Obama protests, rallies heat up Phoenix

The blare of megaphones rose with the sun in downtown Phoenix Monday as more than 1,000 protestors from all over the political spectrum called for President Barack Obama to take action on myriad issues.

The largest crowds swelled at Washington and Third streets, just outside the Phoenix Convention Center, where the president began delivering his speech shortly after 10 a.m. at the national Veterans of Foreign Wars convention.

The crowds got louder as the president's arrival neared, and tempers flared as people with different views passed each other on the streets.

Most dominant among the crowds, of course, were critics and supporters of the current health care reform proposal.

Dave Armstrong of Surprise wasn't subtle about his thoughts as he stood at the corner of Adams and Third streets, holding a sign that read "Obama health care call 1-800-Death."

The White House's shift to consider the removal of the government-operated health care option on Sunday didn't assuage Armstrong and his fellow protestors' concerns.

"He's minimizing it to get it in," Howard Seith, who stood beside Armstrong, said of the health care reforms. "Once he gets it in, he'll piecemeal (the public option) back in over two or three years."

While these protestors don't trust Obama, Seith and Armstrong said, they hold Republican lawmakers in low esteem as well. Government's involvement in health care is like trying to treat patients with leeches, "it eventually kills the patient," Armstrong said.

On the other side, Obama supporters appeared energetic about the president as well as his proposed reforms.

And already, verbal sparring between groups has begun.

Supporters could be heard shouting: "Hope not fear."

They were answered by "Kill the bill."

When an older man walked through a crowd of Democratic supporters and made a derogatory comment about health care, the president's supporters shouted at him: "Then get rid of your Medicare card."

Steve Hamma, 55, a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, stood with hundreds of supporters, holding a sign: "Veterans for Obama."

"I wanted to show our president, who I consider the best president of my lifetime, my support," he said. "I supported him on our stimulus package and I support him on his health care plan. If he can't do it, I don't think it's going to be done in my lifetime.

"I believe as an American if you put in a day's work, you are a part of this country and a part of this system. You deserve health care," Hamma continued. "I don't care if you are a janitor or a maid, if you work, you are a part of the system."

Karen Bayless Feldman, of Phoenix, said she came out to see Obama because he was so close to her home and she supports his health care plan. Three years ago her son, now 11, had a brain tumor removed. Her concern is one day he would be denied health coverage.

"I always knew that, but I didn't think of it until he was sick ... he still has epilepsy because of it. He has a condition that needs constant treatment."

Critics of the plan, however, were out in force, as well.

Nicole Woods, 37, of Mesa, sitting with a large crowd a few blocks west of the conference center, held up a sign: "Choice is a right. Health care is not."

"Choice is a right. I don't believe the direction the country is going is right," she said. "We don't want government in our health care. I'm not an angry mobster. I'm an American. I'm exercising my American rights."

Shelby Yates, 20, of Peoria, said: "We don't believe the government should be part of the health care system. They aren't good at running systems. Medicare and Social Security aren't doing so well. Yates was with Scott Goss, 18, also of Peoria. Goss was carrying a sign that read: "Where will the Canadians go, eh?"

Meanwhile, other forms of protest were attempting to draw attention from the downtown crowds: A moving truck driving around the area had pictures of aborted fetuses and the president's picture.

At least two protesters openly carried guns at their side while joining the crowds outside the convention center.

Jim Sawyer, a combat photographer with the Air Force in the Korean War, shook his head at the general protest scene.

"Every time the president comes to this, people have something to say," said the VFW member from Maine who was planning to attend the president's address. "The minute he is gone, this will be gone."

Another veteran, Clifford James, 81, sat near the convention center having breakfast. He said he agrees with the protestors who are against the public health care option.

"They've got every right and I agree with them. Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, that's what we are fighting for," said James, who did not plan to attend the president's address but would be going to the VFW conference. "I didn't vote for him. I respect the office, but I don't respect the man in the office."