White House advises Democrats on protests

[liberal N proud]

Congress' longest-serving member vows to push ahead on health care

AP
WASHINGTON - Congress' longest-serving member and a fierce health care advocate vowed Friday to push ahead with Democratic-led efforts to extend coverage to all, saying he won't be intimidated by protesters who disrupted his town-hall meetings.

"I am eager to talk about the bill with anyone who wants to discuss it. That doesn't open the door to everyone who wants to demagogue the discussion," Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., said in a statement the day after holding back-to-back sessions that got so raucous police had to escort people out.

Dingell's response to the furious crowd came as the Obama administration stepped up its efforts to dispel what it called myths surrounding the president's campaign to overhaul the system. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius held a Webcast in which she dismissed suggestions that the government will ration care or cut Medicare benefits.

<snip>

In his statement, Dingell described being confronted by a father who feared legislation would prevent his son who is has cerebral palsy from getting care.

"Unfortunately, he would not allow me an opportunity to respond to his concern," Dingell said. "I'm sorry that Romulus Police had to escort them out, but he left officers no choice. We had 200 people in the hall, more than 200 people outside, and we could not let one person take over that meeting."

The town hall protests are becoming widespread around the country as local activists, sometimes helped by national conservative groups, spread the word and encourage people to attend to challenge Democrats on President Barack Obama's plans. The activists make accusations including that Democrats are trying to socialize health care, ration care or even euthanize the elderly.

"As long as I have a vote, I will not let shouting, intimidation or misinformation deter me from fighting for this cause," Dingell said.

<snip>

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32329508/ns/politics-white_house/?gt1=43001

[stevedeshazer]

1. John Dingell is a champion.

How dare these morans do this to a guy who has spent more than a half-century working for, well, me and my family, the working class?

Damn them.

[Honeycombe8]

2. I'm glad they're finally removing those traitors. They're interfering with citizens who

are REALLY there for a discussion and to get information.

[Cha]

3. Thanks, Rep

John Dingell!

[depakid]

4. Let's get this straight- the guy's got a kid with cerebral palsy

and he's buying into Limbaugh and Glen Beck?

Wow.

Seems like something's going on underneath the surface that Democrats might want to pay attention to,

[Divine Discontent]

5. my early 60's friend who has an 90 yr old mother nearing the end of her life is irate and crazy

about the Obama camp, today, more than ever.... something is totally happening. scary.... its Faux News mostly, but it's also the radio pigs.

[depakid]

6. They're tapping into something that can and should be pointed another way

[Drunken Irishman]

13. Yeah, it's calling tapping into stupid.

I know we hate to believe that exists here, but it does.

These are the same idiots who felt Saddam had ties to 9/11 or gave Bush enough support to win re-election.

That's what we're facing.

[csziggy]

11. I tried to look up "Mike Sola" from Milan, Michigan the other night

The only "Sola" is a Mladen Sola in Milan. No listed phone but there is a house owned by him and his wife that I found through the country Property Office.

I screwed up and got too tired and closed the file without saving. Then I totally forgot until now. I've wondering who this guy is and what his real story is.

So if any one has more energy than I do this week, maybe they can try to find out who he is!

ETA: "Mike Sola" was the name given for the guy with the son in the wheelchair.

[Martin Mind]

12. I have also been trying to look up the names of the critics of Dingell et al

I am not sure but I think that Scott Sola, the 39 year old paraded by "Mike" Sola might live in Schaumburg Illinois.

I am wondering if all is as appears. I was wondering if "Mike" was right that the bill would do nothing for his son because perhaps his son is a successful businessman or online entrepreneur who needs no government option.

Perhaps these people should be outed. If they are legitimate, so be it. If not, then they should be exposed for being the kind of fraud that they accuse Dingell of being.

Is anyone interested in trying to compile information? No one has the time to do all the work.

Any takers?

[csziggy]

14. I've tried off and on to look up some of the most vocal people - the ones whose names get in the new

News. But I've had pretty consistent failures on finding them. Either they are not from where they claim to be or they have unlisted numbers and don't own property. Or I am just not looking in the right sources. But right now I am not up to coherent research, just hit or miss attempts.

[Douglas Carpenter]

7. KICK AND RECOMMEND!!! John Dingell is a great man! God Bless him!!

Imagine he was first elected to Congress in November of 1954. Hmm, that's when I was born.

[jenmito]

8. Dingell was on MSNBC this morning and said over 100 people were NOT from his

district according to the sign-in list. (Shouldn't they ID people BEFORE allowing them in to make sure they ARE constituents?)

[livetohike]

9. That makes sense to me. All they have to do is say they

want seats for their constituents - there are fire laws about how many people are permitted in a building. That should exclude the disruptors.

[Vidar]

10. Good for Dingell.