search
Sections List
American Journal News

GOP Rep turns his back on a grandmother who warns her family will die if Obamacare is repealed

Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) held a town hall meeting recently in Bend, Oregon, where he was challenged by his constituents over his support for repealing the Affordable Care Act. In a particularly stark moment, Walden callously turned his back on a grandmother pleading with him not to vote for repeal. At first, the woman’s granddaughter spoke […]

By Oliver Willis - April 16, 2017
Share
Screen Shot 2017-04-14 at 1.05.05 PM

In a particularly stark moment, Walden callously turned his back on a grandmother pleading with him not to vote for repeal.

At first, the woman’s granddaughter spoke up, asking Walden why he wanted to take away the Affordable Care Act, highlighting those in her family who would die as a result.

YOUNG WOMAN: Hello, my name is Taylor, and I was wondering why do you want to take away the Affordable Care Act? Because it will kill my uncle, my dad, all of our family members that have sicknesses and — why do you want to take it away?

WALDEN: So if you look at the Affordable Care Act today, premiums are getting to the point where people are having trouble finding — if you’re not one of the people that’s subsidized, you’re seeing premiums go up, and you’re seeing deductibles go up. $6,000 for people who have no subsidies is a lot of money for a deductible. There are people here who think we should have the government run it all in a single payer system.

AUDIENCE: (cheers and applause)

WALDEN: Okay, and in the kind of system that I would draw your attention to that we have today, is the one that is supposed to take care of our veterans. And it has problems that they need to fix.

AUDIENCE: (jeers)

Walden then pointed to the young woman’s grandmother, who returned to the original line of questions that Walden had avoided. She stated that multiple members of her family would be at risk if they lost their health insurance. In response, Walden turned away from her to the other side of the room, soliciting another question.

Only when the audience booed and yelled at him did he acknowledge that he had glided past the woman’s tough question.

WOMAN: We’ve emailed you, sent you letters, called you, you haven’t responded. What Taylor’s talking about, in our family, my son, her father, her uncle are all going to die from your action in taking care — taking their health insurance away.

WALDEN: So are they on Medicaid or the expansion…?

WOMAN: It isn’t really a matter of what they are on. The fact is, if you kill healthcare, it’s 18 percent of our economy, you are going to destroy our country. (cheers and applause)

WALDEN: Alright. [Turns away to answer another question.] Yes?

AUDIENCE: (boos) Answer her!

WALDEN: I am. I thought I did. We’re trying to fix it so it will work.

Republicans that choose to hold town hall meetings during the congressional recess are facing a wall of resistance, as voters are vocally demanding that they hold Trump and his agenda to account. And those who backed the repeal effort, which would have kicked 24 million off of health insurance, have been singled out by progressive groups focused on flipping the House, and are struggling to avoid the massive push back over their support for repeal.

Many other Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, are avoiding the events altogether as frustrations continue to mount.

Candidates challenging Trump-friendly Republicans are attracting grassroots support, and the spotlight of national political energy. If the resistance persists, Republicans could soon suffer the consequences of aligning themselves with Trump.


AJ News
Get the latest news here first.

Tai News

Newsletter
Read More
 Republicans choose violence in bonkers day on Capitol Hill

 Republicans choose violence in bonkers day on Capitol Hill

By Jesse Valentine - November 16, 2023
Is 2024 the year of the Instagram moms?

Is 2024 the year of the Instagram moms?

By Amanda Becker, The 19th - November 15, 2023
U.S. Department of Justice to join suit against Alabama AG’s abortion prosecution threats

U.S. Department of Justice to join suit against Alabama AG’s abortion prosecution threats

By Alander Rocha - November 10, 2023
Top Republican Senate candidates are endorsed by foes of Social Security and Medicare

Top Republican Senate candidates are endorsed by foes of Social Security and Medicare

By Jesse Valentine - November 08, 2023
Most Americans want health exceptions in abortion bans. Political infighting keeps blocking them.

Most Americans want health exceptions in abortion bans. Political infighting keeps blocking them.

By Kelcie Moseley-Morris - November 07, 2023
Possible 2024 Wisconsin Senate candidate repeatedly predicted recessions that never happened

Possible 2024 Wisconsin Senate candidate repeatedly predicted recessions that never happened

By Jesse Valentine - November 02, 2023
AJ News
Latest
Texas governor and attorney general do little to curb state’s chemical plant crisis

Texas governor and attorney general do little to curb state’s chemical plant crisis

By Jesse Valentine - December 08, 2023
Likely GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde proposed tax hike for poorer workers and retirees

Likely GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde proposed tax hike for poorer workers and retirees

By Jesse Valentine - December 07, 2023
Whitmer signs specific criminal penalties for assaulting health care workers into law

Whitmer signs specific criminal penalties for assaulting health care workers into law

By Anna Liz Nichols, Michigan Advance - December 06, 2023
105 Republicans voted to expel Santos for things Trump has also done

105 Republicans voted to expel Santos for things Trump has also done

By Jesse Valentine - December 05, 2023
For Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, another Trump term is another chance to kill Obamacare

For Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, another Trump term is another chance to kill Obamacare

By Jesse Valentine - December 04, 2023
Florida Sen. Rick Scott backs Donald Trump in revived push to repeal Obamacare

Florida Sen. Rick Scott backs Donald Trump in revived push to repeal Obamacare

By Jesse Valentine - November 30, 2023
Tate Reeves took donations from power company that hiked customer rates

Tate Reeves took donations from power company that hiked customer rates

By Jesse Valentine - November 06, 2023
Daniel Cameron ran on depoliticizing the Kentucky AG’s office. He made it more political.

Daniel Cameron ran on depoliticizing the Kentucky AG’s office. He made it more political.

By Jesse Valentine - November 03, 2023
Republican operatives sound every alarm on current trajectory of 2023 governor’s race

Republican operatives sound every alarm on current trajectory of 2023 governor’s race

By Adam Ganucheau, Mississippi Today - October 24, 2023
Wisconsin’s fake electors settle lawsuit, acknowledge Biden won in 2020

Wisconsin’s fake electors settle lawsuit, acknowledge Biden won in 2020

By Henry Redman, Wisconsin Examiner - December 06, 2023
NH Supreme Court closes door on partisan gerrymandering cases, taking lead from SCOTUS

NH Supreme Court closes door on partisan gerrymandering cases, taking lead from SCOTUS

By Ethan DeWitt, New Hampshire Bulletin - December 05, 2023
Missouri abortion-rights amendments face ‘torturous’ process to make it to 2024 ballot

Missouri abortion-rights amendments face ‘torturous’ process to make it to 2024 ballot

By Anna Spoerre, Kansas City Star - December 05, 2023