Another day, another town and another town hall meeting to try to convince people that his health care reforms will work for everyone. On Saturday President Barack Obama was in Grand Junction, Colorado speaking to yet another group of people who still have questions about his policies and intended reforms.
However one comment from the audience elicited a surprisingly personal reaction from the Commander - in - Chief. The question was about the increasingly contentious and vicious tone that the whole health care debate has been taking in recent weeks. ""I just lost my grandmother last year. I know what it's like to watch somebody you love, who's aging, deteriorate, and have to struggle with that," Obama stated, pausing between words and seeming to struggle to finish his thoughts "What you can't do -- or you can, but you shouldn't -- is start saying things like we want to set up 'death panels' to pull the plug on grandma,". He was referring to rumors and allegations made by opponents that a bill passed a House Committee included the setting up of "death panels" to decide which senior citizens should continue to receive medical treatment.
Obama finished his reply by stating "So the notion that somehow I ran for public office or members of Congress are in this so that they can go around pulling the plug on grandma ... when you start making arguments like that, it's simply dishonest,"
Barack Obama was perhaps closer to his grandmother than many people are. She was very active in raising him after his parents divorced when he was two, as his mother Ann Durham was often traveling in connection with her work as an anthropological field worker.
Ironically Madelyn Payne Durham died after a long illness on November 2nd 2009, just two days before her beloved grandson won his historic victory in the November 4th Presidential election. She was rarely seen during his campaign efforts due to her ill health. She did however get to cast her vote for his presidency, as she voted by mail from her home in Hawaii on October 27th.
The meeting in Grand Junction was the last of a three state tour that the President undertook this week. None of the meetings have been as contentious as some had expected, on the whole they have been fairly civil affairs with audiences appearing to be supportive of the President in general.
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President Obama is good for the country, good for morality, and good for ethical thinking--a true role model for children of all races. I applaud the man and his vision for our country.
ReplyDeleteWhatever his intentions...he would be wise to stop referring to "grandma" in the context he does. I've heard him refer to "pulling the plug on grandma" in several of his town halls. I think it sounds condescending and shows a lack of respect toward one of the most coveted titles of the English or any other language. He is supposed to be a great speaker, where is his tact?
ReplyDeletenice in grand junction - yes the bresnan internet magically went down so the lottery tickets could not be applied for and lots of dems got tickets and even repub reps where not the access list - it was all Rigged so pres looked Good at event
ReplyDeleteSO, WHAT? DID GRANDMA HIT THE O UP FOR SOME OF HIS SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS FROM HIS BOOKS BEFORE SHE PASSED? GEE WHIZ, PREZ, LETTING EMOTIONS RULE IS SUCH A GIRLY THING; ASK HILLARY.
ReplyDeleteIs that why he only saw grandma a few times over 6-years? He was sooo close to her.
ReplyDeleteObama threatens and challenges a lot of the old rules and ideological thinking that has governed this land. When he ran, he was accused of being a Muslim, bowing to a Saudi and even belittled, etc,etc,etc. He speaks clearly, he admits when he's wrong and he's well respected around the whole world. What he represents outweighs anything he can ever do...It's no secret
ReplyDeleteI have reservations concerning Obama and his white grandmother. He made reference to it in his book. His white grandmother told Obama that she was afraid of black men after she was confronted by a black loser at a bus stop. The black man wanted money from her, she gave him a dollar but he ranted and raved about wanting more money from her. In the beginning of Obama's campaign all we heard about was the black side of his family. Very little about the white side. Even though the white side of Obama's family were the ONLY family RESPONSIBLE enough to make sure Obama and his sister got raised to adulthood. Their so called mother "Stanley ann" was way too busy chasing black men rather than raising her children. It appears that neither his natural father or his adopted father wanted much to do with him, but it seems he has resentment for the white side of his family even though they took care of him. I'm not sure I would buy actual emotion at the town hall meeting. He is a fantastic orator and showman. That's all he has to offer. Pay attention America and be very skeptical of Obama and his cronies.
ReplyDeleteJohn P., your comment is refreshing and I believe you are correct.
ReplyDeleteLisa, The President is merely throwing the phrase back at it's creators. It was first said by anti healthcare reform folks interested in making the President lose political points. It was never intended to help make progress, it was intended to create division, and it has. I'm just living in a state of fear over the number of Americans that bought it.
Hey Guys let him to do his wish for the nation and dont jok with healthcare..He is trying to do good thing for the nation and country. I know for sure you like war, innocent people dying, homeless, broken family,broken nation.We got good president wait and see,
ReplyDelete