Sen. Lincoln Apologizes for Calling Protesters “Un-American” (UPDATE – Comment from Tom Cox)
Sen. Blanche Lincoln issued an apology today for comments she made regarding the protesters who are showing up at the health care forums. Members of Congress, home from Washington on their August recess, are meeting with constituents to discuss the health care proposal. Some in the audience disagree with the proposal and are voicing their concerns.
According to John Lyons of the Arkansas News Bureau, Lincoln discussed the protesters in a conference call with reporters saying…
“It’s so sad, because it’s diminishing to the process, it’s diminishing to our outcome. I think it’s sad that they choose to do that. I think it’s un-American and disrespectful.”
This evening her office issued the following apology…
“Although I do believe that some of these protestors are disrespectful of other citizens in the audience who truly want to ask questions about health care, I shouldn’t have used the term un-American. I support the right of every Arkansan to speak out and have their voices heard. I would just ask that we all continue to work in a constructive way to rebuild our economy and fine-tune our health care system so it works for all of us.”
UPDATE - Tom Cox, one of the Republican candidates for U.S. Senate, just sent me the following responce…
“Since the founding of the United States, Americans have been exercising the freedom and responsibility to question their elected representatives. The current public political debate resembles the enthusiasm of our nation’s first 100 years. A U.S. Senator referring to The People as “disrespectful” and “un-American” for calling on their Representatives is appalling. Senator Lincoln’s statements are indicative of the elitist Washington D.C. arrogance and mentality that continues to dismiss the public’s voice. The citizens of this country deserve honest answers to their questions.”
Tags: 2010 Candidates
August 6th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Ok, well then I guess she is good to go then. We can all go home, She said she was sorry and she gets another 6 years. Any thing else she is sorry for?
August 7th, 2009 at 9:03 am
It is very upsetting to me for the highest position of the State of Arkansas to call the people crazy and Un-American. I am personally offended. We have a White House that is collecting information about our free speech makers and a US Senator who is calling us Un-American! This is an outrage! Now she is telling we the people that she will NOT hold a townhall meeting to talk to we the people. This is outrageous. With a very large population upset about the fundamental change to our choice of Health Care and personal freedom issues and she does not have time for a townhall meeting!!
We are working on and have in place a townhall meeting on August 28th at UALR. We have a location and a date the time is coming soon, Senators and Congressmen are requested to attend and answer questions from our sponsors. We will have internet hookup for those who will not be in town, there is no excuse not to attend. We will have a press release soon.
We the people are the government not the elected! Let us get this correct, she and they work for ALL the people. If others want to have them to talk and have a meeting so be it, this is one we are having and it is best for them to attend.
We will be able to listen to her explanation about her comments and her views about Health Care.
I am personally offended by her statement.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
[...] Blanche Lincoln stepped in it, tossing around the word “un-American” a little too freely. [...]
August 10th, 2009 at 7:47 am
I just now tried to call Blanche Lincoln’s Little Rock office to speak with her or her staff, time now 8:44 am Monday, August 10, 2009. I got a recorded message that said to leave a message, HOWEVER the mailbox is full and I was unable to “speak out and have my voice heard”, as she said she believes we all should be able to do. Does anyone have her cell number? I need it !!
August 10th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Just called back because I was ready to drive to her office and got a gentleman on the phone. We are invited to all her public speaking events as they are all open to the public. She will not be taking questions that he was aware of but she might?? I told him I wanted to know had she read the bill and how long it took her to read the bill. That I have read the sections that concern me and I was not supportive of this bill at all. There are only 5 million Americans that can’t buy health care insurance and 10 million illegals without coverage. Do a bill to cover the 5 million and the 10 million, but to leave the rest of us alone. And the words they would have access to all my banking scared the fire out of me and every American. And the 8% tax on employers that had employees electing not to take the government plan and a 2.5 tax on employers that had no company plans…….STOP Spending my money!!