gunns
08-03-2007, 02:51 PM
I saw a poll the other day that Americans #1 issue, besides Iraq, was healthcare. "we are the envy of the world when it comes to health care technology." A lot of people here also envy that technology that they can't touch. And other nations? Let's start worrying about ourselves first for a change.
Romney Confronted By Waitress During Campaign Stop
By Doug Ware - KUTV.com
(KUTV) CONCORD, N.H. - Presidential contender Mitt Romney visited a restaurant in the Atlantic Northeast on Thursday, during which he was confronted by a frustrated waitress who berated the former Massachusetts governor about health care.
Romney, who currently holds a significant amount of support in recent polls, visited the diner during the lunch hour on Thursday. After walking in, he apologized for interrupting patrons' lunches before going into a discussion about his plans if he were elected president.
"Despite what Michael Moore said, we are the envy of the world when it comes to health care technology. And we can reach out and help other nations," he said.
During the speech, Michele Griffin, a waitress at the Red Arrow Diner, spoke up and asked Romney, "What about our needs? We are the USA... come on!"
Romney, appearing caught off guard, tried to continue his rhetoric but eventually addressed the waitresses concerns.
"Before you leave, Miss... with regard to our nation, one of the things I'm most proud of [in Massachusetts] is putting in a plan that gives everyone health insurance," Romney answered.
"We pay over $1,000 a month in insurance," the waitress retorted. "And then we have co-payments to go to the doctors, $50 a visit. And then you have a co-payment on your prescriptions."
Griffin then went after Romney regarding his personal health care coverage.
"Can you tell me how much your co-payment is for prescriptions?"
"Yes, $10 for each prescription," Romney answered.
"That's very nice," Griffin snapped. To which Romney replied, "Yes... what are yours?"
The waitress then explained that she has two daughters with health problems and that one was recently taken out of school and no longer has health care.
"Well, one of the things I think is important to do... is to find a way to get health insurance to all of our citizens," Romney said.
In the middle of his reply, the waitress spoke up again, asking, "But how do your citizens pay for all the care?"
"You know, if you'd like me to answer the question, I will," Romney shot back. He then explained that in Massachusetts, he constructed a program in which the government uses citizens' taxes to help pay for private insurance coverage -- rather than use the money to simply give away free care at medical facilities. As a result, residents have a choice of several insurance companies and plans to choose from.
"And you think you can do this?" the waitress asked.
"We did this [in Massachusetts]," Romney answered. "If I get lucky enough to be elected president, I'm not going to just sit back and talk about problems. We're actually going to do something about it."
Following the exchange, Griffin expressed her frustration with the entire poilitical process and said she wishes politicians could live in her shoes.
"Maybe they should live in our shoes... just to see how it is. It's not pretty," she said. "I'm just so sick of the nice clothes, all these fancy cars. They walk around like (pauses)... you know?"
"He was in here for what? Over an hour? That's money off my table," Griffin said.
Romney Confronted By Waitress During Campaign Stop
By Doug Ware - KUTV.com
(KUTV) CONCORD, N.H. - Presidential contender Mitt Romney visited a restaurant in the Atlantic Northeast on Thursday, during which he was confronted by a frustrated waitress who berated the former Massachusetts governor about health care.
Romney, who currently holds a significant amount of support in recent polls, visited the diner during the lunch hour on Thursday. After walking in, he apologized for interrupting patrons' lunches before going into a discussion about his plans if he were elected president.
"Despite what Michael Moore said, we are the envy of the world when it comes to health care technology. And we can reach out and help other nations," he said.
During the speech, Michele Griffin, a waitress at the Red Arrow Diner, spoke up and asked Romney, "What about our needs? We are the USA... come on!"
Romney, appearing caught off guard, tried to continue his rhetoric but eventually addressed the waitresses concerns.
"Before you leave, Miss... with regard to our nation, one of the things I'm most proud of [in Massachusetts] is putting in a plan that gives everyone health insurance," Romney answered.
"We pay over $1,000 a month in insurance," the waitress retorted. "And then we have co-payments to go to the doctors, $50 a visit. And then you have a co-payment on your prescriptions."
Griffin then went after Romney regarding his personal health care coverage.
"Can you tell me how much your co-payment is for prescriptions?"
"Yes, $10 for each prescription," Romney answered.
"That's very nice," Griffin snapped. To which Romney replied, "Yes... what are yours?"
The waitress then explained that she has two daughters with health problems and that one was recently taken out of school and no longer has health care.
"Well, one of the things I think is important to do... is to find a way to get health insurance to all of our citizens," Romney said.
In the middle of his reply, the waitress spoke up again, asking, "But how do your citizens pay for all the care?"
"You know, if you'd like me to answer the question, I will," Romney shot back. He then explained that in Massachusetts, he constructed a program in which the government uses citizens' taxes to help pay for private insurance coverage -- rather than use the money to simply give away free care at medical facilities. As a result, residents have a choice of several insurance companies and plans to choose from.
"And you think you can do this?" the waitress asked.
"We did this [in Massachusetts]," Romney answered. "If I get lucky enough to be elected president, I'm not going to just sit back and talk about problems. We're actually going to do something about it."
Following the exchange, Griffin expressed her frustration with the entire poilitical process and said she wishes politicians could live in her shoes.
"Maybe they should live in our shoes... just to see how it is. It's not pretty," she said. "I'm just so sick of the nice clothes, all these fancy cars. They walk around like (pauses)... you know?"
"He was in here for what? Over an hour? That's money off my table," Griffin said.