Specter Says He Deserves Credit For Facing Town Hall Critics

PITTSBURGH -- Sen. Arlen Specter faced harsh criticism from some in the crowd of a town hall meeting on Thursday in Kittanning -- and on Friday, he faced members of the news media to answer reporters' questions.

About 1,500 people showed up for Specter's town hall meeting on health care reform at the Belmont Complex -- the first such public meeting he has held in western Pennsylvania. He told Channel 4 Action News reporter Bob Mayo that he deserves credit for facing critics personally.

"Most members of Congress will not face hostile crowds, doing town meetings by video or by telephone," said Specter, D-Pa.

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During the meeting, tempers flared among some in the audience.

"I think they have valid points on wanting to be assured that they can keep their current health care if they want to," Specter said.

He said their concerns about increasing the nation's deficit are also valid.

"I have said I'm not going to vote -- and I mean it -- not going to vote for a bill that adds to the deficit," Specter said.

Specter drew fire for supposedly planting people in the meeting to ask positive questions about a possible bill that would provide health care to all Americans. He was also blasted for not holding the meeting in a bigger venue to accommodate the oversized crowd.

"All you had to do was count the people who were in the room when they would stand up and applaud against the health care reform," Specter said, denying claims of stacking the meeting with supporters.

Addressing some of the anger displayed at the meeting, Mayo reported that Specter said people are angry about a lot of things, including unemployment and the economy and that health care is a "flashpoint."

Specter also told Mayo that those opposed to the proposed health care plans have some valid concerns about preserving private options. He said that the legislation he supports would do that and that he won't vote for any plan that adds to the deficit.

As for the impact the debate is having on Specter's standing at the polls, he told Mayo the intense media coverage has skewed poll results.

"Rasmussen is noted for (being) not a very reliable poll. I was on three networks on TV -- CNN, NBC and FOX all day long. Take a poll that night -- it's certainly distorted. My own view is it's tough to be re-elected in Pennsylvania."

Specter encountered a more receptive audience on Friday, when he and his Democratic opponent, Rep. Joe Sestak, participated in a forum at the annual Netroots Nation conference of liberal bloggers at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh. (Read The Story)

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