Rally "Standing with Obama on Public Health Care" at Senator Bill Nelson turns rowdy

As reported by the Miami Herald at this link:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/top-stories/story/1185439.html

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A rally called to support a public healthcare option outside Sen. Bill Nelson's Coral Gables office quickly turned into a cross-street chanting and shouting match Thursday afternoon between about 250 backers and opponents.

The rally, organized by the liberal MoveOn.org, generated the latest in a string of heated and emotional public exchanges about healthcare reform, after opponents of the measures working their way through Congress also showed up.

Dave Patlak, a MoveOn.org volunteer who hosted the rally, said citizens had gathered to ask Nelson, D-Fla., to support a public healthcare option.
``It's the only real way to keep the insurance companies honest,'' Patlak said.

MoveOn attracted about 100 supporters of the public option, some of whom came with stories about health insurance nightmares.

Gary DeMaria, a construction manager who has been laid off three times in the past decade, said he was uninsured and afraid to get sick.
``Every time I got laid off, no health insurance,'' he said.
Opponents voiced fears about what might happen if the federal government were to take on a major role in providing healthcare.

Marcos Sendon, editor and president of SFlaConservative.com, who organized the group of about 150 opponents of a public health insurance option, said there were better, more efficient ways to make health insurance more affordable, including tort reform.

Much of the debate Thursday was drowned out by chants, car horns and, at one point, the singing of the national anthem.

Opponents chanted ``Obama is a liar!'' and ``No Obamacare!'' across Salzedo Street toward placard-wielding supporters, who shouted back ``Facts not fear!''

About a dozen Coral Gables police officers were on the scene, which was often tense but never violent.
``We're very happy that our side is so controlled,'' said Patlak, of Miami Beach. ``There's so much confusion on the other side. They're only responding to visceral lies. The legislation is actually quite moderate.''

Nelson, who is a member of the Finance Committee, was not present.
``[Nelson] appreciates folks advocating for the best possible legislation on healthcare reform,'' his office said in a statement. ``In a nutshell, he wants what most everybody wants: to fix a broken system. He also wants to make sure we find a responsible way to pay for it.''

The healthcare debate, which has intensified at the grass-roots level at town hall meetings and rallies around the country this month, is set to continue in South Florida during Congress' August recess.

``This is only a small dress rehearsal,'' said Sendon, of Miami. ``We're hosting a massive tea party on Aug. 22 at Bird Road and 87th Avenue. We'll have an incredible turnout then.''