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Kbentleyis · Diamond

(08.07.09) Two Reports on Protests at TownHall Meetings - Politico

Hillarysmygirl16 · Administrator

I read this on http://optixmom.blogspot.com I think Messa is her Congressman.

Optixmom · Super Moderator

Kbentleyis wrote:

It's remarks like these that set me off! They insist that the American people are stupid and we don't know WHAT'S GOOD FOR US! Further, they think we're uninformed and can't add and subtract regarding the peril our economy is in. These government reps are way overpaid! BHO and Axelrod taught them well... PLAY THE VICTIM... it works every time! They sure as hell can't play the race card!
“I have yet to speak to many Americans who think we cannot do health care better. The overwhelming input that I have received to date is that if we do nothing, if we do nothing, we as a nation … will suffer greatly,” Massa, a retired Navy commander, said in his opening remarks, jacket off and shirt sleeves rolled up, making the most of his booming voice while his staff struggled to set up a public address system.

"These 'chats' are meant to give people a chance to let me know what they need and what's important to them, and today's disruptions meant that a lot of folks did not get that chance," Kirkpatrick said.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25903.html
Fervor evident at N.Y. health town hall
Honeoye Falls, N.Y. – He wasn’t shouted down or chased to his car. But freshman Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) still felt the heat during a two-hour health care town hall meeting Thursday night.
The fervor came from both sides, although opponents to Democrats’ health reform efforts appeared to outnumber the supporters. Opponents asked him to tell House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that “we are not Nazis.” Supporters urged him to push harder for a single-payer national health plan.
Pro and con, they spoke with emotion about personal experiences.
“We really don’t trust the government,” said one man who said his father received poor treatment in the Veterans Administration health system.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0809/Another_Dem_overrun_by_protesters_at_town_hall.html

Massa is my Congress rep. I didn't go to the Town Hall last night but heard from many sources that there were passionate people from both sides. They were able to debate their points respectfully.

There were so many there they had to move the meeting outdoors, and that took some effort by Massa's staff to get the mikes and amplifiers outside with electricity to run them. (Do you carry outdoor extension cords with you everywhere?)

Massa stated he will not vote for this bill in its current form because of what it will do to Medicare.

The majority of Massa's district is GOP and the Mayor of Corning, NY (a Pub) has stated he will run against Massa in the next election.

Kbentleyis · Diamond

I read the article, and it didn't sound to me that Massa wasn't going to support this particular healthcare plan. I guess for me, it's those words "If we do nothing..." Being a verteran, he sould know that the government cannot do health care better simply by visiting a VA hospital.

I have Medicare. Although he said he wouldn't sign a bill that states taking funding from it, what does he think any other bill will do to Medicare? I'm becoming very bitter towards the word games many politicians are playing with the American people. Remove wording from a bill, yet keep the intent.

Optixmom · Super Moderator

Kbentleyis wrote:

I read the article, and it didn't sound to me that Massa wasn't going to support this particular healthcare plan. I guess for me, it's those words "If we do nothing..." Being a verteran, he sould know that the government cannot do health care better simply by visiting a VA hospital.

I have Medicare. Although he said he wouldn't sign a bill that states taking funding from it, what does he think any other bill will do to Medicare? I'm becoming very bitter towards the word games many politicians are playing with the American people. Remove wording from a bill, yet keep the intent.

Massa is a moderate Dem. He voted No on the Cap & Trade Bill too. When our local news asked his staff again how he is currently stanced to vote, they said he is still voting no (that was as of this morning).

His main argument is that some medicare recipients will have to buy further provisions to medicare if they want to receive more advanced treatment from most Doctors. He, of course, doesn't agree that that should be forced on anyone.

He hasn't stated specifically what would need to be changed in order for him to vote for this. Or at least I haven't seen mention of it. He is going to have another Town Hall in Fairport, NY soon...maybe I can go to it, or maybe I can email him direct questions.

He has a very advanced staff for a man of his stature in the House. I don't get the feeling that he is the "bribing" type in regard to voting for bills. He has voted most times backing the majority of his constituency, which is GOP. Hillary rallied for him very hard in Upstate when he ran against Randy Kuhl (the Pub incumbent).