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Hundreds pack DeMint healthcare town hall (VIDEO) - Aug. 19, 3:10 p.m.
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Pawleys Island protester Kimberly Bader (right) argues with counter protesters standing across the street outside of a Myrtle Beach town hall forum on healthcare on Wednesday. Photo by Michael Smith | The Chronicle.
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Annie Harris (left) argues against nationalized healthcare as U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (S.C.) listens at a town hall meeting Wednesday at RIOZ Brazilian Steakhouse. Most of the 1,000 people in attendance opposed nationalized healthcare. Photo by Michael Smith | The Chronicle.
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By Michael Smith
Editor
He came to talk about all issues, but a single issue dominated Sen. Jim DeMint’s town hall meeting in Myrtle Beach.
The ongoing debate over healthcare drove nearly 1,000 people to Wednesday’s forum at RIOZ Brazilian Steakhouse.
And almost everybody inside sent a resounding message to DeMint and President Barack Obama.
Keep the government out of private healthcare.
“I don’t have insurance because my insurance company dropped me,” said Conway resident Angela Kegler McDowell, a three-time cancer survivor.
“But I don’t want taxpayers to pay for my healthcare,” McDowell said. “I just want it to be affordable and accessible.”
DeMint echoed the chorus of cries and against any plan involving greater intervention in the healthcare industry.
Thunderous applause greeted the senator, as he attacked the Obama administration for trying to rush the healthcare bill to passage before voters are able to find out what’s in it.”
DeMint pitched a plan that allows patients to shop for health insurance in other states.
Right now, interstate commerce laws prevent patients from shopping across state lines for health insurance, he said.
Whereas inside the atmosphere was generally supportive of the South Carolina senator, outside it was a different story.
Protesters lined the street in front of RIOZ, arguing in favor of nationalized healthcare.
Meantime, dozens of dejected citizens – Republicans and Democrats – walked back to their cars after they were turned away from Wednesday’s town hall meeting.
“I’d rather not see it be a select group,” Highsmith said. “It would’ve been nice if they had a bigger location like at the convention center.”
For protester Kimberly Bader of Pawleys Island, she just wanted people to know she supports government run healthcare.
“I just believe this country should join the industrialized world and have universal healthcare,” Bader said. “It’s a human right.”
Read the full story in the Aug. 27 edition of the Carolina Forest Chronicle.
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