Bachmann's Town Hall On Health Care Tests Issues Of Childbirth, Public Option And More

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) held a packed town hall meeting on health care in her district yesterday afternoon, with special guest Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), with hundreds of people turning out on a weekday afternoon from both sides -- with a lot of interesting stuff said by everyone

Bachmann and Burgess took questions from people both in favor and opposed to President Obama on health care. On multiple occasions, Bachmann thanked all the people who turned out, regardless of where they are on the issues, because they care about the direction of the country -- and it really sounded like she meant it with all sincerity.

And things sure were interesting, with talk about whether the Obama administration will ever leave office, whether Bachmann has given birth more times than a male questioner -- and whether Republicans could have supported a public options in exchange for a carrot to call their own.

Here's the whole video, courtesy of The Uptake:

At about 39:30, a man got up and discussed his fear of the Obama administration: "You know I'm not a racist, I'm not a right wing extremist. I have conservative Christian values. (Applause) and again you know I'm just fundamental middle class guy. But here's my question, and I'm sure people some people will say he's this, he's that, he's a nut -- and I'm not. My concern is this: I'm concerned that after four years of the current admin, or possibly a second term of years, I have concerns that, to be frank, that they may not leave the White House. I believe that they whether by force (scattered boos) I know you don't want to hear this (people boo over him) I have concern that with this health care program goes our very freedom. And if you can't see that, then I'm sorry."

After the man finished asking Bachmann about this, she thanked him for his work as a school teacher and for his concerns. "That is my concern, too, -- freedom," said Bachmann. "That is what this country is founded on - is freedom. And I'm very concerned about the federal government coming in and taking over over 18% of the private economy." Bachmann then discussed the bailouts and government takeovers -- but never contradicted this man or talked him down from his fear that Obama may try to stay in office by force.

At the 44:00 mark, a man got into a very lively argument with Bachmann over her repeated assertion that America has the best health care system the world has ever known. Bachmann held up headlines from the United Kingdom, warning against horror stories of women having to give birth in hospital hallways due to bed shortages. And she got in a very snappy comeback. "I've given birth probably more times than you, sir," she said to massive laughter and applause.

At 1:17:00, a woman got in a very heated argument with Bachmann over the Congresswoman's belief that people should be able to purchase their own health insurance in a deregulated, competitive market. The woman countered that she can't shop around and know which conditions will get her coverage cancelled down the road: "How do you do that, how do you shop around? Tell me how you do that?" Bachmann said, "contract law is your friend," and that if the insurance company slams the door then you have an actionable complaint against them -- to which the woman responded that the companies can out-lawyer her, and that Bachmann is for tort reform.

In a very interesting moment, at 1:26:00, Burgess seemed to say that Republicans could have supported a public option, in a bipartisan compromise: "I got invited down to the White House for a photo op in March, and that's been it - that's been it. So this has not been -- there has not been the open invitation. If you want me to be part of this bill, put tort reform on the table, and say, okay Doctor, you've got to take mandates, you've got to take the public option, but we'll give you tort reform and that is in there. (Applause) So all I know is, is my vote has been no, but they never even tried, they never even tried."

Is this true? Could the GOP have ever supported the public option, in exchange for a victory of their own?