Health care fight shadows Obama visit

President Barack Obama returns to Arizona this weekend, his third visit to the state in his first eight months as the nation’s chief executive, to take in the Grand Canyon and address how the United States cares for its military veterans.

Obama arrival smooth; Valley traffic snarls

A crowd of thousands of likely hostile protestors awaits him, as the president’s arrival coincides with the escalation of a fierce political battle over proposed health care reforms, which he is pushing Congress to enact.

Obama’s speech on Monday — to the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in downtown Phoenix — is not anticipated to directly discuss medical care in America.

However, veterans’ services often involve health care and its rising costs.

“He’s not going to be coming over here to talk about the environment,” said Joe Davis, a VFW spokesman. “He’s gonna be talking about the troops and talking about the veterans and their families.”

The president and his family arrived just after 6 p.m. Saturday evening at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and are scheduled to spend today at the Grand Canyon.

Regardless of what Obama says inside the convention Monday, protestors outside are going to be talking about health care. Specifically, the legislation (House Resolution 3200) federal lawmakers are arguing over with constituents during heated public meetings.

“Waiting for health care = Death,” is one of many slogans that Tom Jenney, director of the Arizona chapter of the limited-government advocacy group Americans for Prosperity, advises protesters to write on placards.

Many opponents of the current health care proposal are vehemently against creation of a federal government program, besides Medicare, to pay the public’s medical expenses with taxpayer money.

“People are very passionate about this,” Jenney said.

Protest organizers are not sure how many people they will attract, Jenney said. “I really don’t know. We got 800 last Saturday at the corner of Camelback and Scottsdale (roads) to protest (Rep.) Harry Mitchell.”

While critics of the current health care proposals are glad for the opportunity to oppose Obama in the streets, the president’s visit provides him with political advantages as well.

The VFW convention offers a large audience that includes numerous seniors, an important voting block and population most attuned to health care issues.And the convention just happens to be in Arizona, potentially a key swing state when Obama runs for re-election in 2012.

“There are no coincidences with the president’s schedule,” said Nathan Gonzales, an editor for the Rothenberg Political Report in Washington D.C.

Even if the president is not directly speaking about health care reforms, Gonzalez said the underlying message would likely pertain to the contentious issue.

“What Obama says at his health care town halls isn’t particularly important,” he said. “I think it’s more about the president trying to be on the offensive and make his case, being a visible proponent for reform.”

Some veterans, however, hope Obama’s speech shines attention on other vexing problems they face.

The federal government regularly takes up to a year to process veterans’ compensation requests, often to pay medical bills for conditions that relate to their military service, said Michael Klier, assistant deputy director of the Arizona Department of Veteran’s Services.

When the federal government denies a request, and the veteran goes “into the appeals process, you’re looking at a strong two-plus years to get that thing through,” Klier said.

Such delays make it difficult for veterans to receive services they are entitled to in a timely manner.

Unemployment is a growing problem for those returning from tours of duty overseas, Klier said.

That is particularly true for National Guardsmen and women who leave jobs to serve their country.

“And then he comes back to find his job is gone,” Klier said. “And he and his kids and his family are struggling now. That’s a big issue.”