Senators greeted by jeers, taunts

LEBANON, Pa. (AP) — Jeers and taunts drowned out Democrats calling for a health-care overhaul at town halls Tuesday, and one lawmaker said a swastika was spray-painted at his office as debate turned to noisy confrontation over President Barack Obama’s plan. The president himself was treated more respectfully.

“You’ll be gone, by God the bureaucrats will still be here,” one man told Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., at a town hall in Lebanon, Pa.

“If they don’t let us vent our frustrations out, they will have a revolution,” Mary Ann Fieser of Hillsboro, Mo., told Sen. Claire McCaskill at her forum.

McCaskill admonished the rowdy crowd of some 1,500.

“I don’t understand this rudeness,” she said. “I honestly don’t get it.”

The bitter sessions underscored the challenge for the administration as it tries to win over an increasingly skeptical public on the costly and far-reaching task of revamping the nation’s health care system. Desperate to stop a hardening opposition, the White House created a Web site to dispel what it says are smears and House Democrats set up a health care “war room” out of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s office to help lawmakers handle questions.

At a crowded community college in Pennsylvania, Specter heard from speaker after speaker who accused him of trampling on their constitutional rights, adding to the federal deficit or allowing government bureaucrats to take over health care.

“My children and grandchildren are going to pay for this,” said another.

“One day God will stand before you and judge you!” shouted a man before security guards approached and he left the room.

Specter gamely tried to explain his positions — and on occasion mediate among shouting constituents — saying he wouldn’t vote for a bill that adds to the deficit. He also said he wouldn’t support a bill that extends coverage to illegal immigrants. None of the bills in Congress would provide health insurance to illegal immigrants.

One woman tried to make it personal for Specter, alleging that the Democrats’ plan would not provide care to a man in his 70s with cancer, like Specter had.

“You’re here because of the plan we have now,” she said.

Specter, 79, who has battled cancer twice since 2005, showed some heat at that.

“Well, you’re just not right,” he said. He called her claim a “vicious, malicious” rumor.

One man, angry that he was not among the 30 attendees selected at random to ask questions, walked into the aisle waving to get Specter’s attention, interrupting his response to another questioner.

“Do you want to be led out of here?” Specter asked the man. “You’re welcome to go.”

An audience member went to grab the man, and several police officers sidled toward him but did not touch him. “Wait a minute, wait a minute,” Specter said, listening to the man vent.

“I’m going to speak my mind — you’re trampling on the Constitution,” the man said.