Health care forums in planning stage
By Schuyler Kropf
Given the heated outpouring nationally, some members of South Carolina's congressional delegation have been slow to schedule town hall gatherings where health care reform is the hot-button issue.
But events are being booked.
U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, a Republican point man challenging the Obama administration on health care, will be on Daniel Island for a forum Monday, his office said. The time, place and details are still being arranged.
On the flip side, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, a Democrat and Obama supporter whose 6th District includes part of the Charleston area, held a health care forum here last month. He's continuing to address the issue in other arenas, his office said.
Charleston's other congressman, Republican 1st District Rep. Henry Brown, did not respond to questions about whether he was planning anything.
With Congress on its August recess, health-care-related town-hall-style meetings have been the dominant out-of-Washington story. Accounts of screaming, interruptions and organized opposition have been the norm.
South Carolina's leaders have taken notice. A spokesman for DeMint said his forum would welcome discussion on health care, jobs and energy policy, but added that the senator is not surprised at the passion being expressed at the forums "as many feel ignored by Washington and the rush of spending and debt in recent months."
Press secretary Ryan Dawkins said
DeMint has "encouraged all sides of the debate to be respectful, but he's disappointed with attempts by Democrats to demean and silence anyone with opposing views."
Clyburn, in an interview last week, gave a different view, pegging "goons" as the disrupters at meetings that, in previous times, more closely followed a civil discourse.
"But now these corporate-sponsored goon gangs is what I call them (are) showing up at these meetings, disrupting things, talking over people. How is that democracy?" Clyburn said. "That is not what democracy is defined as when I learned it in the eighth grade. Everybody has freedom of speech, not just those who yell the loudest, but everybody's got that."
DeMint's office said the Daniel Island event will be one of as many as five gatherings that will be held around the state.
Meanwhile, Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, whose 2nd District includes parts of middle and coastal South Carolina, has scheduled meetings that include gatherings in Beaufort and Hilton Head Island, late next week. Health care is the dominant topic, his office said, but other questions will be addressed, as well.
Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham held a telephone conference call Monday that was made available to state voters. It touched on health care, the Supreme Court and other national issues. Graham's office said Tuesday they favored the phone method as the best use of time, reach and technology.
Yvonne Wenger contributed to this report. Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551 or skropf@postandcourier.com.
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cappy (anonymous) says...
"But now these corporate-sponsored goon gangs is what I call them (are) showing up at these meetings, disrupting things, talking over people. How is that democracy?" Clyburn said. "That is not what democracy is defined as when I learned it in the eighth grade."
Funny how things change when the shoe is on the other foot. The only goon gangs are coming out of Washington. Democracy is when the elected officials respond to the will of the people, not their own ajenda.
August 12, 2009 at 7:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Larz13 (anonymous) says...
The 8th grade was probably the last grade Clyburn attended!
How much cash do you have in your freezer, Congressman?
August 12, 2009 at 7:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cwmcpa (anonymous) says...
Mr Clyburn held his event in the mostt stealth like manner. No advertisement and stacked with his staff to ensure he did not recieve any questons but softballs. P&C should read their own patronizing article abouth the event. Mr Clyburn knows that hte people of SC are not for this, just like they were not for cap and trade. Mr clyburn is for the party of Pelosi and could care lees about the 6th district, unlees you are his daughter then he has a 160K job that requires no qualifications.
August 12, 2009 at 7:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scottmcx (anonymous) says...
The "goon gangs" are the likes of Obama, Sharpton, ACORN and the NAACP. They have been threating businesses and politicians for over 50 years.
Payback is hell!
Stop the OBAMA-NAZIS!
WATERLOO! The end of this insanity is near!
August 12, 2009 at 7:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BootstrapRed (anonymous) says...
scottmcx
"The "goon gangs" are the likes of Obama, Sharpton, ACORN and the NAACP. They have been threating businesses and politicians for over 50 years."
That comment is priceless!
August 12, 2009 at 7:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tc1 (anonymous) says...
"But now these corporate-sponsored goon gangs is what I call them (are) showing up at these meetings, disrupting things, talking over people. How is that democracy?" Clyburn said.
If you want to know what a liberal is up to listen to what he is accusing you of.
August 12, 2009 at 8:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mb300sl (anonymous) says...
I hope this health care debate is the beginning of the end for the Obamessiah...
August 12, 2009 at 9:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realamerican (anonymous) says...
Wingnuts on the warpath. LoL!
They have been reduced to ignorant slogans repeated over and over, drowning out debate on the issues and lying through their teeth about what few details have emerged about the emerging health care plan.
Forget about the republicans and steam roller right over them. They have been proven not worthy of serious discussion on the issues.
August 12, 2009 at 9:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Whatsupwidat (anonymous) says...
Jim Demint appears to be the only local pol with the testicular fortitude to actually find out what the home folks think about the creation of the new form of government. Trust me, the health care issue is only the tip of the iceberg. People are fed up with politicians that spend trillions of dollars without seeing a need to read the legilation before they vote for it, spend ten million dollars on travel in a chartered jet and talk about cutting costs, ignore the welfare of of the american people while lining their pockets and those of family members, divert billions to pay off political supporters, etc, etc.
August 12, 2009 at 9:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ginj (anonymous) says...
If this health care plan is so good for everyone, why is Congress exempt from it? These "Goon Gangs" are unamerican until they are protesting against conservatives. This country was founded on and works best with more competition and less government. It's time we stopped having these professional politicians and forced them to live within TERM LIMITS.
August 12, 2009 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crankyyankee (anonymous) says...
The only way to change this is require voters to be vested citizens who meet one of the following:
1. Pay income tax
2. Own property
3. Have two or more years of public service
Once the voters have a vested interest in the welfare of our Country we will see a more business like and sustainable posture from Government. Until then it's empty promises and special interest favoritism for all! Both Dems and the GOP! Our leaders today do not have the best interest of the Counrty in mind only their best interest and re-election.
August 12, 2009 at 11:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CHRISJIII (anonymous) says...
Of course DeMint is holding rallies. The protesters don't disrupt republican town hall meetings, they only disrupt those held by Democrats. That in itself lets you know who is behind these idiots and their so called outrage. Ask any of them what socialism means I'll bet you'll get the same answer that you got when they were asked what appeasement meant. The answer that they gave was "duh".
August 12, 2009 at 11:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scottmcx (anonymous) says...
Chris,
If there was any real, in depth support of the non-existant health care plan that must be passed now, even though no one knows what it is...they'd be raising hell at DeMint's meeting, don't you think?
There is NO SUPPORT for the non-plan except lazy jackasses that want something for free from my work.
August 12, 2009 at 12:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scottmcx (anonymous) says...
And BTW, Thank Gawd...Most Americans aren't lazy jackasses.
August 12, 2009 at 12:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ginj (anonymous) says...
"Of course DeMint is holding rallies. The protesters don't disrupt republican town hall meetings, they only disrupt those held by Democrats." I seem to recall many disruptions whenever Republican's had something to say for the past several years. Especially, on college campuses. One speaker was escorted off stage for fear he would be assaulted. How quickly they forget when it's not their people.
August 12, 2009 at 2:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sanfordmustGO (anonymous) says...
Will be there with bells and whistles!! Hmmm... another topic could be... how to HEAL SC AND GET SANFORD OUT ASAP!
Hear ye, hear ye, I dare you to dial (803) 734-2100, Gov. Sanford's staff, and tell them YOU WANT HIM TO DO THE RIGHT THING in this one instance and resign asap. I just did and believe me they are getting the message. Don't be a hypocrite like Gov. Sanford and just talk, but do something constructive, CALL NOW!
August 18, 2009 at 12:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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