[Vision2020] Boise Health Care Rally Turns Into Shout-Down

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the Spokesman Review website.

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Boise health care rally turns into shout-down

BOISE - A health care reform rally in Boise today featuring Idaho
small-business owners who are struggling to provide health insurance for
their employees was disrupted by a counter-rally of health care reform
opponents, who tried to out-shout the speakers at the rally.

“That’s kind of democracy - isn’t that a debate?” asked Shawna Smith, who
held a bright-green “Kill the Bill” sign and was among the loudest of the
shouters. “I’m not angry - I’m afraid for our country,” she said. “I’m
afraid for the road we’re going down, the road to socialism.”

When the Rev. Betti Beck spoke at the main rally, framing health care as a
“moral issue,” protesters in the back hooted. When another speaker invoked
“human rights,” a woman in the back shouted, “You’re a bunch of socialist
dupes.” Near a sign that said, “Poop on Obama care,” a little boy in back
yelled out, “I say you guys go back where the heck you came from!” His
mother quickly hushed him.

Wendi Sommerset, owner of Furniture and Appliance Outlet in Twin Falls,
said her employees won’t take the insurance she provides because of the
cost: “It’s groceries or health insurance,” she said. “We need reform and
we need it now.” As she spoke, flag-waving protesters in back yelled,
“Take your socialism!” and “Read the Constitution!” and a woman shouted,
“We’re not going to pay for your abortion!”

When rally organizer Nancy Snodgraff of the Main Street Alliance appealed
for quiet and respect from both sides, protester Lucille Verdolini shouted
from the back, “Let’s pray that you don’t get breast cancer and die.” The
group in back then chanted, “Obama lies, Grandma dies.”

Michael Metro, owner of Metropolis Hair Salon in Boise, responded to the
heckling by raising her voice and rallying the group in front, which
numbered about 80, to cheers, temporarily drowning out the group in back,
which numbered about 50. “I think they were trying to drown me out because
they have fear, and they wanted to make sure my voice wasn’t heard,” Metro
said. “It didn’t really scare me, it fired me up and inspired me.” Metro
said she doesn’t offer health insurance to her employees, but she wants
to. “We’re willing to pay,” she said. “All we want is affordable health
care.”

Verdolini, whose husband, Jim, put the word out on the Internet to prompt
the counter-rally, said she grew up in England, and doesn’t want to see
America go the British way. Holding a sign saying, “How lucky for Obama
that his supporters can’t think,” Lucille Verdolini said, “I know what
socialist care is all about, and I am desperate to make people understand
that it is a desperate hazard to people’s health, especially women. I am
desperate to make people understand they are getting duped.” The
Verdolinis said they’re “9/12’ers,” which he described as people who want
to recapture the patriotism, religious sense and unity Americans felt the
day after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Both sides declared victory. “We need to all speak our minds - this is a
free country,” Snodgraff said, “but we need to take care of one another,
and provide health care reform. So I was thrilled they were here. I
believe we outspoke them. I believe our voices were heard.” Jim Verdolini,
a Boise retiree, said, “I think it was more of a success for us than it
was for the other side.” He added, “I’d sorta like my semi-fixed income
not to be looted in order to pay for health care for illegals.”

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Participants in a “Dispel the Myths/Squash the Fear” rally in favor of
health care reform look back at protesters who showed up and tried to
shout down the main rally in Boise on Wednesday. The event took place
outside the Capitol Annex, Idaho’s temporary Statehouse while the state
Capitol is under renovation.

http://tinyurl.com/MythSquashers

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown