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Tough Questions for Arlen Specter; Free Health Care; President Obama Expects 'Vigorous' Debate at Town Hall; GM to Sell Cars Online; Typhoon Sweeps through Taiwan
Aired August 11, 2009 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (D), PENNSYLVANIA: And if you want to be let out of here, you're welcome to go.
Now, wait a minute. Now, wait a minute. Now, wait a minute. Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... had a lobbyist with all kind of money just stuffing your pocket so that you can cheat the citizens of this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: My goodness. Health care, it is the hot issue of the summer, and August is a make-or-break month in the debate.
Good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris, and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
A lot going on over the next couple of hours on health care reform, and you will see the latest developments right here in NEWSROOM. We will take you live to that volatile town hall meeting in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, hosted by Senator Arlen Specter. We will preview President Obama's town hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Aides say he is prepared for a vigorous debate.
Ali Velshi checks in from Tennessee on his health care road trip. And Ted Rowlands reports from a clinic in California providing free health care for the uninsured.
But first to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where we have been watching a tense town hall meeting. It has been tense inside the hall, outside the hall.
National Political Correspondent Jessica Yellin joins us live now from Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
And Jessica, I hope you can hear me.
For folks who are just joining us, will you tell everyone what has transpired there in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, this morning?
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Tony. It's been a very, very engaged crowd, is the way to put it politely. It's tough to estimate numbers, but entire city blocks filled with people, both pro and con, and an event that holds only about 250 people inside.
Now, there were a number of folks who got here early, went inside, were able to ask questions of Senator Specter, and then became very angry because they found out that there were cards handed out with numbers and only the people given those numbered cards were allowed to speak. This led to something of a protest inside during the event.
Let's listen to just one moment of some of the anger that took place.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I reviewed 3,200 the best I could. To me, it is obviously written with the assumption that government has the right to control our lives from pre-birth to death. For that reason, it's not worth considering, it's not worth modifying, it's not worth amending. It needs to be dumped.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YELLIN: OK. Well, that was a sound bite of a protester, or a critic, upset about some of the proposals in the bill.
Tony, to just give you an overview, those who are upset about the various pieces of legislation are convinced that it will lead to single player plans in the end, worried that the government will end up making health care decisions, and that illegals will be covered. On the other side of those who support reform are insistent that no one is being well informed about the bill. They say the uninsured need to be covered, and they feel that reform has to happen fast for a good change to take place.
And finally, Tony, the one observation that I would make personally is that it's fascinating to me that no matter what side of this debate people fall on, they do not feel heard. And no matter how loud they're speaking or how much TV time they're getting, they just feel that their point of view is not being well represented -- Tony.
HARRIS: That is very interesting. I'm trying to think of where to take that point, but a point well taken.
Jessica Yellin for us.
Jessica, thank you.
And coming up, we will talk health care reform with Republican Congressman Tom Price of Georgia. He is a doctor and he helped write the Republican Study Committee's health care proposal.
While the health care debate rages on, health care volunteers are pressing on with their effort to help the uninsured and underinsured. Let's get to our Ted Rowlands now. He is live at a free clinic in Inglewood, California, near Los Angeles.
And you know, Ted, in the past we have seen thousands line up for this kind of event. How would you describe the turnout this morning?
RED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, again, sold out, if you will. Fifteen hundred people showed up in the wee hours of the morning. We're at the forum. This is the 18,000-plus-seat arena that the Los Angeles Lakers used to play in, and Remote Area Medical has set up shop here.
The old dental chair here. This woman is getting a filling.
Basically, the deal is, people can come here and get absolutely free medical care, dental care, vision care. And they showed up in droves, as you mentioned.
They came early on. A lot of people spent the night. One of the people that spent the night was this young man here, Ryan. He is hoping to get a couple root canals and some fillings.
And I think you have some Novocain in your mouth, so you probably can't speak.
So we'll tell his story for him.
Doesn't have insurance right now, unemployed. Hasn't seen the dentist in five years. So, he's taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity to get some free dental care. He is hoping to get these root canals, but the problem here, Tony, is that there is a root canal section to this arena, and that is just jammed.
There's 15 people waiting. Root canal takes an average of two to three hours to do. So, Ryan may have to come back tomorrow.
There's also a vision area where people cannot only get their vision checked, but they actually mill glasses, so people can come in here, get their eyes checked, and leave with a pair of glasses.
How did this all start? Stan Brock started this in 1985. You may recognize him from the old "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom."
HARRIS: There you go.
ROWLANDS: He was a co-star of that. And now he's made it his life's work to provide free medical care for people that need it.
Stan, when you look at what you're doing, what in your mind does it say about the medical situation in the United States?
STAN BROCK, PROVIDING FREE MEDICAL CARE: Well, I think the first thing to realize and understand is that this has not anything to do at all with the economic downturn. I've been in this country many, many decades, and this situation has prevailed ever since I came to this country. And I'm sure long, long, long before that. So, there are just...
ROWLANDS: Specifically, dental and vision are the two key things.
BROCK: Well, one has to be a little bit careful about saying that because, actually, by the end of the week, we probably will have seen at least as many people in general medical as we will see in dentistry and vision. But the dental, of course, is very, very visible out here on the floor, and the examinations are also very visible, whereas the medical part is behind closed doors.
ROWLANDS: Fifteen hundred people here today had to be turned away within hours. You say that's nothing new to you, this is what you've been seeing. But have you seen it more recently than maybe 10 years ago in terms of the need and the willingness of people to spend the night just to get their teeth cleaned?
BROCK: No, no. I would argue that it's been like this for many, many, many years. People simply cannot afford the health care system in this country unless you're either very well to do or very well insured.
After the age of 18 -- because up until that time you're protected by some type of federal and state health care facilities. After that, you're like the rest of us, you're on your own. And dental, yes, you've got a mouth full of bad teeth, hard to function.
ROWLANDS: It's painful.
BROCK: It's very painful. You want to get it fixed.
ROWLANDS: All right.
Well, people aren't alone that are here. Stan's organization is helping them out this week, Tony. They'll be here all week long. Thousands of people are going to get some much-needed help for their dental and vision issues, and some basic stuff, medical stuff, too, the screenings, et cetera.
So, a real busy day here in L.A. And a lot of happy people that are with Stan here, with his crew.
HARRIS: OK.
Ted Rowlands for us.
Ted, appreciate it. Thank you.
You know, we want to hear from you. Here's the question: Is health care a fundamental American right regardless of a person's ability to pay?
Think about the question for a moment. No knee-jerk reactions here, if you don't mind. Just really take a moment to consider the question and then respond, if you would. Just go to my blog, CNN.com/Tony, and have your say, completely, fully. Have your say. We will share your vote and your comments later in the NEWSROOM.
And where's the quick vote tally? Seventy-five percent so far say yes, health care is a fundamental American right regardless of a person's ability to pay.
We will follow the "Quick Vote" throughout the morning, right here in the NEWSROOM.
President Obama steps back into the health care battle today. He holds a town hall meeting in New Hampshire. And aides say the president is prepared for a vigorous debate.
How vigorous?
CNN's Jim Acosta live now from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with a preview.
And Jim, maybe that is the question. Is the president, in your mind, going to get a taste of some of these edgier town hall meetings?
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Tony, it's gotten pretty vigorous out there, hasn't it, over these last several days? "Vigorous" would be one word to describe it.
The president is expecting to have that vigorous debate, as you called it, as White House officials are calling it, later today. But, you know, the White House is trying to shift strategies here away from concentrating on all of those millions of Americans who are uninsured or underinsured and towards the insured and what can be done to fix the system for people who already have health care insurance.
So, we're expecting to hear the president talk about a little bit of that later today, but having said all of that, having seen these town hall meetings over the last several days, White House officials are being pressed about whether or not the president might actually get shouted down by a protester later today. And the White House response, as you put it earlier, Tony, they're expecting a vigorous debate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA (voice-over): Opponents of Democratic plans for health care reform aren't just sounding off at congressional town hall meetings.
In New Hampshire last week, protesters descended on staff members of Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen in the middle of a routines constituent's services meeting. It wasn't a town hall forum and the senator wasn't even there. The protesters recorded the confrontation and put it on YouTube.
SEN. JEANNE SHAHEEN (D), NEW HAMPSHIRE: One constituent who was there wound up almost in tears where our staff person had to be escorted out with a police escort.
ACOSTA (on camera): And have you ever seen anything like this in all of years of public service?
SHAHEEN: Never where people have been encouraged to be disrespectful.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Democrats charge the people shouting health care questions at members of Congress these days are being encouraged by the likes of Rush Limbaugh, whose Web site compares the reform supporters to Nazis.
But Corey Lewandowski, with Americans for Prosperity, a conservative group that's backing the protest, insists the anti-reform movement is real.
(on camera): How do you respond to the charge that this is all orchestrated and artificial if it's -- if it's all coming from talk show hosts and Web sites?
COREY LEWANDOWSKI, AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY, NEW HAMPSHIRE: I think if that were the case, then you wouldn't see the massive turnout that you've seen in each and every event. I mean, you know, the average person is at work when Rush Limbaugh is on the radio.
ACOSTA (voice-over): As we were talking, almost out of nowhere, a bystander listening in our conversation came right up to us to say ditto.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much.
ACOSTA (on camera): And you happen to agree with this gentleman?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do.
ACOSTA (voice-over): But Democrats are also flexing their grassroots. These former Obama volunteers are back in campaign mode.
EILEEN FLOCKHART, SUPPORTS OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE PLAN: I really think you've got some folks who are very anxious about change, who really love to play the fear card.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Corey Lewandowski says it's about facts not fear. But time and again, he falsely compared Democratic health care proposals to a Canadian-style universal system.
(on camera): The ones coming out the House are not Canadian- style universal health care. And you know that.
LEWANDOWSKI: Universal health care in any way, shape, or form is a bad notion.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Jim, very quickly here, what is the White House doing to fend off some of the attacks from opponents of health care reform? ACOSTA: Well, one of the things that they're starting to do, Tony -- and we've all picked up on this -- is they have this new link on the White House Web site, the official White House Web site called "Reality Check," where they are trying to bat down some of these erroneous claims that are being made by some of the opponents of reform.
One of them being what you just heard at the end of that piece, that this is some sort of Canadian-style health care system. The president tried to say yesterday once again that's not what we're talking about here, and there are even more outrageous claims that have been talked about that go beyond that.
And so, the White House has its hand full over these next several days, and particularly today. There's going to be 1,800 people at this event later today, Tony. And that's just the people who got ticketed to go to the event. There will be hundreds more, we're hearing, outside of this event trying to get their voices heard.
HARRIS: Boy, this has not been a dull or boring summer, to be sure.
Jim Acosta for us in New Hampshire.
ACOSTA: No, I don't think so. Vigorous.
HARRIS: Yes, absolutely. Just ahead -- word of the morning -- just ahead of the president's town hall meeting today.
Jim, appreciate it. Thank you.
And we will, of course, bring you live coverage of President Obama's town hall meeting from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
And if you want to know what's in the Republican proposal for health care reform, just ask the man who helped write it. Congressman Tom Price joins us live in just a couple of minutes right here in the NEWSROOM.
But first, here is the latest on Wall Street.
The Dow, at last check, down 102 points. Boy, just moments ago it was down just 96, so we're in negative territory, triple digits now. And the Nasdaq down 26.
We will be following the numbers from the Big Board, New York Stock Exchange, throughout the morning for you in the CNN NEWSROOM.
We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HARRIS: You know, lots to discuss in this make-or-break month for health care reform.
Joining me live now, Congressman Tom Price of Georgia. He has been a doctor for, what, more than 25 years?
REP. TOM PRICE (R), GEORGIA: Right.
HARRIS: And helped write the Republican proposal for health care reform.
Doctor, Representative, good to see you. Thanks for your time.
PRICE: Thanks, Tony.
HARRIS: You know, I spent some time on YouTube this morning just trying to get a better handle on your view, your positions on health care reform. And it's clear to me that you believe the current system is unsustainable, but you clearly also have some real issues and concerns about the public option as it's being discussed now and being shaped.
PRICE: Absolutely.
HARRIS: I want to give you an opportunity to tell all of us what your concerns are, because we're hearing some of this reflected in some of these town hall meeting.
PRICE: Well, the status quo is unacceptable, clearly, for patients and for doctors. And for the entire system it's unacceptable.
But we believe, what I believe, is we need a patient-centered system, not an insurance-centered system or a government-centered system, but a patient-centered system. And a government option, a public option, a public plan will inevitably skew the playing field so that tens of millions, if not over 100 million Americans, will be forced from their personal, private health insurance onto the government plan.
HARRIS: Do you really believe that?
PRICE: Absolutely. It's happened in every other instance. Let me give you an example.
HARRIS: Sure.
PRICE: The Medicare Part B program, which is the physician component of Medicare, is a public option. It has a 97 percent market share, crowds everybody else out of the market so that everybody ends up on the government plan.
HARRIS: Do private insurers really want to be in that business?
PRICE: Well, you don't know because the government skews the playing field. I would suggest that private insurers, personal insurers, could create greater dynamism, greater interivation (ph), greater responsiveness in the system. But instead, what we have is a government-run system. That's what a public option looks like in the United States health care system.
HARRIS: But a public option, would you agree, is not an option for everyone? I mean, as we sit here today, at this moment, neither of us would qualify for the public option under any of the proposals being talked about now, correct?
PRICE: Well, you wouldn't today, but you might in five years, when CNN has a health insurance program and policy that doesn't necessarily comply with every single component that's defined in the House bill right now. You would be forced on to a public option plan. And that's why we have great concerns about it.
Now, there's a better way. There's a way to make it so that patients are in control, not government or insurance companies. Now, that's what we've put together in our bill, HR-3400.
HARRIS: What is the center of that proposal? Is it deductions, is it tax credits, is it -- what is it?
PRICE: A couple items. One is everyone has got to get insured. You've got to make it financially feasible for folks to be insured.
HARRIS: And I should say, you've been consistent on that point.
PRICE: Absolutely.
HARRIS: And everything I've heard you say in your public comments, you've been consistent that everyone has to get some kind of access to the system. Right?
PRICE: Absolutely. And you do that through a combination of tax deductions or tax credits or refundable credits, or the like.
HARRIS: But can I stop you there for a moment?
PRICE: Sure.
HARRIS: Isn't that essentially the plan that John McCain ran for president on in the health care debate portion of the broader discussion?
PRICE: He talked about tax credits, and that's one component of it. Where we differ is that we believe there ought to be a hybrid system. That is, make it financially attractive for every single American to have health insurance. And for some individuals, that's deductions. For some, it's credits.
For some, it's refundable or advanceable credits so that they're not paying enough in taxes to be able to have a credit make any sense. Then they would get an advanceable credit to be able to purchase health insurance.
HARRIS: Is it true that even under your proposal, ,there would be a significant government involvement in health care reform, even under what you're talking about -- credits, deductions?
PRICE: Just for the construct of the system. Just for the construct of the system. But patients would be in charge.
We need to make it so that there's portability in the system, so if you lose your job or you change jobs, that you can keep your health insurance. It goes with you. That's one of the big concerns that folks have today. We need to make certain that quality in health care is defined by physicians and by patients, not by a federal bureaucrat, which is a huge concern of many folks.
We need to address the lawsuit issue, which something that the bills on the other side of the aisle don't do at all. And we need to do it all without raising taxes. HR-3400 does every one of those things.
HARRIS: Are you concerned that in this summer, this make-or- break summer for health care reform, that real, substantive conversations like what we're trying to have here are being drowned out by a lot of the -- you know, frankly, the yelling and screaming and some of the stuff we saw at Senator Specter's town hall at the top of the hour.
PRICE: It comes from both sides.
HARRIS: I agree.
PRICE: But I would suggest that the yelling that you're hearing is a symptom of the process that we've been through over the last six months, and that is a process that has shut out so many people in this debate and in this discussion. The American people are concerned about folks not reading the stimulus bill, passing things in the dead of night that nobody reads. And they're concerned that if that happens with health care, that they will be thrown into a system that will not be responsive to them.
HARRIS: Well, all I can do is speak for these two hours, and we have been trying like crazy to get every voice, every stakeholder, to have those voices heard. And to the extent that you can, would you help us?
PRICE: Be happy to, any time.
HARRIS: Representative Price, thanks for being here. It's good to see you again. It's been a while.
PRICE: Thanks, Tony. Good to see you. Thank you.
HARRIS: We will bring you live coverage of President Obama's town hall meeting from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is set to begin, once again, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Look for a hot deal on a new car. Well, if you're looking for one, try eBay. What? GM is changing the way it does business.
We'll talk about that next, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: All right. Just moments ago, President Obama deplaning Marine One at Andrews Air Force Base. He will hop aboard Air Force One in just moments. We will see the president in just moments here for his trip to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, for his town hall debate. Really his town hall meeting.
It probably will turn into a debate, maybe a little bit more. Scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
And I'm trying to hang on here just to see the president climb off of Marine One. All right.
But, once again, that is scheduled to happen, the town hall meeting, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, right here in the NEWSROOM. Maybe we can squeeze the picture a bit.
The health care debate is -- it does seem to divide families who can't seem to agree.
CNN's John Roberts talked with the Woodhouse brothers today on "AMERICAN MORNING."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Tens of millions of people will lose their health insurance and be forced into a government plan.
Where does it say that in any of the plans?
DALLAS WOODHOUSE, AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY: You know, John, we are reasonable people that can look at a piece of legislation and look at what the consequences of what that legislation will do. It doesn't have to be written on paper. It wasn't written in the FEMA legislation for them to bundle getting water to thirsty people. The reality is that this plan will incentivize private companies for dropping their insurance.
I would ask my brother three questions. Can he guarantee that no company in America will drop private insurance to put people on the public plan? Can he guarantee it won't increase the deficit? And can he guarantee that it won't put the government in charge of rationing health care?
He can't say that.
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTS: Let's answer those three questions.
BRAD WOODHOUSE, SR. DNC ADVISER: I can answer all three of those questions. First of all, the president's plan will eliminate the type of rationing the insurance companies are doing now. Remember, the insurance companies ration health care by denying people coverage for pre-existing conditions, dropping people when they get sick. So, the president's plan will say no more of that.
Second of all, the CBO said that the president's plan would not result in insurance companies going out of business...
D. WOODHOUSE: After he put the muzzle on them at the White House.
B. WOODHOUSE: All right. I'm answering your questions, Dallas -- this a public option. And so, we're pedaling more falsehoods here. And this is what...
ROBERTS: OK. And what about the increasing the deficit? The CBO said it would add $239 billion to the deficit.
B. WOODHOUSE: Well, first, the president has said that this has to be -- he said he won't sign a bill that's not deficit-neutral over the next 10 years. So, he'll depend on the CBO to score whatever the final bill is, and he said he will not sign it if it's not deficit- neutral.
So, Dallas, I think I answered all your questions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: We will bring you live coverage of President Obama's health care town hall meeting from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Again, it is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and you'll see it right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
It's the new GM. The Detroit automaker began selling Chevys and Buicks and other cars on eBay today.
CNN's Stephanie Elam is at the business desk in New York.
Stephanie, what if I like to haggle? Can I haggle there at eBay?
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You, Tony? You like to haggle?
HARRIS: Come on.
ELAM: I can't even imagine that. No.
But, of course, if you're into haggling, you don't want to just pay what they're saying on eBay, you can do that on this new Web site. And it's basically a trial period that they're running with right now.
It's a four-week trial period. They're working with 225 dealership throughout California. It's just in the Golden State right now. If you're outside of that area, it's not for you. They're just seeing if this works.
They're working with eBay with a new Web site, GM.eBay.com. And you go there and you basically can take look at the Web site and say, I'm looking for this kind of car. And when I say this kind of car, that basically means you can look at Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Pontiac. Those are the kinds that they're selling.
Find one. Say, this is what I'm looking for. There's the Web site. And type in your zip code and see what comes up in the area.
And you can start looking around, figure out, you know, I want to pay more for this, less for this, what works for you. And if you want, you can just go ahead and buy it now, which means just pay whatever the monthly advertised price is for the car that you're looking at.
But the program does begin today. So, for people who are interested in it, this is something that they have until September 8th to take advantage of.
In fact, we have a little bit of CEO Fritz Henderson speaking about what makes this program tick.
ELAM: ... this is something that they have until September 8th to take advantage of. In fact, we have a little bit of CEO Fritz Henderson speaking about what makes this program tick. Let's take a listen to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRITZ HENDERSON, CEO, GENERAL MOTORS: Customers will be able to buy actual vehicles just like they do on eBay by choosing the option of a predetermined "buy it now" price or by negotiating online. You can do all your research and price negotiation, as I said, online in the comfort of your own home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: So, obviously, a lot of people like the idea of being able to do that at home. Of course, you know, John Roberts brought this up earlier when we were talking about it. You may want to go to a dealership and actually check out the car first...
HARRIS: You better.
ELAM: ... and then come back and buy it because, you know, it might be nice to find out you don't like where the cupholder is. But they're saying they'll have a network of 20,000 vehicles to pick from by working as a unit like this, Tony.
HARRIS: Did you just say you may not like where the cupholder is? Is that what you just said? ELAM: yes. I was being funny. Maybe something else. Maybe it's the fuel economy, all right?
HARRIS: Just stop it.
ELAM: You've got to keep it light every now and then, Tony.
HARRIS: Just stop it.
(LAUGHTER)
HARRIS: All right, Stephanie, appreciate it. Thank you.
And once again, we want to remind you check out our "SPECIAL REPORT: AMERICA'S MONEY CRISIS." Again, that's at CNNmoney.com.
Here in Atlanta, long lines right now outside the Georgia World congress Center where major lenders are gathered to help homeowners lower their monthly payments. This last day of the five-day, free financial event was organized by the non-profit Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America.
We saw these pictures pop up maybe about an hour ago and just couldn't believe it. We're told about 15,000 people attended yesterday, and even more are expected today.
While lawmakers are in their communities holding town hall meetings on health care, we have our own representative check the pulse on this issue. CNN's Ali Velshi is on the road making stops just to talk to you, and he joins us in just a couple minutes. Good to see you, Doctor.
Plus, she was the sister of a president. But Eunice Kennedy Shriver left her own lasting impact on the world and touched countless lives.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And here are the faces of the stories behind the headlines today in the CNN NEWSROOM. Eunice Kennedy Shriver dies. A sister to a president and senator, founder of the Special Olympics.
The uninsured. We go live to a free clinic in Los Angeles to get opinions on health care reform.
On the road listening to your concerns about health care reform and other issues, Ali Velshi and the CNN Express traveling through Tennessee today, the latest stop on a six-state tour. And Ali joins us live from Manchester, Tennessee.
And Ali, good to see you. Doctor, what are you finding?
ALI VELSHI, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, listen, we're finding that there is a lot of confusion and a lot of opinions about health care where we are, but not the same heat that we've been seeing in some of those town hall meetings, particularly the one I was following this morning with Senator Specter.
Basically, Tony, it breaks down into three areas. People are concerned about the cost of their health care. That seems to be the primary concern. Will this new proposal cost people who are already getting health care more money? Will it affect the quality of their health care? That's the second concern. And the third one which really fits into this whole political discussion that we've been having is, will it affect their choice? Will their options be taken away?
Listen to what we heard in Chattanooga, Tennessee, from some people we talked to. Take a listen to what they said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to be able to afford the best care that I can for myself and my children.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to able to pick my own doctors.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd like to pick my own doctors and everything else, instead of having being assigned one.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE; If we could just take care of that, then I'd be pretty happy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want my health care to be affordable at a reasonable cost.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not going to go to the emergency room every time I get a cough or a cold. I'm worried about the big illnesses that could bankrupt the family.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't want to settle for less than the best if our life is at stake.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: So, Tony, that's the kind of response we've been getting. Again, very measured, but there are a lot of people who think that their options are being taken away. What I haven't heard from a lot of people is that even if you're insured, you don't have options to see every doctor you'd like or any hospital you'd like. You'd pay extra for that.
So, there's definitely a sense that this health care reform bill that is before us or being proposed is one that is going to impose restrictions on the choices that you can make.
HARRIS: Hey, Ali, I've heard the sentiment expressed by a couple of folks that you just featured there a number of times already this morning and throughout this debate. Are we just not doing a very good job or enough of a job in explaining where we are in the process right now?
I mean, we don't have sort of a merged bill right now to discuss, and that leaves a void of information that's maybe being filled with a lot of misinformation. But are we just not doing enough to explain what is being discussed and how it will impact you?
VELSHI: Well, you know, I suppose in this business it's really clear. When people don't seem to know enough about what's going on, then it is our job to do. And that's part of the reason, Tony, you know, that we decided to take the Express so we can hear from people...
HARRIS: I think it's a smart thing to do, yes.
VELSHI: ... what their concerns are. Part of the problem is -- part of the problem, of course, is that what's happening at some of these town hall meetings is that there seem to be presumptions about what's going to happen, even based on legislation that's not even proposed yet.
So, it is a big issue. I think people are sort of running with this before they entirely know what it is. But let's just keep on doing a better job. I'll keep on telling you what people are concerned about, and let's just keep on doing a better job with it.
HARRIS: You are awesome. All right, Ali, appreciate it. Thank you.
And of course, we want to hear from you. Is health care a fundamental American right, regardless of a person's ability to pay? That's our "Quick Vote" question. Just -- where are we now with the numbers?
Last, just, what, 20 minutes ago, we were at -- wow, 81 percent. It was 75 percent maybe 15 minutes or so ago. Eighty-one percent of you responding to our "Quick Vote" question believe that health care is a fundamental American right regardless of a person's ability to pay.
All right, go to CNN.com/tony. Have your say. We will share your vote and your comments later in the NEWSROOM.
The Kennedy family in mourning today. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister to a president and two senators and founder of the Special Olympics, died today. She was 88. Her husband, Sargent Shriver, and their five children were with her at a Cape Cod hospital. Here's CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
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WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): The fifth child of Joseph and Rose Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver was a tireless crusader for the developmentally disabled. In 1962, when her older brother, John, was president, Shriver wrote an article in "The Saturday Evening Post" revealing that one of the Kennedy siblings, Rosemary, was retarded.
She called for a national campaign to bring people like her sister into the mainstream of American life. After the assassinations of her brothers, John and Bobby, Eunice Shriver's crusade continued. EUNICE KENNEDY SHRIVER, JOHN F. KENNEDY'S SISTER: In ancient Rome, the gladiators went into the arena with these words on their lips: Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.
BLITZER: She founded the Special Olympics in 1968. The first games held in Chicago lasted two days, attracting 1,000 athletes from 26 states and Canada.
Operating with what some have called a high-octane fervor, Shriver helped develop the Special Olympics into a year-round global enterprise in which more than 1 million athletes participate. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award.
RONALD REAGAN, 40TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For decency and goodness that touched the lives of many, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver deserves America's praise, gratitude and love.
BLITZER: In 1998, another president and first lady paid tribute to Shriver on the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Special Olympics.
HILLARY CLINTON, THEN-FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: Anyone just steps back for a minute and watches Eunice in action, it's exhausting. A lifetime of dedication to public service, she's been a personal inspiration to me and to so many others.
BLITZER: Shriver was married since 1953 to Sargent Shriver, the first director of the Peace Corps and a Democratic nominee for vice president in 1972. They have five children, including the first lady of California and broadcast journalist, Maria Shriver Schwarzenegger.
Exuberant, restless, deeply religious, Eunice Shriver changed the way the world views the developmentally disabled. As "U.S. News and World Report" said of her, "When the full judgment of the Kennedy legacy is made, the changes wrought by Eunice Kennedy Shriver may well be seen as the most consequential."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And a statement from the Shriver family says, "Eunice Kennedy Shriver taught us by example and with passion what it means to live a faith-driven life of love and service." President Obama called Mrs. Shriver an extraordinary woman. He says, "She showed us no physical or mental barrier can restrain the power of the human spirit."
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HARRIS: In Taiwan, a massive search is under way for hundreds of people missing after a powerful typhoon buried a village in mud. Look at these images. This happening during the worst flooding in 50 years.
CNN's John Vause has a look at the damage. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Typhoon Morakot has already swept through Taiwan and the most destructive storm so far this season has left behind what is likely to be an escalating death toll. In this remote village on the (INAUDIBLE), there are fears hundreds of people may have been buried alive, trapped under a massive mudslide.
It's been like this since Sunday night. The village cut off, roads buried and a bridge washed away. So the military is flying in on helicopters. Dozens have been rescued, taken to makeshift medical camps.
"My father and mother had been washed away by the flood," says this man.
Morakot has been slow-moving and lasted for days. That means it has dumped huge amounts of rain -- 80 inches in some places in just 48 hours. And as it heads north through eastern China, more mudslides. State media here reports six low-rise apartment buildings were crushed. All of them stood together at the foot of the mountain. Rescuers pulled six survivors from the debris, but two later died.
"I stood up and heard a sound across the street, and in about one second, the whole building came crashing down," says this resident who lives nearby.
Across the storm's path, reservoirs are overflowing. Residents have been sandbagging, and almost a million and a half people have been forced to evacuate, many taking refuge in emergency shelters. And while Morakot is now losing strength, officials say it has left behind a damage bill well over a billion U.S. dollars.
John Vause, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Boy, those pictures are just so devastating. Jacqui, good to see you. You know, and I know you're going to focus a bit on the tropics, and is there some news on Felicia, right?
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. We've got a couple of changes, actually. Felicia's been downgraded. It's now a tropical depression. So, that's great news to see those winds to continue to be reduced, 35 miles per hour maximum sustained. So, this isn't going to be a windstorm for Hawaii. This is going to be a wave storm. We've already had some very high surf. Fifteen-foot waves expected today. And we could see some heavy rainfall in this area. So, that's what's going on in the Pacific.
We're also dealing with a new system in the Atlantic. This is tropical depression number two. And there you can see it. It's still way out in the middle of the ocean. Here's the Cape Verde Islands there. And it is forecast to strengthen a little bit, and it could become our first tropical storm of the Atlantic season. And we're starting that game a little bit late. It's, you know, August, so, to start seeing storms like that, we expect things to get more active in the upcoming weeks.
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HARRIS: You ask Hillary Clinton almost anything you want. Just leave Bill out of it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Wait, you want me to tell you what my husband thinks? My husband is not the secretary of state. I am. So, you asked my opinion, I will tell you my opinion. I'm not going to be channeling my husband.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: You want to throw down, we'll throw down.
Plus, comparing America's health care system with other countries. We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Question for you. What if you were required by law to buy health insurance? That's how it works in the Netherlands. CNN's Kitty Pilgrim tells us the government regulates it to help make it fair for everyone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KITTY PILGRIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Dutch reformed their health care system in 2006, and now every person is required by law to purchase health insurance from one of a dozen or so companies. David Helms of a nonprofit health policy and research center has studied health systems in the Netherlands, the UK and Germany.
DAVID HELMS, CEO, ACADEMY HEALTH: They clearly have put in place a structure that permits competition among providers. They're opening up a system that was more controlled by government to more competition among the providers.
PILGRIM: The Dutch government makes sure that industry is regulated and fair. Professor Alain Entoven of Stanford offered the managed competition model the Dutch have embraced.
PROFESSOR ALAIN ENTHOVEN, STANFORD UNIVERSITY: One of the things the Dutch do that we should do is have standardized coverage contracts so there's no tricky exclusion, no confusion.
PILGRIM: Although the system is based on private insurers, the government makes certain that no one is refused coverage based on age, gender or pre-existing conditions. University of Texas Professor Pauline Rosenow has written extensively on the Dutch health care system.
PROFESSOR PAULINE ROSENOW, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS: It's all part of what's outlined as the basic health insurance policy that the government, first of all, has an entire department that tells the insurance companies what they have to cover, and then sees to it and checks up that they are covering those things.
PILGRIM: Six and a half percent of income goes to health insurance in the Netherlands. Those who cannot afford that have their insurance costs subsidized by the government. The government through an insurance pool also compensates insurance companies for signing up people with poor health records or pre-existing conditions.
All of this costs less than U.S. health care. The Dutch spend $3,527 a person on health care, while the U.S. spends $7,290. It is 9.8 percent of GDP in the Netherlands versus 16 percent in the U.S. There are considerably more doctors per capita in the Netherlands, 1 for 256, versus 1 for 416 in the United States.
A chief strength is a network of family doctors who are deeply familiar with their patients. The Commonwealth Fund reports in a recent survey 100 percent of people in the Netherlands have a regular doctor. The ultimate selling point, the average Dutch life expectancy is 80 years versus 78 in the United States.
Kitty Pilgrim, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Tensions in Portsmouth. The president is in New Hampshire today for a town hall on health care reform, and so are his critics. We will have a live report next hour.
Plus, the lines are absolutely incredible. Hundreds waiting at a free health clinic near Los Angeles today. Their stories and the doctors who are willing to help.
And how about this, a car that gets 230 miles per gallon in the city? It is GM's big announcement, but will it mean big sales?
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