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WEDDINGTON More that 1,200 people crowded into Weddington High School Tuesday night for a boisterous town hall meeting that evoked passionate sentiments not only about health care, but also immigration and the Obama administration.
“It's not about covering the uninsured in this country, it seems to me it's all about control,” Union County businessman Tony Mangum said, voice breaking. “I get emotional because I fear we're losing this country.”
A crowd that filled the school auditorium and overflowed into the cafeteria came out for the first of three town halls this week hosted by U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick of Charlotte.
Myrick, a Republican, opened the gathering by outlining her own opposition to Democratic health care bills and support for alternatives, including tax credits and continued reliance on the markets.
Across the country, such meetings have evoked strong feelings, particularly among opponents of a health care overhaul.
Myrick appealed for mutual respect as dozens of people lined up to speak. For the most part, the crowd obliged. But the audience jeered one critic whom sheriff's deputies escorted out after he called the crowd “the rudest he'd ever seen.”
Most speakers who came to the suburban school shared Myrick's opposition to proposals from the Obama administration and Democratic-controlled Congress.
One man described himself as part of the “silent majority.”
“The alarm sounded in my head with the stimulus bill,” he said, “Liberals would have you believe (the health care overhaul) is for the benefit of all. That's hogwash. It's a power grab, pure and simple.”
Others said they worry about the prospect of “socialized medicine.” A retired man said he was “petrified” about the direction of the country, including this week's decision to investigate CIA interrogations.
“I'm just concerned about where America's going,” he said. “I'm worried that we're going to be ruled by a foreign country in 30 years.”
One woman who identified herself as a nurse described what she called abuse of the system by Medicaid patients, particularly in the emergency room. “When something is free it's taken advantage of,” she said.
Others said they don't want illegal immigrants getting free health care. The proposals being negotiated in Congress do not provide coverage for illegal immigrants.
Critics also spoke up. One man noted the rise in the cost of health care and insurance.
“Why don't you abandon partisan posturing and put the good of your constituents ahead of entrenched business interests?”
“First of all I haven't been doing ‘partisan posturing,'” Myrick replied, “because this (health care) bill was written completely by Democrats.”
Another man asked Myrick if she opposes the federally funded health care programs of Medicare and Medicaid.
“You can't be on both sides,” he said.
Throughout the lengthy meeting, Myrick listened patiently, tamping down jeers, listening to critics and applauding people for being involved.
“You're the government,” she said. “I work for you.”
One woman upset with health care reform and President Obama said, “We have a beer-drinking, cigarette-smoking, name-calling president. America is upset and we're not going to back down.”
