Freshman Congressman Bobby Bright (D-AL) is spending the August break navigating the lush green backcountry of his south Alabama district. He started Wednesday with a "meet and greet" at Sister's Restaurant in Troy over a vegetable plate and fried cornbread.
Constituents Speak Out
But the chitchat quickly turned from the fine southern food to the health care proposals before Congress. Retired Air Force Officer Bob Lambert doesn't want a single payer plan.
"We have the best health care in the world. I have friends in Canada that have called me and said, 'Don't you dare go into this system because, you know, if I've got a prostate problem, I can't even get to see my doctor in six months.' I'm telling you, Mr. Congressman, don't let it happen," he said.
He told Bright it's not that the nation doesn't need to change the health care system. "I'm saying we don't need the government running health care," Lambert said.
That's been the message this week for Democrats all over the country. Some have been heckled and booed by unruly crowds. Some lawmakers are now having their town halls via telephone. And even Blue Dog Democrats who oppose the current legislation haven't escaped the conservative wrath.
Not Party Line
About 150 people crashed Alabama Democrat Parker Griffith's news conference in Huntsville on Wednesday. They demanded to be heard.
"Are you afraid to have a town hall meeting?" asked one man. "No sir — I'm not afraid of anything," Griffith replied and proceeded to answer questions for 90 minutes. He emphasized that he has been fighting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's agenda.
Bobby Bright (D-Ala.) (Debbie Elliott/NPR)