The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

August 17, 2009

Many leave assembly not sold on proposal

By Charles Owens

PRINCETON — In some ways, it resembled other rowdy town hall meetings seen across the nation.

There was shouting. There was a large overflow crowd. Many were angry. There were also protesters. But the meeting itself was largely peaceful. For each loud boo, there were also those who clapped in applause for comments made by U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., during Monday’s town hall meeting.

The meeting was long, lasting more than four hours. When it finally ended, many thanked — and applauded — Rahall once again for hosting the event. Law enforcement officials were on hand, including Princeton Police Chief W.L. Harman and Mercer County Sheriff Don Meadows, but the crowd never became unruly. While some shouted, most raised their hands in hopes of asking a question.

However, many are still not sold on President Obama’s plan for health care reform.

“I’m concerned about the government intrusion into our health care and our personal rights,” said Fritz Hill of Princeton, one several protesters assembled outside of the entrance to the Princeton Health and Fitness Center.

“We are here to protest government-run health care,” Roman Stauffer added. “We don’t think it will be in the best interest of America for a government-run health care system.”

Stauffer said similar systems in other countries such as Canada are “not very good.”

A large anti-abortion banner also was temporarily hoisted by a small ladder truck above the entrance to the health and fitness center. It was removed a short time later.

Rahall said he didn’t expect the crowd to be as large as it was. The Princeton Fire Department ruled the maximum occupancy allowed inside a meeting room at the fitness center was 140. The crowd far exceeded that number and the meeting was moved outside.

Rahall, who said he will hold a conference call today with the Democratic leadership to discuss the concerns expressed Monday, added, “I am supportive of the public option, but I recognize there are other important parts of the reform that need to be addressed. We need to end discrimination based upon pre-existing conditions.”

Rahall said one message stood out at Monday’s meeting and he will share it with the leadership in Washington.

“I’ll take the most prevailing point which appears to be the fear of another government program,” Rahall said, adding that there appears to be a perception of “fear and mistrust” over a government-run program.

Rahall said he couldn’t speak to national media reports suggesting that President Obama is willing to abandon the public option aspect of the plan. Rahall said he too had read those reports, but could comment no further than what had already been reported.

— Charles Owens is a member of The Bluefield Daily Telegraph editorial staff. E-mail: cowens@bdtonline.com

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