Senator Tom Harkin kept his cool in a packed, sizzling Des Moines, Iowa August 8 meeting that had constituents looking for electric fans and no doubt, praying for air conditioning. In a sweltering room of about 150 people (some reports say more), the gathering started with a quiet introduction and an almost silent crowd except for the obligatory crying baby.

The assembly was reminded that the reason they were there was the Celebration of National Health Center Week and nineteen Primary Health Care Centers in Iowa and Nebraska, including the one where the meeting was held. "...and to hear a productive conversation on health care reform."  Next, the introduction of Christina Bell. Nice touch! She and her daughter do not have insurance and she made some heart warming comments about the wonderful care she receives from this federally qualified center. Who would disagree with the ability for this woman to receive health care? Everyone I know, including those who oppose the plans being proposed in Washington, thinks there should be some kind of care for the uninsured. Underscore uninsured.

Then it was the Senator's turn and he wisely began by mentioning he had secured $1.5 million from the stimulus plan for the center that was hosting the meeting. Did things heat up? Yes, a couple of times, but nothing that seemed out of character for an impassioned group. These Iowans really wanted to get answers to questions and they were informed. Some had read the Senate bill and others had statistics that Harkin didn't seem to know anything about. Keep in mind, there are three House bills and one Senate bill on health care reform.

After the Senator said, "The status quo is broken," there was a rather loud challenge from a man who wanted to be shown an Indian reservation with good health care. Good point.

Harkin turned up the man's temperature with "There is a nationally coordinated effort to disrupt these meetings."  He didn't directly accuse the man of being an organized protester but the implication was there and the man's denial was very clear.

Later, Diane Robinet challenged the statistic that lists 47,000,000 as uninsured. The audience rightly snickered when Senator "H" indicated he wasn't sure about the numbers would be happy to have her statistics — and he is trying to sell the plan to Americans?  As someone else in the audience said, "It's a matter of public record."  In fact Approximately 30,000,000 native or naturalized U.S. citizens, according to FactCheck.org  are uninsured. This number does not include the 43.8% of non-citizens who are uninsured. Do the math Mr. Harkin. Why do you think American's don't want illegal aliens to be covered by the government plan? They pay for it! It's not your money! And thanks to current laws, doctors and hospitals are not allowed to ask who is legal and who is not, so how can this be controlled?

He was asked what's wrong with freedom and told to "Stop treating us like children." Someone who wanted common sense reform suggested that the best way to regulate insurance companies is capitalism and he stumble with a few words, "Capitalism, whatever that means in a broad concept." So Senator, what does "whatever that means" mean?

I have to look this one up. "Tax imposed by this legislation shall not be called a tax!" is in the bill somewhere according to a man who said the health care plan was one big tax to cover the trillions already spent by Washington. It wouldn't surprise me, would it you?

When asked why Congress doesn't deal with tort reform Harkin expressed his opinion by citing the hundreds of millions of dollars in fines generated from lawsuits against insurance companies, as if that doesn't increase health care costs.

Again, I have to hand it to the Senator though. Every time the crowd heated up, he cooled them down with apologies about the heat or by changing the subject to prevention and wellness, his pet project and who could disagree with that?

Below is a link to a Radio Iowa audio of the entire one hour meeting. Turn up the sound so you can hear all the questions and comments. Listen to the entire one hour event at Radio Iowa. I have also included a ten minute video of part of the meeting you won't want to miss.