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Demonstrators Disrupt Healthcare Forums

Saturday, August 8, 2009

WASHINGTON -- As they head home to their congressional districts for
the August recess, lawmakers who support healthcare reform are bracing
for protests and demonstrations that threaten to turn violent.

In North Carolina, a congressman who backs overhauling healthcare had
his life threatened by a caller upset that he was not holding a public
forum on the proposal.

Democratic Rep. Brad Miller received the call Monday, one of hundreds
the congressman's office has fielded demanding town-hall meetings on
the healthcare proposal, said his spokeswoman, LuAnn Canipe. She said
the callers were "trying to instigate town halls so they can show up
and disrupt."

"We had one of those kind of calls that escalated to what we
considered a threat" on the congressman's life, Canipe said Friday.
"These are some strong-arm tactics, and we are trying to deal with and
trying to talk to people in good faith about healthcare reform."

Earlier this week, White House officials counseled Democratic senators
on coping with disruptions at public events this summer.

In the week since the House began its break, several town-hall
meetings have already been disrupted by noisy demonstrators.

The latest occurrence was at back-to-back town hall meetings held by
Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., which got so raucous police had to escort
people out.

Dingell vowed Friday to push ahead with Democratic-led efforts to
extend coverage to all, saying he won't be intimidated by protesters.

"I am eager to talk about the bill with anyone who wants to discuss
it. That doesn't open the door to everyone who wants to demagogue the
discussion," Dingell said in a statement.

The boos, jeers and shouts of "Shame on you!" at the events in a gym
in Romulus, Mich., mirror what other Democrats are encountering around
the country. Activists have shown up at town-hall meetings held
recently by Arlen Specter, D-Pa. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.,
was greeted by about 200 protesters at an event in Denver, about half
supporting Democrats and half opposed.

In Saratoga Springs, N.Y., about 20 protesters showed up at an event
held by Democratic Rep. Scott Murphy to let him know they oppose the
health care plans in Washington. They carried signs saying: "Obamacare
Seniors beware! Rationing is here," and "If socialized medicine is
best ... why didn't Ted Kennedy go to Canada?"

The episodes have drawn widespread media attention, and Republicans
have seized on them as well as polls showing a decline in support for
President Barack Obama and his agenda as evidence that public support
is lacking for his signature legislation.

Pushing back, Democrats have accused Republicans of sanctioning mob
tactics, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., accused
protesters earlier this week of trying to sabotage the democratic
process.

Miller never had plans to hold a town-hall meeting during the August
recess, Canipe said. Instead, he was sitting down with smaller groups
of people to discuss the plan. During one of those smaller gatherings
on Friday, hundreds of people from a group called Triangle
Conservatives peacefully protested at Miller's Raleigh office.

The threatening caller, when told by a staffer that Miller was not
planning a meeting, claimed the congressman didn't want to meet with
people face to face because he knew it would cost him his life,
according to Canipe. The staffer then asked if the caller was making a
threat. The caller, said Canipe, replied that there are a lot of angry
people out there.

The U.S. Capitol Police confirmed Friday they were looking into a
threat against a congressman, but wouldn't provide further details.

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