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The town hall that changed the health care debate

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    Original health care law opponents look forward, back

  • Duration 8:35
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Tomorrow marks two years to the -- since President Obama signed the controversial bill into law.

But back in August of 2009 months before that happened.

American started to learn more about the law and at the time we saw a remarkable grass roots uprising.

Starting with.

I remember it well Bill Hemmer and I were on the air doing America's Newsroom and we we're told the cut to breaking news at an Arlen Specter town hall we're -- gonna take a minute of it.

An hour later.

We came back on camera here's a bit.

Alone that's -- we would ask for.

Either things in my government is doing they are not working for us.

They are working against this.

We cannot afford this.

Period keep the government out of it we're going just fine thanks.

You want -- -- out of here you're welcome to go.

Wait I can't speak.

People if I hear people older -- like -- This is incredible for the United States of America so the people in this room want their country back.

If you.

Yes I'm angry I'm an American citizen -- a voter and taxpayer.

I don't like the fact that my elected officials.

Are running around calling me on American.

-- -- -- -- Okay.

I'm sick of alliance.

-- -- lesbian like Tim I don't like being lied about.

This administration is doing both those things.

Washington DC.

And tell those people to do what the president said that I should do is shut up and get out of the way it's not about left and right.

This is about the systematic dismantling of this country.

In just sleeping giant.

-- Joining us now that woman you just heard the end Katy Abram who attended that town -- back in 2009.

Also hear Tracy Miller who was a vocal participant at another town hall hosted by democratic congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

And Tea Party patriots co-founder Jenny Beth Martin is co author of Tea Party patriots -- in the second American revolution.

Ladies thank you all so much for being here -- let me start with you Katie I remember that so well as I said the introduction Hemmer and I were sitting there.

Just gonna take a sound byte it was because -- it was getting a contentious wait a minute we didn't we went to take up a bit.

That turned out to be a seminal moment in the health care debate.

Do you feel like.

You do you feel like you lost that debate.

-- absolutely not you know.

As the health care debate went on -- you know obviously we saw that this federal government chose not to listen to us.

And it's it's a clues he said if we can't go through the -- will jump over the fence that we can't jump over the fence -- parachute -- this should the arrogance of Nancy Pelosi Barack Obama and the rest of this administration.

In 2010 it was true and we proved that this debate has not gone away and that we are forced to be reckoned -- Tracy Miller you you had he went to this -- publish it Sheila Jackson Lee where she took a typical cell phone call.

In the middle and kept everybody -- who showed up to talk to her waiting that became controversial people took note.

Did you get politically active at the time it was it because of the health care bill.

I would say the health care bill made it personal for me like it has for many Americans when.

When the government comes for your health care -- was to make decisions that impact your life and -- -- and your family.

And that's personal and so it's it awaken a lot of people that were at before this on the political sidelines.

Jenny do you feel well.

-- like the health care law spurred the Tea Party movement in part.

Well the Tea Party movement in the modern day form started before the health care legislation but it definitely added fueled the fire.

People in America do not want the government should control and control our lives they don't want it to control our health care.

And at this the -- a complete and total overreach of the federal government.

Katie that would the latest polls this is an ABC news Washington Post poll says Americans oppose this -- now by 52.

To 41%.

41% support it 67%.

Believe the High Court should -- this law or at least the portion that requires.

-- requires people to have coverage the mandate 67%.

Believe that's what should happen next week do you still have hopes.

That we're gonna see this law eliminated either by the US Supreme Court but which could got it.

Or the next presidential election.

I pray that they do overturn this law but the thing that concerns me as well we have justices on the that the Supreme Court better.

Ridiculing that the constitution.

In an of itself that concerns me a lot.

You know we have to stand together and -- next Tuesday I'm going to be down -- Washington DC across from the Supreme Court.

With the hands off my health care rally and we are going to be standing one last time against this -- and if this bill is not overturn the Supreme Court.

And we are going to have to focus our sights on congress to repeal this bill themselves -- -- it's interesting to hear you saying it on his rally next week you were political before this were you I mean you said you've awakened this week John and now look at Q.

Why why does this touch such a -- why did it at such a -- for those.

Were at that town hall.

You know what listening to the video that you played it.

I almost wanted to start crying because you felt the passion of everybody in that room.

The last thing we want is the government to walk and -- -- front -- and mandate that we have to have one product during other.

When you look at the federal government now they would love nothing more than for all of us to drive a Chevy -- Look at what an awful car that is do you want your health care to be exactly like a Chevy Volt I don't think so.

Tracy you know whenever you talk to Democrats about -- they say look that they disapproval numbers of his health care law it's not just Republicans it's Democrats who wanted a bigger.

Boulder law who wanted to you know a government option and so on.

It do you think that they accurately have their that their finger on the pulse of how Americans feel.

No I don't and -- a lot of people turning to government for an answer to their problems that right now and and health -- just one of the places they're trying to -- problems but I would say to someone who wants even more from the government.

And the taxpayer to pay for it.

I haven't seen the government to solve any problems we've had governments all over the world trying to solve poverty for.

Hundreds of years and it's never happened.

And our government is not going to -- health care.

And we cannot even afford this I think the bottom line is.

We can't afford it said not only isn't a personal decision between a doctor -- a patient what.

But type of care they're going to receive and -- having a panel decide if you're eligible or not.

For that procedure.

It's also a matter if we can't afford this now we have -- out of control spending spree going on.

In DC in its unsustainable.

Jenny Jenny Beth.

3737.

Democratic house members who voted for health care.

Were defeated when they ran for reelection the president barely mentioned it in his State of the Union Address.

The majority of Americans oppose the law 67%.

Believe the High Court should ditch it and yet it may not.

It may not an end this -- may stamped.

In in this society.

One of -- lessons of that.

We'll win -- last thanks 6770%.

Of Americans agree on a political issue.

-- must keep it that many Americans to agree on apple pie congress and Washington DC need to listen.

And it may need to realize that Obama care is like cancer in our government and it's -- to rip it out -- -- hundred still this legislation now.

Props she brought props -- it.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- We remember it well remember watching some of you at these town halls we thought now with this with a lot going -- -- the supreme court for a you know its final constitutional test at least for now.

We checked back -- Thank you so much for being here.

Think you think you think you.

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