the herald-sun | photos by codey johnston
Ton Weatherbee argues against health care reform after a town hall discussion with Rep. David Price at N.C. Central University's B.N. Duke Auditorium on Thursday. About 850 people were on hand to learn about or voice their opinions on the legislation.
Price speaks about health care reform at NCCU. After the congressman spoke, he answered questions from the crowd about the reform legislation.
INSIDE | A5
Analysis: Critics co-opt Obama organizing playbook
by monica chen
mchen@heraldsun.com; 419-6636
DURHAM -- U.S. Rep. David Price, D-N.C., spoke firmly on the need for health care reform and took questions from among 850 people who cheered and jeered him on Thursday night.
In the first town hall meeting in Durham on the controversial agenda, the same explosive reactions both for and against reform were on display as they have been elsewhere.
Frequent shouts and boos as well as cheers and applause filled the auditorium at N.C. Central University. Several anti-reform audience members walked out in a huff just minutes into the meeting, and at one point, the entire event ground to a halt as security personnel rushed to someone apparently hit in the head.
"Folks, this is not the Jerry Springer show," said Dana Cope -- executive director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina -- at the start of the meeting, eliciting laughter.
Thoughtful, well-articulated questions and opinions nevertheless were expressed by some audience members, touching upon concerns ranging from a single-payer system, to tort reform, to the need for health care in rural communities.
Jeanne Hinds, 50, of New Hill, said she does not believe reform will ultimately lead to more choice.
"It looks like a transitional tool to go to a single-payer system," she said to Price.
Price replied: "Medicare is already a single-payer system that's larger than Canada's."
"We're going to build on the present system," he added. "If you like your present plan, you can keep them."
The meeting was held at B.N. Auditorium, having been moved from the original venue, the Miller Morgan building. Yet even with the increased capacity, people lined up out the door to wait for seats. Hecklers were threatened with immediate removal.
The anti-health care reform crowd seemed to be overrun by the pro side, which came with printed signs and stickers provided by SEANC.
The pro side also got some help from the "Billionaires Against Health Care," a group of protesters who, tongues planted firmly in cheeks, came dressed in gowns and tuxes and waved champagne glasses and hats. "Let them eat Advil," "Let's widen the healthcare gap," their signs stated.
"Less health, more wealth," the protesters chanted.
SEANC officials staunchly insisted that they were nonpartisan and unbiased, but delivered speeches that were decidedly pro-health care reform. Along with Price, Chuck Stone, director of North Carolinians for Affordable Health Care, and Gary Greenberg, a physician, also appealed to the audience for the need for reform.
Cope spoke against insurance company CEOs who he said were "abusing people while flying on corporate jets and eating off gold-plated silverware."
"Health care shouldn't be for just those who can afford it," Cope said.
Greenberg, a Raleigh physician involved in various community health organizations in Durham, said many of his patients have cried to him and said they wish they had better insurance.
"The problem is deep and complicated and systemic," Greenberg said. "We don't have a health care system. We have a health care marketplace."
The depth and complexities of health care reform could be seen in the huge range of questions delivered during the question-and-answer portion of the meeting.
One man said he believed there should be insurance reform and tax reform, but there also needs to be tort reform to control skyrocketing costs resulting from malpractice lawsuits.
One woman said socialized medicine was just a step removed from communism.
Another man asked why he should be taxed if he does not choose to participate in the plan.
"In this state, we require people to have auto insurance," Price replied. "In one way or another, you're going to access the system and somebody is going to have to pay for it."
Price repeatedly referred to President Obama as saying that the government needs to meet health care goals with fiscal responsibility. He also told the audience that George W. Bush's administration had enacted huge tax cuts that ran up the deficit.
The economy is still the top priority for Congress, Price added, and the economic downtown has only made the need for health care reform more urgent.
By the time Thursday's meeting ended at 8:30 p.m., dozens on both sides were still waiting their turn to speak, with many still unconvinced.
"I'm concerned that we're going to move into a single-payer system," Hinds said. "My B.S. meter just goes off the scale."
Many local officials attended the meeting and were recognized, included Mayor Bill Bell, Mayor Pro Tem Cora-Cole McFadden, City Councilmen Howard Clement and Mike Woodard, state Rep. Paul Luebke, D-Durham, state Rep. Larry Hall, D-Durham, and Sally Greene of the Chapel Hill Town Council.
