Arlen Specter booed at town hall meeting

Republican-turned-Democratic Senator Arlen Specter found little support for health-care reform just east of Harrisburg Tuesday as he took questions from a hostile crowd.

Republican-turned-Democratic Senator Arlen Specter found little support for health-care reform just east of Harrisburg Tuesday as he took questions from a hostile crowd. Conservative groups targeted the townhall meeting and is one of the latest in a series of meetings taking place across the country where lawmakers face angry constituents.

More coverage on healthcare reform.

 

Specter will be holding another town-hall style meeting Wednesday in State College, while his opponent in the Democratic primary next year, Congressman Joe Sestak, is also holding one today, in Philadelphia.

Listen:
[audio: 090811spprotest.mp3]

Senator Specter tried handle the anger with an organized question and answer session. But not long into the meeting, one man began shouting out of frustration, attempting to leave, as Specter stepped into the fray.

Specter: Wait a minute…wait a minute!! you want to leave? leave.

But before leaving, he got his chance at the mic.

Angry Citizen: I don’t care how crooked you are…I’m not a lobbyist with a lot of money to stuff in your pocket so that you can cheat the citizens of this country, so I’ll leave and you’re gonna do whatever the hell your gonna do. One day God’s gonna stand before you and judge you… (clapping…)

Specter faced another hour of criticism, and tried to defend his consideration of a singer payer system.

Specter: I know the public opinion polls are high in favor of single payer, I know that, (….boo…ok…boos…ok.)

The Obama Administration unveiled a new website aimed to quote “debunk the misinformation and baseless smears” surrounding the healthcare debate.