Conservatives Say Dems Wrong to Call Town Hall Meeting Anger ‘Manufactured’

The Obama administration is making a mistake to dismiss town-hall meeting protests as “manufactured,” say Republican legislators and conservative groups opposing the health reform push.

"The simple fact is that the more Americans learn about the president's public options plan, the more they realize it is a massive government takeover plan that will mean higher taxes, bigger deficits and interfere with their current coverage resulting in delayed or denied medical care for them and their families,” said Rick Scott, chairman of the Conservatives for Patients’ Rights.

Scott and other opposition groups were reacting to White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs’ statement: “I hope people will take a jaundiced eye to what is clearly the Astro Turf nature of so-called grassroots lobbying. … This is manufactured anger.”

Protesters have been appearing at town hall meetings conducted by congressional members during their August recess. The protests have been mostly at meetings with Democrats such as   House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.  Another notable incident was during a meeting conducted by Arlen Specter, D-Pa., and Health Secretary Sebelius.  The crowd erupted when Specter said health care reform needed to be rushed.

House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Democrats are in denial over the opposition.

“Instead of acknowledging the widespread anger millions of Americans are feeling this summer toward Democrat-controlled Washington, Washington Democrats are trying to dismiss it as a fabrication," Boehner said.

Americans for Prosperity, through its Patients First campaign, is among groups pushing for protests at the town hall meetings and is also conducting a bus tour to drum up support.   This blog follows its progress and provides an action center.

Conservatives for Patients’ Rights also has an action center and a schedule of town hall meetings.

Steve welcomes comment at smorelli@insurancenewsnet.com.