During his visit to the
St. Louis area yesterday, President Obama called for cutting waste and fraud, at the same time he tries to convince Congress to pass major health-insurance reform. Obama delivered his health-care address at the gymnasium at
St. Charles
High School, talking about more oversight of federal programs as a reason to make the sweeping health-care changes. Then he went to a downtown
St. Louis fundraiser for Democratic U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill. Hundreds of protestors showed up in
St. Charles and downtown
St. Louis, many to voice opposition to the health-care proposal.
It’s not certain whether or not he’s considered a pariah to his party, but when President Obama visited, a number of prominent state Democrats decided to play hide and seek. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan claimed she had a meeting she couldn’t miss in
Washington,
DC, and was conspicuously absent. Representative Ike Skelton decided to stay in
Washington to debate the war in
Afghanistan on the floor of the House. Some hint that Obama's presence on the campaign trail could be seen as a drawback to some midterm Democrats facing reelection this fall. One Democrat who did show was Senator Claire McCaskill, who arrived with the President on Air Force One. A recent Rasmussen poll showed Obama's approval rating is just 40-percent here in
Missouri. And it’s not just here. On Monday, a number of
Pennsylvania Democratic incumbents decided to stay away when Obama visited
Philadelphia to sell his healthcare reform package.
Elsewhere in
St Charles, over 22-hundred people showed up at the Convention Center Wednesday, when Missouri Congressman Todd Akin held a town hall. Most of those in attendance came because they’re Republicans who are frustrated with the government and against pending health-care changes. Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder and many state lawmakers spoke at the town hall meeting, where the main theme was opposing the policies of President Obama and Congressional Democrats. Congressman Akin showed up on video conference and said of the health-care bill before Congress, quote, "That bill that we're talking about today is the worst bill that I've seen in all my time in Congress".
Coming under the banner of "Serving Missouri Together," Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt and Senator Kit Bond are teaming up to say President Obama wants "to cram healthcare reform through.” Blunt says the Administration believes they can wear the American people down.
