Obama slams emphasis on 'ruckus'

President Barack Obama on Friday denounced what he suggested was news media overemphasis on scenes of angry protesters at town-hall meetings on health care.

[Steve]

He has to, his approval rating is tanking faster than Jimmy Carter's at this time in the presidency.

[Red]

Sounds like a serious case of Buyer's Remorse. Whats the matter, can't stand a little Community Organizing? It didn't matter at all when it was all going your way but now that many many people sense that your health care agenda is an impending disaster and are furious that their elected leaders won't listen to them because "they know better", you are upset. Too bad. I think its going to be a long three and one half years for you.

[DBB]

The idea of freedom of speech and elected representatives are elected to represent US – their constituents. Is not jiving with the Democratic Party machine. Unfortunately they need to realize they can’t do whatever they want... I'm not saying I believe 100% of the spin out there BUT this President and that little witch Pelosi are scary individuals.....

[HELCH]

I AM ON MEDICARE. I PAY OVER 300.00 A MONTH FOR OUR SUPLEMENT INSURANCE.....I WORK PART TIME AND I AM 72 YEARS OLD, SO I CAN PAY OUR SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE AND ENJOY THE DAYS WE HAVE LEFT.
BUT WHAT ABOUT YOURS AND OUR CHILDREN, THE ONES THAT LOST THEIR HOMES AND HAVE NO JOBS AND NO INSURANCE. DO WE JUST LET THEM DIE BECAUSE THEY ARE DENIED MEDICAL ATTENTION???
I CAN SEE THIS HAPPENING ALREADY....NO MEDICAL HELP FOR YOUR UNINSURED CHILDREN....ITS ALREADY BEEN SAID THAT THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE IN OUR MEDICARE CHECKS...BUT THAT DID NOT AND WILL NOT STOP THE COST OF LIVING GOING UP. SO RETIREE'S, HOW MUCH LONGER DO YOU ALL THINK THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD YOUR SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE???? HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE HAVE???? WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CHILDREN. WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM???

[thats nice]

Listen Obama you jerk liar, NOBODY believes you ANYMORE!! You have done NOTHING but lie to the American people. It is VERY obvious that you have nothing but disdain for US! Obama, you speak with forked tongue----------

[thats nice]

HELCH wrote:

I AM ON MEDICARE. I PAY OVER 300.00 A MONTH FOR OUR SUPLEMENT INSURANCE.....I WORK PART TIME AND I AM 72 YEARS OLD, SO I CAN PAY OUR SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE AND ENJOY THE DAYS WE HAVE LEFT.
BUT WHAT ABOUT YOURS AND OUR CHILDREN, THE ONES THAT LOST THEIR HOMES AND HAVE NO JOBS AND NO INSURANCE. DO WE JUST LET THEM DIE BECAUSE THEY ARE DENIED MEDICAL ATTENTION???
I CAN SEE THIS HAPPENING ALREADY....NO MEDICAL HELP FOR YOUR UNINSURED CHILDREN....ITS ALREADY BEEN SAID THAT THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE IN OUR MEDICARE CHECKS...BUT THAT DID NOT AND WILL NOT STOP THE COST OF LIVING GOING UP. SO RETIREE'S, HOW MUCH LONGER DO YOU ALL THINK THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD YOUR SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE???? HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE HAVE???? WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CHILDREN. WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM???

If you are saying it's for the hcildren, you must be a memeber of the DNC

[WaterWitch]

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain...

[Oh My]

"Minutes after Obama landed, a downpour began, making it difficult to hear inside the metal-roofed hangar"

Think that was a sign?

[Oh My]

Red wrote:

Sounds like a serious case of Buyer's Remorse. Whats the matter, can't stand a little Community Organizing? It didn't matter at all when it was all going your way but now that many many people sense that your health care agenda is an impending disaster and are furious that their elected leaders won't listen to them because "they know better", you are upset. Too bad. I think its going to be a long three and one half years for you.

I think its going to be a long 3 1/2 years for all of us.

[ohh]

oh

[No One Important]

Awwwwwwww whatsamatter Obamaaaaaaaaaaa....

Not likin' the fact that the NATION can rise up against you, and the media who adored you and talked about your adoring fans at each election stop is now talking about all the UNADORING people showing up at democrat meetings?

Comonnnnnnn idiot, live by the sound byte, die by the sound byte.

It's news. It's covered. It's loud, and it's a HUGE MESSAGE being sent to the democrats.

The SENATE is already dropping the stupid "end of life" idiocy from their bill.

The SENATE is already talking about yanking apart the stupid cap N trade bill because they see the writing on the wall.

The POLLS keep saying it Obama, you're just not listening.

the NEWS keeps saying it, you just don't want to hear it.

But NEVER underestimate the political will to survive another election by a politician.

The SENATE sees it. They're ALREADY back peddling from the stupid liberal bills that were jammed through.

They're backpeddling as fast as they can.

Geeeeeeeee, think their internal polling is amplified from what the public polls are saying?

Hmmmmmmmmmm....

Even democrat strategists (who don't want to be named) are saying the SAME THING.

It has all the ear marks of 1994. A president who is PERSONALLY popular, but his policies suck.

rheteoric meets reality. The nation is speaking, just because you don't want to listen doesn't mean we're not sending a message.

And apparently SOME of the democrats are getting that message.. even if you're not listening.

[No One Important]

Article from the NYT by Jeff Zeleny, called “Health Debate Fails to Ignire Obama’s Grass Roots”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/15/health/poli...

Ms. Adkins, who for the past two years devoted hundreds of hours helping Mr. Obama get to the White House, hosted a potluck supper that was advertised to Democrats in this eastern Iowa town along the Mississippi River. People were invited to bring a favorite salad or dessert — and their cellphones — to make calls drumming up support for the president’s agenda.

She wondered whether her house would hold everyone, but there was no reason for worry.

They had 10 people. That’s it. No one is enthusiastic about Obama’s plan for government controlled health care.

They’re kidding themselves. More than a dozen precinct captains etc said they weren’t going to get involved in the health care push. Hmmmmm... wonder why?

Some said they were reluctant to talk to their neighbors about something personal and complicated like health care.

And others expressed frustration at the genteel approach, asking why Democrats were not filling the town-hall-style meetings of Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Finance Committee negotiating health care legislation, or Representative Leonard L. Boswell, a member of the moderate Blue Dog Democratic group.

Only scattered people are attending meetings. Even people who walked for Obama, one woman LEFT TOWN so she wouldn’t have to say “no” when she was asked to do something.

Look man, there just isn’t any big “enthusiasm” out there for his policies. His policies, in the bare light of day, do not appeal to a LOT of PEOPLE.

So while he gives his “blather-a-thons” across the nation, people just aren’t listening to him anymore. They don’t trust him or the democrats anymore.

[Concerned Citizen]

It seems that the only time protest is acceptable for President Obama is when it is Acorn running the protest. The reality is that this administration does not acknowledge that the not all Americans are not in favor of most of the provisions of this sweeping legislation and even those in favor of it are concerned about how we are going to pay for all of these programs.
People are angry, and rightfully so and they are expressing their anger in a constitutionally permissible way. What should be troubling Mr. Obama is not the Republicans who didn't support him, but those Independents and Democrats who were his core supporters who are coming to the painful realization that President Obama is engaging in [Chicago] politics as usual.

[Concerned Citizen]

HELCH wrote:

I AM ON MEDICARE. I PAY OVER 300.00 A MONTH FOR OUR SUPLEMENT INSURANCE.....I WORK PART TIME AND I AM 72 YEARS OLD, SO I CAN PAY OUR SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE AND ENJOY THE DAYS WE HAVE LEFT.
BUT WHAT ABOUT YOURS AND OUR CHILDREN, THE ONES THAT LOST THEIR HOMES AND HAVE NO JOBS AND NO INSURANCE. DO WE JUST LET THEM DIE BECAUSE THEY ARE DENIED MEDICAL ATTENTION???
I CAN SEE THIS HAPPENING ALREADY....NO MEDICAL HELP FOR YOUR UNINSURED CHILDREN....ITS ALREADY BEEN SAID THAT THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE IN OUR MEDICARE CHECKS...BUT THAT DID NOT AND WILL NOT STOP THE COST OF LIVING GOING UP. SO RETIREE'S, HOW MUCH LONGER DO YOU ALL THINK THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD YOUR SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE???? HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE HAVE???? WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CHILDREN. WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM???

There are a panoply of programs, like HUSKY, which provide for medical coverage for children who are uninsured or whose families are unable to pay for insurance. Like you, I am also worried about the future of this country and what is best for children. Subjecting them to crippling amounts of debts to pay for a huge government program will consign them to a fiscally disasterous future.

[Hardworking MD]

No One Important wrote:

Article from the NYT by Jeff Zeleny, called “Health Debate Fails to Ignire Obama’s Grass Roots”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/15/health/poli...
<quoted text>
They had 10 people. That’s it. No one is enthusiastic about Obama’s plan for government controlled health care.
They’re kidding themselves. More than a dozen precinct captains etc said they weren’t going to get involved in the health care push. Hmmmmm... wonder why?
<quoted text>
Only scattered people are attending meetings. Even people who walked for Obama, one woman LEFT TOWN so she wouldn’t have to say “no” when she was asked to do something.
Look man, there just isn’t any big “enthusiasm” out there for his policies. His policies, in the bare light of day, do not appeal to a LOT of PEOPLE.
So while he gives his “blather-a-thons” across the nation, people just aren’t listening to him anymore. They don’t trust him or the democrats anymore.

Obama has substantially deviated from the fantasy of bipartisianship and collaboration that he sold to the American people in order to get elected. His words are diametrically opposed to his actions thus triggering the visceral reactions of so many Americans. This is a "different kind of politics" - one where the legislation is unintelligible and so overbroad that they cannot be reasonably expected to address the issue at hand and where there is no attempt to come up with a bipartisan solution by the White House. In regular politics both parties have a give and take on matters where reasonable parties can have concerns.
The reason why there is a sense of passion and outrage missing is because this administration is not focusing on the goal that you propound that of " every American gets the health care he or she needs." I have read the Bill and the only provisions that are clear and unequivocal relate to the mandate that all non-citizens are to receive free health care and that Americans will bear the burden of paying for it. Provision with respect to the elderly and with respect to citizens with special needs are largely unintelligible and it is unclear if the latter will have limited to no access to the Plan.
Health care costs can be lowered, but no one in the administration is willing to deviate from its script or to negotiate or to explore the panoply of alternative solutions for the problems, like tort reform, elimination of preexisting conditions, federal regulation of health insurance companies, etc.

[Sick of Teabagger Trash]

Concerned Citizen wrote:

It seems that the only time protest is acceptable for President Obama is when it is Acorn running the protest. The reality is that this administration does not acknowledge that the not all Americans are not in favor of most of the provisions of this sweeping legislation and even those in favor of it are concerned about how we are going to pay for all of these programs.
People are angry, and rightfully so and they are expressing their anger in a constitutionally permissible way. What should be troubling Mr. Obama is not the Republicans who didn't support him, but those Independents and Democrats who were his core supporters who are coming to the painful realization that President Obama is engaging in [Chicago] politics as usual.

Go away neo-Nazi troll. You teabaggers are nothing but front groups for militia and white supremacist groups who want to halt free speech in this country but exploiting the fears of ignorant but well meaning people. You are filth and un-American

[Sick of Teabagger Trash]

No One Important wrote:

Article from the NYT by Jeff Zeleny, called “Health Debate Fails to Ignire Obama’s Grass Roots”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/15/health/poli...
<quoted text>
They had 10 people. That’s it. No one is enthusiastic about Obama’s plan for government controlled health care.
They’re kidding themselves. More than a dozen precinct captains etc said they weren’t going to get involved in the health care push. Hmmmmm... wonder why?
<quoted text>
Only scattered people are attending meetings. Even people who walked for Obama, one woman LEFT TOWN so she wouldn’t have to say “no” when she was asked to do something.
Look man, there just isn’t any big “enthusiasm” out there for his policies. His policies, in the bare light of day, do not appeal to a LOT of PEOPLE.
So while he gives his “blather-a-thons” across the nation, people just aren’t listening to him anymore. They don’t trust him or the democrats anymore.

SPAM

[Oh My]

Sick of Teabagger Trash wrote:

<quoted text>
Go away neo-Nazi troll. You teabaggers are nothing but front groups for militia and white supremacist groups who want to halt free speech in this country but exploiting the fears of ignorant but well meaning people. You are filth and un-American

Typical. When you have nothing intelligent to contribute to the debate, you resort to name calling. Sticks and stones, my friend.

[Christmas past]

hey dennis hows things west of chi town? Everybody is a computer expert these days.sinop will never be the dame.

[Im just saying]

thats nice wrote:

Listen Obama you jerk liar, NOBODY believes you ANYMORE!! You have done NOTHING but lie to the American people. It is VERY obvious that you have nothing but disdain for US! Obama, you speak with forked tongue----------

Is this the first time you have been lied too?? Do you have medical insurance? Instead of complaining, why don't you make him keep his word or promises? Do you know how many Presidents and top reps we have had lied to us and lined their own pockets with wealth? Have done things that weren't in the best interest of the majority? I do know you can't please everyone. We all have different problems. I just believe you can't handle a person you percieve that is different from you handling the country. We have had worse - give him chance, we have given chances in the past to folks who had a less desirable backsground!!!!!