A Town Hall Without the Drama
Thursday, Jan 7, 2010 | Updated 2:44 PM PST
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KITTANNING, PA - AUGUST 13: Both protestors and supporters of health care reform demonstrate on the parking lot outside of a town hall meeting hosted by Senator Arlen Specter on August 13, 2009 in Kittanning, Pennsylvania. Specter held the town hall meeting to speak with local residents about health care reform. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
A South Los Angeles congresswoman held a drama-free town hall meeting at Los Angeles Southwest College in support of President Barack Obama's national health care plan.
"The health care system is broken and it's got to be fixed," Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, told an supportive crowd of more than 400 people Saturday, the Daily Breeze reported.
"It's not simply about the 47 million people who are uninsured, it's about people who can afford health care, who are paying premiums every month but finding that their premium costs keep increasing. God forbid you have a catastrophe."
Other politicians have faced angry questioners when they hosted similar events in recent weeks. And protestors have used the events as opportunities to criticize not only health care, but other policies of the president.
Waters opposition at Saturday's town hall meeting included a man wearing a Halloween mask and a hood, silently holding a handmade sign over his head,
reading "Disease yes. Medical reform no. Satan." When asked if he was expecting any support, the man laughed.
The only time the crowd booed was when Waters mentioned Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor, who helped popularize the idea that "death panels" would decide end-of-life issues for seniors.
Hawthorne resident Yvette Johnson-Reagan told the Daily Breeze she had insurance, but wanted to make sure the less fortunate could afford it as well.
"I'm not doing it for me," Johnson-Reagan said. "I'm doing it for the people who were at the Forum."
She was referring to a health clinic at the Forum in Inglewood earlier this month that drew thousands of people seeking free medical attention.
Waters drew applause when she painted a picture of greedy insurance companies milking the public dry.
"This is about getting a handle on the rising costs," she said. "It's about creating competition. It's about being able to ensure that we don't let the same people that's been ripping us off continue to rip us off."
Sybil Tullos told the Daily Breeze she has had trouble getting insurance because she has pre-existing conditions, a situation Waters promised to fix.
"If I lose my job, I'm screwed," Tullos said. "I'm sick of seeing people demonize President Obama."
