Town Hall Meeting Peaceful Yet Unwavering
Congressman Kendrick Meek Unable to Persuade Skeptics
Carlos Miller
Congressman Kendrick Meek leads a town hall meeting on health care reform Thursday night at Miami-Dade College's North Campus.
With all the violence occurring at health care reform town hall meetings around the country, you would probably expect the same in Miami where political passions have been known to get aggressive.
It was only on Wednesday that Miami police arrested a man, who opposed health care reform, for allegedly punching another man, who supported health care reform.
The incident took place outside a private meeting hosted by Democratic Senator Bill Nelson at Parrot Island, according to The Miami Herald.
Witnesses say that 56-year-old Raul Anasagasti pulled up in his pick up truck and began arguing against health care reform to a group of demonstrators.
He began exchanging insults with 65-year-old Luis Perrero before punching him out, causing Perrero to lay motionless on the grass for about five minutes, according to police.
Anasagasti, who left his truck running, was unable to leave because someone had removed the keys, allowing police to arrest him.
He was charged with battery on a person 65 or older. Anasagasti, who owns Galo Air Conditioner in South Dade, claims self defense.
That same day, a 65-year-old man in California, who also oppose health care reform, had his finger bitten off after he punched a man who supported health care reform.
So naturally when Congressman Kendrick Meek prepared to lead his own town hall meeting on Thursday at Miami-Dade College’s North Campus, police prepared for the worst.
More than 20 police officers stood by as people walked into the venue that only seats 500.
It was actually a very civil forum where people on both sides of the issue were able to speak their mind without being attacked, threatened or intimidated.
A few who opposed the health care reform attended the forum in the hopes that their questions would be answered.
But even after more than two hours of Meek trying his best to persuade the crowd of the benefits of health care reform, the handful of skeptics were still not convinced.
“I think they are rushing into it,” said Ron Garcia of Miramar, one of several given the opportunity to address Meek directly.
“They still haven’t told me how they are going to guarantee this for our future generations. I’m worried that this will become like another social security where the money runs out.”
Mike Hathaway of Pembroke Pines was also skeptical.
“I believe there is room for reform but we can do it without creating more bureaucracy,” he said.
Hathaway believed the first step in reform should be to remove the barriers that forbid insurance companies from competing across state lines.
Currently, there isn’t a national market for private insurance companies but 50 separate state markets as well as an additional market for Washington DC.
But most people in the audience fully supported President Barack Obama’s plan to reform health care, including that of a public option, which would give Americans the option of choosing a government run health care plan.
But many political analysts believe the idea of a public option is fading fast from Obama’s plans.
Whether that is true, Obama has not said. However, he will address the nation on Wednesday to reveal his most recent plans on health care reform.
Fully supporting the public option is Dave Patlak, who ran against Ileana Ros-Lehiten for Congress in 2006.
He attended Thursday’s forum and was relieved to learn that Meek was also supporting the public option.
“When I came here tonight, I didn’t know where he stood,” Patlak said. “Now I know.”
Posted Saturday, Sep 5, 2009 - 2:50 PM EST
