Obama Braces for Health Care Town Hall in N.H.
The president is prepared for possible disruptions, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said in a televised interview. Obama will "probably ask them to be civilized," he said.
The president is prepared for possible disruptions, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said in a televised interview. Obama will "probably ask them to be civilized," he said.
AP
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is altering his message on his overhaul of the U.S. health care system, readying a fresh pitch designed for those who already have insurance.
The White House is retooling its message amid polling that shows Americans -- especially those who already have coverage -- skeptical of the Democratic proposals to expand coverage to millions. Instead, Obama will use a potentially boisterous town hall-style meeting in New Hampshire to highlight how his proposals would affect workers whose employers provide their health insurance.
The shift also is a potential blueprint for lawmakers' August recess. Critics of the president's plan have grabbed headlines by disrupting town hall meetings, and the White House expects that Tuesday's event may be bumpy.
Obama is prepared for possible disruptions, said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.
"I think what the president will do is turn to that person and probably ask them to be civilized and give them an answer to their question," Gibbs said Tuesday on CBS' "The Early Show."
The town hall tradition is to give people information, he said, "so they can make a decision about policy that impacts their lives and I think that's what this town hall meeting will do today and I know the president is excited about engaging the public again."
Concerns over Obama's proposal are heating up meetings, chat rooms and radio shows, driving his poll numbers down and threatening the future of his top domestic priority. While Congress is in recess for the month of August, lawmakers are hearing from constituents worried about divisive issues such as the government's role in health care and the costs of an overhaul.
"There's a lot of fear out there," said Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, a New Hampshire Democrat.To calm that fear, Obama plans to spend the month highlighting the upside of health overhaul for Americans already with insurance, starting in a state with 89 percent of its residents enjoying health coverage.
The White House is retooling its message amid polling that shows Americans -- especially those who already have coverage -- skeptical of the Democratic proposals to expand coverage to millions. Instead, Obama will use a potentially boisterous town hall-style meeting in New Hampshire to highlight how his proposals would affect workers whose employers provide their health insurance.
The shift also is a potential blueprint for lawmakers' August recess. Critics of the president's plan have grabbed headlines by disrupting town hall meetings, and the White House expects that Tuesday's event may be bumpy.
Obama is prepared for possible disruptions, said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.
"I think what the president will do is turn to that person and probably ask them to be civilized and give them an answer to their question," Gibbs said Tuesday on CBS' "The Early Show."
The town hall tradition is to give people information, he said, "so they can make a decision about policy that impacts their lives and I think that's what this town hall meeting will do today and I know the president is excited about engaging the public again."
Concerns over Obama's proposal are heating up meetings, chat rooms and radio shows, driving his poll numbers down and threatening the future of his top domestic priority. While Congress is in recess for the month of August, lawmakers are hearing from constituents worried about divisive issues such as the government's role in health care and the costs of an overhaul.
"There's a lot of fear out there," said Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, a New Hampshire Democrat.To calm that fear, Obama plans to spend the month highlighting the upside of health overhaul for Americans already with insurance, starting in a state with 89 percent of its residents enjoying health coverage.
How many different ways can you tell us that you want to control us and that you're going to screw us. I think they need to understand that it's our lives not theirs and we can make decisions for our selves.
By 2TheExtreme
No comments:
Post a Comment