McCain speaks with angry crowd at Ariz. town hall meeting

[Johnny Bravo]

By AMANDA LEE MYERS, Associated Press Writer Amanda Lee Myers, Associated Press Writer – Thu Aug 27, 9:57 am ET
PHOENIX – Sen. John McCain met with an angry crowd at a town-hall meeting about health care reform Wednesday, sometimes having to fight to talk and telling one woman who wouldn't stop yelling that she had to leave.

The Arizona senator hadn't yet opened up the meeting at McCain's central Phoenix church to questions when one audience member continuously yelled over him.

"You're going to have to stop or you're going to have to leave," McCain told the woman. When security guards approached to escort her out, he told her "Goodbye, see ya" to a round of applause.

After McCain opened it up to questioning, one man angrily pointed at him and asked the senator why he deserves a better health care plan than him.

"I'm trying to get it for you," McCain told him. "We'll do it for you. We'll make it affordable and available to you."

Other audience members in the crowd of 2,000 told McCain about their medical problems, such as HIV and multiple sclerosis.

McCain urged them he would fight for health care reform but reiterated his opposition to President Barack Obama's plan to create a government option to compete with private insurers, arguing that it would be the eventual end of private insurers in the U.S.

Obama and most Democrats say a government option would serve to balance the power of private insurers. But insurance companies see it as a step toward a government takeover, and many business groups agree.

When McCain was trying to answer questions from reporters after the town hall, one audience member yelled at him that he gets hundreds of thousands of dollars from insurance companies every year.

In a voice of feigned surprise, McCain said "Really? I didn't know that."

"There's more interest and involvement in this issue than I've ever seen in many years on a domestic issue," McCain said afterward. "There's obviously strong feeling and emotions on this issue and I think the town-hall meetings are a very important way to get people's viewpoints and allow them to deal directly with their elected representative."

The Democratic plan has repeatedly run into problems at such meetings. Throughout August, unruly opponents have tried to shout down lawmakers at local town hall meetings.

McCain also spoke against the proposal at a much more subdued town-hall meeting Tuesday in the retirement community of Sun City.

McCain canceled a Friday trip to Flagstaff so he can attend services for longtime colleague Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who died Tuesday night.

[tt11758]

The old RINO shouldn't have had the lady ejected.  She had as much right to be there as he did.  There had to be a better way to handle it without taking a page from the Bawney Fwank playbook.

[Hazcat]

I'm wondering which 'side' she was on.  Notice the type of questions/comments she was shouting are not mentioned? (lefty/SEIU member?)

And yes it could and should have been better handled.

[tt11758]

I'm wondering which 'side' she was on.  Notice the type of questions/comments she was shouting are not mentioned? (lefty/SEIU member?)

And yes it could and should have been better handled.

We had the audio on the radio show this morning, or I should say ABC News had the audio.  It was impossible to hear what she was shouting, so you may have a point. 

[Hazcat]

We had the audio on the radio show this morning, or I should say ABC News had the audio.  It was impossible to hear what she was shouting, so you may have a point. 

Hmmm, I missed that and I listened to pretty much the whole show today!

[Sponsor]

[tt11758]

Hmmm, I missed that and I listened to pretty much the whole show today!

Thanks for listening!! 

It just occurred to me that maybe it was Cindy and she's not USED to actually shutting up when he tells her to.   

[fightingquaker13]

Actually, I support Frank and McCain here. These meetings should be about the exchange of ideas, not volume.The lawmaker (D or R) should be allowed a time to make their case pro or con.Then in the questions, the audience should do 1 of 2 things. Ask an honest question (what does x mean, cost or how will it be implemented), with a follow up in order to get a straight answer. Or they should be able to say I think this is wrong for the following 3 reasons, tell me why I'm wrong,again with follow ups. This way people learn, knowledge is advanced and the debate is moved forward. Otherwise its just a shouting match which generates heat but no light.It doesn't matter which side you're on.Do you want the Springer Show or Night Line? Which is the better option?Anger is cheap. Rational discourse is hard.You get what pay for and I am tired of debates being won by which side can yell the loudest. Rant off.
FQ13

[ericire12]

Actually, I support Frank and McCain here. These meetings should be about the exchange of ideas, not volume.The lawmaker (D or R) should be allowed a time to make their case pro or con.Then in the questions, the audience should do 1 of 2 things. Ask an honest question (what does x mean, cost or how will it be implemented), with a follow up in order to get a straight answer. Or they should be able to say I think this is wrong for the following 3 reasons, tell me why I'm wrong,again with follow ups. This way people learn, knowledge is advanced and the debate is moved forward. Otherwise its just a shouting match which generates heat but no light.It doesn't matter which side you're on.Do you want the Springer Show or Night Line? Which is the better option?Anger is cheap. Rational discourse is hard.You get what pay for and I am tired of debates being won by which side can yell the loudest. Rant off.
FQ13

WRONG!

Lets leave the classroom, and step back into the real world.....

Its not about having a debate or the politician presenting their case. The politician should not be there to try to convince those people of his/her stance.... They are there to listen to their constituents and find out what position they should be representing when they go back to Washington. Politicians are ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. They need to listen to how loud things are getting and realize that it is because they are not doing what the American people want.

If the people are not being heard, they damn well better be shouting at the top of their lungs to get their point across. That is what is so f-ed up about our politicians now days.... They see their constituents mad as hell and they think they are just loud and obnoxious. The truth is, that they are passionate Americans who care greatly about what is best for their country, and they are sick and tired of their elected officials not listening.

The lawmakers should not have a case to make. They should be showing up and only asking the question "Where should I stand on this issue?". Its not about winning a debate. Its about the politicians using the town halls to figure out where the majority of their constituents want them to stand on the issue. Those congress-sons-of-bitches should not be trying to drive the town halls. The reason it has turned into "Jerry Springer" is because the people are getting desperate to be heard. "Rational discourse" has gone out the window because the American people are feeling desperate and understand how dangerous ObamaCare is for our nation.

The more those idiots in Washington try to treat us like cattle, the more there will be this type of civil unrest. If you cant see this as a necessity for the good of our nation, then you just need to move your happy little ass to France! 

[tombogan03884]

 When we start asking reasonable, polite questions, lets start with this one, " Have you actually read this monstrosity from cover to cover ? "

[tt11758]

Actually, I support Frank and McCain here. These meetings should be about the exchange of ideas, not volume.The lawmaker (D or R) should be allowed a time to make their case pro or con.Then in the questions, the audience should do 1 of 2 things. Ask an honest question (what does x mean, cost or how will it be implemented), with a follow up in order to get a straight answer. Or they should be able to say I think this is wrong for the following 3 reasons, tell me why I'm wrong,again with follow ups. This way people learn, knowledge is advanced and the debate is moved forward. Otherwise its just a shouting match which generates heat but no light.It doesn't matter which side you're on.Do you want the Springer Show or Night Line? Which is the better option?Anger is cheap. Rational discourse is hard.You get what pay for and I am tired of debates being won by which side can yell the loudest. Rant off.
FQ13

While I agree with what you're saying, you need to remember that there are a lot of people who are REALLY pissed off at the people that are SUPPOSED to be representing them, yet don't seem to care about their opinions.  Frustration will get to you after a while.