt to "destroy President Obama".

Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee Chairman, dismissed as a "bunch of baloney" the charge that his party was orchestrating the protests. In a fundraising appeal sent out party supporters, he said: "They're using this fear-and-smear tactic to silence ANY American who disagrees with their risky scheme ... It's a page out of their standard playbook of name calling and outright lies to stifle all debate."

A separate CNN poll found that more Americans consider Mr Obama's administration a failure than those who delivered a similar verdict on the administration of his predecessor President George W. Bush, who left office with a disastrous approval rating of just 34 per cent, at the same point in 2001.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... rhaul.html

The goal of Americans is to save their familes and their quality of life, they are not out to get Obama . Americans are angry, upset and frustrated about Obama and the Dem administation hurting the American people via scam legislation at every turn.

Sure didn't you all get the message from Mr Steele in e-mails and snail mail?

Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee Chairman, dismissed as a "bunch of baloney" the charge that his party was orchestrating the protests.

This administration is that damn stupid that they can not see they are pissing people off through their "ram it down their throats" type legislation. Don't even take the time to review this or any other proposal out there or proposal coming up in the future.

Originally Posted by ELE

The goal of Americans is to save their familes and their quality of life, they are not out to get Obama . Americans are angry, upset and frustrated about Obama and the Dem administation hurting the American people via scam legislation at every turn.

Luckily Obama LOVES a CRISIS!!!!!

He must be a happy camper then!

Makes me wonder what he is secretly passing while we are revolting against an Anti-American DICK-Tater-Ship???????

The sad truth is, these protesters are not fake flunkies. If they continue to dismiss them, I can see petitioning for a constitutional amendment allowing recalls of our federal officials.