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Here’s a video report I put together for KNME’s New Mexico In Focus this past weekend.
Cribbed from footage inside the two Albuquerque health care town hall meetingss last week, but also outside the venues where protesters lined the sidewalks, it’s an interesting window into where New Mexicans are at on the summer’s hottest issue.
Some of the most interesting footage here came courtesy of independent videographer Chris Dudley, who captured some of the passion from opponents of President Obama’s push to reform the country’s current health care system. As you can see, Dudley’s camera came under attack from an extended pole hoisting a large banner. He also got cursed out by one particularly obnoxious protester.
“Right wing violence! Right wing violence!” was shouted out at one point, as another protester defended the attempt at Dudley’s camera by saying, “It’s not violence. It’s intelligence.”
From there, the video traces the differences between the two health care town hall meetings hosted by U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman and U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich, both New Mexico Democrats.
Bingaman’s town hall, organized by New Mexico First, was the epitome of reasoned, thoughtful citizen-participation. Heinrich’s, on the other hand, was much more raucous – especially outside the venue – as the freshman congressman moderated an often dispassionate policy seminar on health care reform. Even so, the sharply divided crowd cheered or booed depending on the comments coming from the panel.
Heinrich shared the stage with an opponent of any health care reform that contemplates a significant federal government role – Paul Gessing of the Rio Grande Foundation.
Gessing: “I would be much happier having this debate at the state level.”
Heinrich: “I think, frankly, that horse has left the barn…”
Bingaman, the five-term senator, did make some news suggesting that he is open to passing health care reform through the so-called budget reconciliation process – a legislative process that only requires 51 votes for passage, versus the usual 60 votes needed to pass most major pieces of legislation.
If we are unable to do it any other way, that is an option. It’s a very difficult option to get implemented. But clearly I would support that if that’s the only way we can enact reform.
A smattering of applause followed Bingaman’s statement. Later, national news reports cited a post by NMI’s Marjorie Childress noting that the senator was the first “Gang of Six” negotiator to make such a declaration.
While both New Mexico Democrats seemed awfully cautious, both also seemed to be pushing for reform.
And while both Bingaman and Heinrich repeated their support for a public option as a cost-saving element of comprehensive heath care reform, neither would say that the plan is essential to win their ultimate support.
The video runs about 15 minutes.
Many thanks to KNME’s Kevin McDonald, Antony Lostetter and Kathy Mille Wimmer for their help.
