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Opponents descend on Salazar's office
Protesting proposed health-care reform
Herald Staff Writer
Photo by JERRY McBRIDE/Herald photos
Bud Garner of Cortez takes care of his great-grandson, Kaleb Schmitt, 16 months, on Thursday during a rally against the Democrats’ plan in the U.S. House to reform health-care coverage. Opponents from several groups rallied at the offices of U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa.
Click image to enlarge
JERRY McBRIDE/Herald photos
Ray Wallace of Durango fills out a constituent input form during the rally. About 50 residents from Dove Creek to Bayfield joined the protest.
An orderly 50 or so protesters, who hail from communities stretching from Dove Creek to Bayfield, represented at least three interest groups - Republican women, the Tea Party movement and the 9-12 Project started by conservative radio and television commentator Glenn Beck.
The protest was part of a nationwide effort, which included thousands of conservatives rallying at the Capitol on Thursday against the Democrats' health-care overhaul plan, labeling it a government takeover of the nation's medical system.
Health-care reform misses the target on all fronts, the Durango protesters said. It's too costly, infringes on an individual's right to choose, undermines the self-reliance Americans pride themselves on, imposes fines on those who don't buy insurance, pays for practices such as abortion and covers illegal aliens from south of the border and Canadians who can't find health care at home.
"They couldn't handle the cash for clunkers program," one woman said, a reference to the effort to get pollution-belching vehicles off the road. "How can they manage health care?" Deidre Wilson of Durango said she and her husband, Todd, a self-employed mechanic, dropped health insurance when it busted their budget.
"I'm willing to take my chances," Wilson said. "I'll stick my neck out, save money to pay my own bills and die at home because I don't want you to pay for me." Wilson is scandalized by health care that includes funding for abortion.
"It's morally decaying," Wilson said. "I don't want the blood of someone's dead baby on my hands." Health care needs some work, but the whole system shouldn't be scrapped to start anew, Wilson said. She suggested starting with tort reform and increasing competition among insurance companies to lower the price of coverage.
Allen Kirk, a self-employed electrician from Bayfield, said abortion is an extremely sensitive issue for him.
"I'm very concerned," Kirk said. "We're killing our future generations." Wendy Cox of Bayfield organized a 9-12 Project cell there.
"Nowhere does the Constitution mandate health care," Cox said. "People have to take responsibility for themselves, and we have to get the illegal aliens out." A number of protesters scoffed at the idea that Salazar has read 2,000 pages of health-care legislation.
Stern said his boss won't vote for legislation he hasn't read. He has listened to input from all sides, Stern said.
"He may not vote the way you want," Stern said. "But he has analyzed the legislation and he takes the issue seriously." daler@durangoherald.com
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Durango Herald Calendar of Events
Friday, November 06, 2009
at 10:07:24 PM
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Fred says...
Glad to see there are fans of the fox COMEDY channel in DRO !!!!
Friday, November 06, 2009
at 7:32:02 PM
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Tom Carroll says...
Thank you Mr. Dale Rodebaugh for this fair report. It is refreshing to see this kind of reporting from the Durango Herald. You did not "Editorialize" and reported as you saw the story. Thank you. I might even subscribe again.
Friday, November 06, 2009
at 3:54:42 PM
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Stephanie says...
So nice to see actual serious reporting of an informed citizen citing the federal government's attempts at health care "reform" as unconstitutional (which it is). And so nice to see so many folks speaking up and making their voices heard in favor of health freedom.
Friday, November 06, 2009
at 1:34:38 PM
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Joyce Wood says...
I was pleasantly surprised that the Durango Herald, given its usual politicized takew on events, even covered the peaceful protest of Rep. Salazar's announced support for the monster federal healthcare plan. However, a better variety of questions could have been asked of the protesters re their specific objections to the bill, and the use of the word "cell" to describe Ms. Cox's affiliation with the "9-12 Project" has a negative connotation. Otherwise , your coverage was reasonably fair and comprehensive.