You Just Got Rationed

I can't believe this made it in the "news" section. Talk about having a closed mind. Several points:

1.)Regarding your implied disgust about people coming with their "preformed questions". These are thinking people. They had questions that they had actually thought about over the past few weeks. Would it seem more "honest" if people got up to the mic, stumbled around and thought up a question on the spot?
2.) Vandeventer, and many others, are upset because Capps is not going to hold a town hall during recess. That is what recess is for. It is easy to say she will have one after the vote is over in September.
3.) Your comment about not being able to record a comment. They taped for an hour or more before and stayed after until everyone had said their piece. They couldn't record while the event was going on due to sound restrictions. Sorry that didn't fit with your schedule.

This is such sloppy slanted reporting, you didn't even get the organizer's name right. It is Clark Vandeventer, not Gary. Gary Vandeventer is a doctor in town. I guess the facts don't really matter much anyways.

This is clearly marked as a Letter, mr. concernedamerican.

Now you've got me concerned you've read HR 3200 just as carelessly.

It is in the news section if you look at the link. I am actually glad to hear that this is an opinion letter.
If I read the bill carelessly it would be more than most of the people who are voting on the bill have done.
My other points still stand.

Rick,

I, too, felt your pain regarding Joe Armendariz. A couple of points struck me in particular:

1. When Joe chose to bring up the term "Death Panels." I nearly fell of my chair in disgust! He tried to backpedal by adding something like "the supposed Death Panels..." I was almost ill myself knowing that one of our local leaders is willing to use a lie that Sarah Palin proudly states when he should certainly know better. They don't exist, never did and anyone, especially an expert on the subject, should be ashamed of perpetuating the lies and using such scare tactics!

2. I was surprised when Joe raised his hand to say he is a Mexican American when a woman asking a question announced she was the only Mexican in the room. Why was I surprised? Because he seemed to have no problem with all the people in the room who were viciously anti-illegal aliens. Don't get me wrong, I am not a supporter of illegals necessarily, but the hatred in the tone and the jeers from the audience about illegals being covered by the proposed Health Care Reform bill (WHICH THEY ARE NOT) was scary to me. To see Joe align himself with folks who sounded to me to be so full of hate concerned me. I am not sure I can explain why other than I would have thought someone from a Mexican heritage would at least be able to understand or show some empathy for the illegals' plight.

I also wondered how many of those in the room, who had so much contempt for the illegals, actually benefit from them being here in the US in some way...

I must say that I was impressed with the job Clark Vandeventer did moderating. It was a tough crowd and those of us in support of reform were, by far, in the minority. Considering the audience, I thought he did a good job in keeping it as fair as possible.

Dr. J Kahn did an incredibly good job representing the case for reform and common decency.

Sherry Holland
Community Organizer, Organizing for America

Mr. Closson:

I'm amazed that we were at the same meeting. I stayed the entire time and came away thinking it was incredibly well done and that I had learned a lot.

Mr. Vandeventer did an excellent job of keeping the conversation on topic and moving along. I was a bit apprehensive about attending a meeting that had the potential to become a riot. There was ONE individual who could or would not control himself and was told to leave. I never did figure out which side he was on.

I am philosophically opposed to big government and specifically opposed to the concept of HR3200. Although I did not line up to ask a question, I certainly went to the meeting with questions that I hoped to have answered.

I thought that Dr. Kahn did an excellent job stating his position and brought issues to the table that I had not had reason to consider. Mr. Armendariz was well able to defend the "anti-HR3200" position and verbalized quite well how the insurance industry and tax laws could and should be changed.

Perhaps if you had actually stayed for the entire meeting and had an open mind, you might have learned something - or at least have been able to be comment on what actually happened instead of what you assume happened.

Cheers to Clark Vandeventer for caring enough to set up the meeting and conduct it in a productive and respectful manner to both sides of the debate. Cheers to Dr. Kahn and Mr. Armendariz for stating their opinions on the subject at hand in a manner that was respectful both to their opponent and those of us who came to listen and learn.

Dear Sherry,

If you had actually listened to the discussion as opposed to hissing and booing every time I said something you disagreed with, you would know that I never said HR 3200 had so-called death panels. And I never back pedaled because there was nothing to back pedal from.

I invite you to review the DVD with me and you will discover that when I used the term "death panels" I used it as an example of what the future of American health care does not require in order to be effective...I think we can all agree on that. But the fact remains there are a lot of Americans who are concerned that any health care reform bill written by lawyers and politicians will include language that deals with "end of life" health care decisions that make them feel less safe and in certain cases downright vulnerable.

Whether some people believe HR 3200, as currently written, establishes so-called death panels is of less importance to me, at least while debating this issue, than what I believe the future of health care is and what it isn't: as I said over and over again Monday night, the future of American health care is not centralized, managed care systems run out of Washington D.C...rather the future of American health care is decentralized, consumer driven, health markets without third party payers.

If you would like to debate this issue with me, please be my guest. I think you might have even had your chance to do so on Monday night, as did every elected Democrat politician in Santa Barbara. Unfortunately not a single one would agree to do so. But debating these issues requires more effort than sitting in the audience booing and then sending letters to the editor that distort the positions of the participant you were pre disposed to disagree with.

The discussion lasted nearly two hours...there were lots of questions and answers and to pick out a couple of words or sentences in order to portray someone as negatively as possible is not surprising but less than honorable.

Lastly, I can appreciate that you are surprised and disappointed that I am not a Liberal Democrat and apologist for illegal immigration and big government in light of my Hispanic heritage. And that is one of the cool things about Hispanics...we come in all shapes and sizes with different political views, religious beliefs, musical tastes, fashion styles, and yes, even prejudices. Indeed, we even have a variety of hopes and dreams for our lives and the lives of our families, friends and communities...you know, just like regular people.

Best,
Joe Armendariz
990-2494

Why does the term blowhard seem so appropriate?

Investors' Business Daily does a good job of identifying the racial component of the Democratic health reform plan.

"Reparations By Way Of Health Care Reform"

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArtic...

An example,

"Under the Democrats' plans, if a medical school wants to receive contracts and grants from the federal government, it must operate under a quota system and be able to prove it. On Page 909, the House bill states: "In awarding grants or contracts under this section, the (HHS) secretary shall give preference to entities that have a demonstrated record of the following: . . . training individuals who are from underrepresented minority groups or disadvantaged backgrounds."

In the bad old days of white privilege, WASPs kept Jews out of medical schools because it was thought that they did not have the cultural competency to treat gentiles. Today, the Democrats want to keep whites (including Jews) as well as Asians out of medical schools because they supposedly lack the cultural competency to treat Latinos. Absolutely disgusting.

I am grateful to all the posters who have commented on my letter although it would be even more gratifying if we [myself included] could pose broader and deeper discussions on aspects of healthcare reform instead of the failings of speakers and writers.

There are, however, several points that require additional comment. As has been noted above, the evening's organizer was Clark Vandeventer, not Gary. My sincere apologies to both Vandeventers. It is Clark's Facebook page [Google cached 8/23/09, since modified] that proclaims his allegiance to Glenn [Obama's "a racist"] Beck.

My point was to assert that the moderator was not as even-handed and unbiased as he wished us to believe. As further evidence of this, he "buddied up to" locally recognized conservative [and evening speaker] Joe Armendariz, and pilloried Rep. Capps. My original submission attributed the Capps attacks solely to Vandeventer, not Armendariz who I did not hear mention Mrs. Capps. A slight unfortunate change by an editor offered a substantially different message to readers.

While one commenter above reports that video messaging to Rep. Capps was available "for an hour or more before" the event, we waiting at the front door of the University Club were not admitted until 25 minutes prior. Perhaps other invitees had better access to the videographer.

I appreciate the clarification Rick...it wasn't necessary but a classy move on our part nonetheless.

Best,
Joe

I meant YOUR part.

JA

I was at the town hall meeting to get informed. I found the evening organized, and well thought out. Each speaker had a great opportunity to present their positions and each took hard-hitting questions. What I took away from this forum was this: I don't think anyone understands the bill that is over 1000 pages and is incomprehensible - even for most attorneys. I also figured out that if we have the same amount of doctors, nurses, and hospitals in this country and we add 45 million or more people on health insurance .... a boring 1 hour town hall meeting will look like a Sunday picnic compared to how long we will all have to wait to see a doctor... You don't need a doctorate degree in mathematics to figure this one out! We need reform - not a complete overhaul and not one who few really understand. I also agreed that Rep. Capps needed to be in her district to educate us and address our cares and concerns. Whatever our position - health care is a very personal thing to each and every one of us. Let us stop screaming and hating the other just because we may have a different view point. Let us expand on our strengths and work to fix the areas of weaknesses in health care.

"Revisionsist" has indeed revised the healthcare bill to reflect his/her own racism. Sad thing is, there are people out there willfully ignorant enough to believe it.
Idea, move to Texas, secede, and stay on your side of the border.