With distance, civility

By Lisa Mascaro

Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 | 2 a.m.

A funny thing happened Friday afternoon when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid dialed up 50,000 Nevadans to chat with him over the telephone about health care reform.

No shouting. No name calling. No swastikas or effigies or guns (at least that could be heard).

Just 10,000 people listening — the number who answered when Reid called — with a few kids and babies crying in the background, as questions and answers were exchanged on health care.

Who knew politics could be so civil?

Reid was roundly criticized, as were most of Nevada’s Democratic lawmakers, for declining to hold town-hall meetings on health care while on recess. (Republicans initially declined to hold live meetings too, but didn’t catch as much grief.)

Town-hall meetings elsewhere this summer have mostly digressed into shouting matches as protesters turned out, encouraged by groups opposed to the health care legislation making its way through Congress.

Reid has made no secret of his disdain for those doing the shouting and the “Astro Turf” groups behind them — big-time organizations that pretend to represent grass-roots interests.

But even Reid held his tongue Friday.

Reid offered hardly any zingers during the hourlong talk from Reno, only this take on the public option: “It’s not a program set up for people who are losers.”

Rather, Reid fielded 18 questions on a range of topics Nevadans had about the health care debate.

Reid spent the first few minutes explaining why he believes health care reform is important — 220 Nevadans each day lose their insurance and health care costs for working families have doubled in the past several years, and continue to skyrocket.

Reid also took a few minutes to dispel what he called common myths about the legislation.

Death panels that will encourage euthanasia?

“This is absolutely false.”

Coverage for illegal immigrants?

Only citizens and lawful residents qualify for government programs.

Federal money for abortions?

“Not true.”

The government will have control of your bank account?

“This is so fallacious.”

Rationing?

No.

Hands off my Medicare?

“Health reform does not cut Medicare benefits for seniors.”

With that, the floor was opened for questions and, perhaps to some surprise, a civil discourse ensued.

First up, after a slight technical glitch, was Evan from Las Vegas, who wanted to know whether the bill would affect health care for those who rely on the Veterans Affairs system or the Wounded Warrior program.

“What we’re doing will not affect veterans’ health care,” Reid said.

Next was Jan, who said, “My concern is the growing size of government.”

Reid: “There is not a member of Congress I know of that is contemplating or wanting a single-payer system. Some people have said, ‘Oh, we’re going to have a European-type system.’ No one is contemplating that. No one wants that. This will still be private insurance. Plus of course we’ll have Medicare, Medicaid and the VA.”

Questions came and went and a few turned political.

Joe from Las Vegas said, “The majority leader in the U.S. Senate has probably not been as vocal as I would like and I would like to know whether or not you really are going to come out in favor of the public option?”

Reid: “I’ve told people, whoever will listen, I’m in favor of the public option.”

Reid explained the public option like this: It would be a public or privately operated system, overseen by the government, available for those who want to buy their insurance there rather than from insurance companies.

Reid went on to make a point he’s been repeating often lately, that other than Major League Baseball, “there is only one business that is not subject to the antitrust laws, and that is insurance. Insurance companies have the right to gather together and conspire to fix prices,” he said.

“That’s what the public option is all about. We’re going to have a private insurance system when we finish all this. But what we need is to make sure we have a way of keeping the insurance companies honest. What would that be, that would be a public option. Remember that word: option.”

Shirley in Las Vegas asked, “Why do we have to be bipartisan? We need to do what’s right and not worry about whether we’re appeasing the Republicans or anyone else, just do what the right thing is.”

Reid: “People wonder why I have been so persistent in trying to get a bipartisan bill. We’re better off if we can do a bill where we get a little bit of Republican support.”

He said if listeners could see his arms (spread wide) he could do this much with Republican support but only this much (arms narrowed) without them.

Shirley in Gardnerville asked why, after so much negative publicity over the bill, are Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi still pushing it?

Reid said polls show more than 70 percent of Americans want reform. “It’s not Pelosi. It’s not Reid. It’s the American people.”

And on it went. Carol wanted to know whether her four uninsured adult children could get health care (yes). Greg asked if his union benefits would be taxed (no). Joe wanted to know why members of Congress get special health insurance plans (they don’t). Georgette asked if her preexisting condition would be covered (yes).

After about an hour, Reid’s staff noted that every unanswered question from the call would get a response from the senator’s office.

Reid closed by saying, “I want to tell everybody how much I appreciate the civil nature of this.”