>>TOM COTTON HELD A TOWN HALL IN HIS STATE, AND IT WAS
AWESOME.
THE BEST PART WAS HOW POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND ACTIVE
HIS CONSTITUENTS WERE, AND I GUESS HE DIDN'T EXPECT IT
BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR A LOT OF WHAT PEOPLE
ASKED HIM.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
>>YOU TALK ABOUT THE REPEAL, BUT YOU HAVE NOT GONE INTO SPECIFICS
ON REPLACEMENT.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WILL YOU COMMIT TODAY TO
REPLACEMENT PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE ARKANSANS LIKE ME WHO WILL
DIE OR LOSE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE OR OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO
BE PARTICIPATING CITIZENS TRYING TO GET THEIR PART OF THE
AMERICAN DREAM, WILL YOU COMMIT TO REPLACEMENTS IN THE SAME WAY
THAT YOU COMMITTED TO THE REPEAL?
>>[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>>THANK YOU.
LET'S TAKE A COUPLE MORE COMMENTS AND
QUESTIONS.
>>[SHOUTING AND YELLING]
>>[CHANTING "DO YOUR JOB"]
>>ANSWER THE QUESTION!
>>WOW.
>>I LOVE DEMOCRACY.
REPUBLICANS KEEP CRYING THAT THESE ARE FAKE,
BUT I'VE NOW SEEN INTERVIEW AFTER INTERVIEW AND THEY ARE ALL
FROM THE DISTRICT OR THE STATE THOSE GUYS ARE FROM, AND I'VE
GOT TO BE HONEST, AS I SHARED WITH YOU YESTERDAY, I'M
SURPRISED AT HOW WELL THEY ARE ORGANIZING ONLINE.
THEY ARE
FIGURING OUT WHERE THESE GUYS ARE GOING, WHEN IT'S HAPPENING,
AND THEY ARE GETTING IMMERSED WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE UPSET ABOUT
WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND REPRESENTING THEM.
THAT'S
DEMOCRACY, THAT'S WONDERFUL.
IN THIS CASE SHE'S LIKE, WHAT ARE
YOU GOING TO DO TO REPLACE IT?
SHE HAS A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION.
>>HAS A CONDITION THAT AFFECTS SKIN AND JOINTS AND IT IS
LETHAL, OR FATAL I SHOULD SAY, IF YOU DON'T GET THE
NECESSARY TREATMENT, AND OF COURSE BECAUSE OF THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT SHE CAN GET THE TREATMENT NECESSARY TO
SURVIVE AND KEEP LIVING A HEALTHY LIFE.
>>IF THEY REPEAL THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT THAN SHE HAS A
PRE-EXISTING CONDITION AND WON'T BE ABLE TO GET INSURANCE, AND
THIS CONDITION IS FATAL.
IF I DON'T HAVE INSURANCE AND CAN'T
GET TREATED I WILL LITERALLY DIE.
HOW DO YOU ANSWER THAT?
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, NEXT?
NO, NOT NEXT!
THAT'S SO
TELLING, HE DOESN'T HAVE AN ANSWER BECAUSE HE DIDN'T GIVE A
DAMN.
>>HE DOESN'T, AND IT'S CLEAR THAT REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE BEEN
ADAMANT ABOUT REPEALING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT NEVER
INTENDED TO REPLACE IT WITH ANYTHING TO HELP THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, AND THEY HAVE NO INTEREST IN REPRESENTING THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE IN WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE.
THESE TOWN HALLS
HAVE BEEN RAUCOUS, A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE, BUT IN THE BEST
POSSIBLE WAY, BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO BE REPRESENTED BY THE
PEOPLE THEY'VE ELECTED INTO OFFICE.
AND IN THIS CASE, YOU
SEE DEMOCRACY AT PLAY, WORKING HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO, AND YOU
JUST ASKED, IT'S AMAZING HOW THEY ARE ORGANIZING AND STUFF.
YOU KNOW WHAT A CONSERVATIVE, OR AT LEAST A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION,
RESPONSE TO YOU WOULD BE?
THEY ARE ALL GETTING PAID.
NO, THEY
ARE GENUINELY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FUTURES AND GENUINELY
CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THEIR HEALTHCARE.
THE QUESTION IS, ARE YOU GOING TO REPRESENT THEM AND HEAR THEM
OUT OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO BRUSH THEM ASIDE AS IF THEY ARE
NOT IMPORTANT TO YOU?
>>LET'S HEAR KATIE MCFARLANE OUT BECAUSE SHE WENT ON TV AND
PLAYED WHAT HAPPENED.
>>SORRY ABOUT THAT, LET'S GO TO VIDEO NUMBER TWO.
>>THE CROWD DIDN'T LIKE WHAT HE SAID, LET'S TAKE A FEW MORE
QUESTIONS.
THEY SEEMED TO WANT HIM TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
DID
YOU GET A SATISFACTORY ANSWER?
>>UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T, HE JUST SEEMS TO REPEAT MY OWN
QUESTION BACK AT ME, HE JUST KEPT SAYING IF YOU LOSE YOUR
COVERAGE TODAY YOU CAN STILL HAVE IT, BUT MADE NO PROMISES AS
TO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE ONCE HE VOTES FOR
THE REPEAL HE KEEPS PROMISING.
>>SHE CLARIFIED, AS EVERYONE WHO THE PRESS HAS TALKED TO HER
FROM THESE DIFFERENT EVENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE
CLARIFIED, OF COURSE WE'RE NOT GETTING PAID.
THEY ARE LIKE,
WAIT, CAN WE?
WHERE IS THE MONEY?
THEY ARE NOT REPUBLICANS,
REPUBLICANS PAY THEIR SUPPORTERS.
THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO
DID IT, KEEP IT REAL, WAS HILLARY, SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY
PEOPLE TO BE SUPPORTERS ONLINE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING
HERE, THESE PEOPLE ARE ANGRY AND IF YOUR LIFE WAS ON THE LINE,
WOULDN'T YOU BE ANGRY?
AND ONE MORE THING ABOUT TOM COTTON AT
HOW CARELESS HE IS, HE GETS PAID OF COURSE BY THE DIFFERENT
INDUSTRIES THAT BENEFIT IF THEY KILL OBAMACARE, HE ALREADY HAS
HIS CHECK AND HE DOESN'T CARE, AND HE'S A CORPORATE SELLOUT.
I
UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT AT LEAST BE CAREFUL ENOUGH TO COME UP WITH A
B.S.
ANSWER, TO SAY PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO
ME, AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE GOING TO SELL INSURANCE ACROSS STATE
LINES AND THAT WILL PREVENT IT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE CANNED ANSWERS
REPUBLICANS HAVE THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS, BUT HERE HE DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER PREPARING.
WHAT
DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE, YOU GIVE ME A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION?
YOU DON'T?
I DON'T CARE, MOVE ON.
>>MY HYPOTHESIS ON THAT IS PEOPLE WANT AS ENGAGED AS THEY
WERE RIGHT NOW.
THE RESISTANCE IS REAL, PEOPLE ARE GENUINELY
AFRAID AND THEY ARE FIRED UP, AND I THINK THAT THERE WAS A
CERTAIN LEVEL OF COMPLACENCY PRIOR TO TRUMP GETTING ELECTED.
I THINK PEOPLE ASSUMED THAT SOMEONE LIKE TRUMP COULDN'T GET
ELECTED, THEY ASSUMED THAT ALL THE TERRIBLE THINGS THAT SHOWS
LIKE OURS WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY GOING TO OCCUR,
NOW THEY ARE HAPPENING.
I DOUBT HE EXPECTED THE KIND OF
RECEPTION HE GOT DURING THIS TOWN HALL.
THAT'S JUST ONE
EXAMPLE, BY THE WAY.
LET'S HEAR FROM ANOTHER WOMAN WHO IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
>>-- ALZHEIMER'S OR MULTIPLE OTHER THINGS, AND YOU WANT TO
STAND THERE AND EXPECT US TO BE CALM, COOL, AND COLLECTED?
WELL,
WHAT KIND OF INSURANCE DO YOU HAVE?
>>[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>>I'VE GOT A HUSBAND DYING, AND WE CAN'T AFFORD -- LET ME TELL
YOU SOMETHING, IF YOU CAN GET US BETTER COVERAGE THAN THIS, GO
FOR IT.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WE HAVE, PLUS A LOT OF BENEFITS
THAT WE NEED.
WE HAVE $29 PER MONTH FOR MY HUSBAND.
CAN YOU
BEAT THAT?
CAN YOU?
WITH ALL THE CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE AND
OPEN-HEART SURGERY, $29 PER MONTH?
AND HE'S A HARD WORKER.
>>SHE GAVE ME CHILLS.
>>YOU ARE TELLING ME SHE IS FAKE?
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
YOU'VE
GOT TO REMEMBER, OVER 20 MILLION PEOPLE GOT INSURANCE BECAUSE OF
OBAMACARE.
NOW THERE ARE 20 MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING
AROUND THINKING, WAIT A MINUTE, AM I NOT GOING TO HAVE INSURANCE
ANYMORE?
MY HUSBAND FROM TIME TO TIME REQUIRES OPEN-HEART
SURGERY, IF HE DOESN'T HAVE INSURANCE HE DIES.
GEE, WHERE
THEY UPSET?
THAT IS WHY THEY ARE UPSET.
REPUBLICANS HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT THEY'VE DONE HERE.
AND THEY DON'T WANT TO GOVERN, IT IS NOT
IN THEIR NATURE.
THEY ARE ANTI-GOVERNING.
SO SINCE THEY
HAVE NO PLAN AND NO ANSWER ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS RIP STUFF
DOWN.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, RIP IT DOWN, HEALTHCARE, RIP IT
DOWN.
OOPS, PEOPLE NEED HEALTHCARE.
>>AND IF YOU WANT EVIDENCE FOR HOW DISINTERESTED THEY ARE IN
GOVERNING, LET'S HEAR FROM KELLYANNE CONWAY AND HER
THOUGHTS ON THE TOWN HALLS.
>>YOU SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SWIFTNESS OF
CHANGE AND I THINK YOU HAVE SOME MEMBERS HEEDING THAT CALL
AND TAKING HER QUESTIONS, I JUST DON'T HEAR A LOT OF
SOLUTIONS, THAT'S WHAT CONCERNS ME.
PROTESTING IS COVERED UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT, THAT'S
FINE, BUT COME UP WITH YOUR OWN SOLUTIONS.
>>ARE YOU KIDDING?
THAT'S YOUR JOB, YOU WORK FOR THE PRESIDENT.
THE WHOLE POINT OF BEING PRESIDENT IS YOU COME UP WITH
SOLUTIONS.
IF YOUR HUSBAND IS ABOUT TO DIE, COME UP WITH A
SOLUTION.
WHAT IS SHE SUPPOSED TO DO, WRITE THE NEW REPLACEMENT
INSURANCE PLAN FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY WHILE TAKING CARE OF HER
HUSBAND?
NO, THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.
HOW
FLIPPANT.
OH, YOU HAVE A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION AND ITS
FATAL?
WHY DON'T YOU COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, THEN?
>>IT SHOWS YOU HOW DISCONNECTED AND OUT OF TOUCH THEY ARE FROM
THE AVERAGE AMERICAN, WHICH IS DISHEARTENING ESPECIALLY WHEN
YOU CONTINUE THAT THE POOREST PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY, AND RURAL
AMERICA, VOTED FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION THINKING THEY
WOULD BE REPRESENTED.
KELLYANNE CONWAY AT CPAC SAID SOMETHING
ALONG THE LINES OF, I'M NOT A VICTIM OF MY OWN CIRCUMSTANCES.
THEY LOOK AT PEOPLE LIKE THAT WOMAN AND HER DYING HUSBAND AS
THOUGH THEY ARE VICTIMS, LIKE WHAT YOU COME UP WITH YOUR OWN
SOLUTIONS?
BECAUSE SHE'S NOT A DOCTOR AND SHE'S NOT WEALTHY,
SHE DOESN'T HAVE RESOURCES AT HER DISPOSAL TO TAKE CARE OF HER
DYING HUSBAND.
IT'S NOT LIKE SHE IS VICTIMIZING HERSELF, IT'S
THAT THIS SYSTEM HAS VICTIMIZED HER AND HER FAMILY TO THE POINT
WHERE SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW IF HER HUSBAND WILL BE ABLE TO BE
INSURED AND SURVIVE UNDER YOUR ADMINISTRATION.
>>AND SHE'S NOT THE PRESIDENT, NOT A SENATOR, NOT A
CONGRESSPERSON, HER JOB IS NOT TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.
THAT
IS YOUR JOB.
AND NOT ONLY DOES SHE BLAME THE PEOPLE WHO WILL
LOSE THEIR INSURANCE, LIKE, IT'S YOUR FAULT, IF YOU WEREN'T SO
POOR OR MIDDLE-CLASS THEN YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN RICH LIKE ALL MY
FRIENDS AND HAD ALL THE INSURANCE YOU NEED -- THEN SHE
TURNS AROUND, CONWAY DOES, AND BLAMES DEMOCRATS.
SHE SAYS,
WELL, THEY BELLYACHE AND MOAN AND COMPLAIN ABOUT MOST THINGS
BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY SOLUTIONS.
WAIT, THEIR SOLUTION
WAS THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THE THING YOU ARE GOING TO REPEAL
NOW.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU HAVEN'T HEARD SOLUTIONS?
THAT
WAS THE WHOLE POINT, THAT WAS OBAMA'S SOLUTION TO THE
HEALTHCARE PROBLEMS, THE ONE YOU ARE ABOUT TO DESTROY WITH NO
SOLUTION OF YOUR OWN.