Protesters Disrupt Senate Hearing on Health Care

[jefferson_dem]

Run time: 09:30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prtYKvO05A8   Posted on YouTube: May 12, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: May 12, 2009 By DU Member: jefferson_dem Views on DU: 949

 
May 12 2009, 3:50 pm by Chris Good

Protesters Interrupt Health Reform Hearing

As Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, readied to make his opening remarks at a hearing on health reform today, he was preempted by a succession of five protesters who stood up, one after another, led out successively by the Capitol Police as Chairman Max Baucus banged his gavel and implored them to leave be the committee and its guest panelists--mostly professors and think-tank people, with one representative from labor and one from business.

One protester read a poems; another quoted Florence Nightengale; another cited statistics--all in favor of a single-payer health care system, as they were escorted from the room. Baucus finally promised that he would find a way to meet with anyone who wanted to be heard. "I'll be there personally, he said." Fast-forward to 5:30 to see the protests; watch from the beginning to see more protesters, dressed in nurses' garb, walk out of the hearing as it begins.

Baucus has sought to lead health reform efforts in the Senate this year; today's hearing was the third in a series of panel discussions featuring health care experts, and it was the committee's fifth hearing on health care this year.

http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/05/health_care_hearing_interrupted_by_protesters.php

[KansDem]

1. Wha...? Senator, no "we need more police" jokes?

Why won't you listen to these folks now? Why "invite" them to come into your office so you can "listen to them" then?

[snowdays]

2. I will have to look to see if Baucus and other LAUGHED at those

without insurance this time.

[JonathanMeador]

3. Why aren't more people doing this?

The only problem with this is that there weren't MORE people involved. It was a strong demonstration that could've been made ironclad if instead of a handful there were dozens upon dozens of people willing to speak truth to power.

[azmesa207]

5. I called

Senator Baucus Office a few day ago and I was told rudely by one of his staff after I ask why they didn't have a Representative from single payer health care at the hearing .He said they weren't going to listen to any one that supports something that will never pass in the senate they weren't going to waste the time . I told him that maybe Baucus should give back all the money he got from the health care industries shills and start working for the people instead of them .I think he is a disgrace to the democratic party as well as the rest of the blue dog democrats that vote for republican more then democratic issues .

[kaygore]

4. We must defeat Baucus when he runs again

Why doesn't John Kerry speak out for us?

[LaPera]

6. Against whom? Vote for a republican? There's no Dem against Baucus in the primary-People say shit

Like let's defeat someone....but who's to vote for only a republican....I'd never and will never vote for a fucking republican and their corporate sick ideology!

[bc3000]

10. Ironically, the 'republican' he defeated supports single payer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Kelleher

[kaygore]

12. Find a Democratic replacement and show the grassroots who

will support him or her. Baucus calling for more police to arrest those who spoke up for single payer health care alone should defeat the bastard. Given the degree he has sold out to special interests, he is very vulnerable. We need to be more proactive in getting good candidates to run and to challenge DINOs. Grassroots activism is not simply knocking on doors and using PayPal. We must find good people and get them to run.

[Thrill]

7. Baucus isn't a bad guy. Like the Republicans. The problem is the system

until there is Campaign Finance Reform, these guys simply aren't going to get behind something like that. The system is setup so they can't afford not to get those big contributions. Thats the reality of it all

[bc3000]

8. Baucus has already been bought and paid for

The Medical industry and insurance companies bought Baucus his senate seat. There is no reason at all to think he will betray their funding. He does not work for us, the American citizen. He works for the people at that round table.

Sen. Max Baucus took campaign contributions for a likely 2008 race from many of the industries he helps regulate and received nearly 91 percent of his individual donations from outside Montana.
...
The top industry supporting Baucus was insurance, which gave about $461,000. That was followed by securities and investments, then lawyers and law firms. The Center for Responsive Politics compiled those figures from PACs and from individual contributors listed with the companies as their employer.

The other highest-ranking industries were in the health sector, including pharmaceuticals, health products, health professionals and HMOs.

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/12/03/news/local/news03.txt

[Necon-Be-Gone]

9. SIngle-payer advocates don't get

seated at the table. They get arrested and seated in the paddy wagon.

That isn't listening and that isn't respect.

[NorthCarolina]

11. I seriously doubt that anything even remotely resembling "single payer" has a ghost of a chance

the insurance lobby has more than enough money to buy all the reform protection they need. Single payer or medicare for all..not gonna happen, no way, no how. In order for the people to have any say would require a massive turnover of Congress, Senate, and even the White House which is pretty insurmountable. Congress will pass a plan, the plan will keep the private insurers in control, insurance will take a 1.5% hit per year on income but will more than make up for it by increasing claims denials, and people will continue to go uninsured.