The three cable news channels are carrying Pres. Obama’s town hall meeting in Grand Junction, Colorado. Before taking questions, the president made reference to the often boisterous town halls hosted by members of congress the past two weeks.
Yesterday I held a town hall in Belgrade, Montana. And we had a pretty good crowd. Some were big supporters of reform, some had concerns and questions, some were completely skeptical. And I got tough questions, but even though Montanans had strong opinions, they didn’t shout at one another, they were there to listen and that reflects the American people and what our democracy is about. A lot more than what’s been covered on TV the last several days.
> One audience member wondered if something could “be done” about the “misinformation” about reform, saying “we all know where it’s coming from”…
This problem with misinformation in our country. It seems to me that it’s not only hurting healthcare reform, health insurance reform, it’s dividing our country. Is it not maybe time… I think we all know where it’s coming from… is it not time that something can be done? Okay, I gotta watch what I’m saying…
Pres. Obama summed it up this way, using the so-called death panel provision as an example: “So when I have people who just a couple years ago thought this was a good idea, now getting on television suggesting that it’s a plot against grandma or sneaking euthanasia into our healthcare system, that feels dishonest to me.”