Spicer: Town hall demonstrations include ‘professional’ protesters
Spicer says angry town halls are partly “professional” protesters: “Just because they’re loud doesn’t necessarily mean there are many” pic.twitter.com/CxIQ0IIwh6
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 22, 2017
White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Wednesday played down anger brewing against lawmakers at town halls across the country as a mixture of real concern and demonstrations from “professional” protesters.
“There’s a hybrid there: I think some people are clearly upset, but there is a bit of professional protestor, manufactured base in there,” Spicer said at the daily briefing.
“Obviously there are people who are upset, but I also think that when you look at some of these districts and some of these things, it is not a representation of a member’s district or an incident. It is a loud, small group of people disrupting something in many cases for media attention,” he said.
{mosads}”Just because they’re loud doesn’t necessarily mean that they are many.”
Spicer’s comments echo the sentiments of Trump, who argued Tuesday evening on Twitter that the “so-called angry crowds” facing GOP lawmakers at town hall events are partly “planned out by liberal activists.”
Spicer on Wednesday argued that some of the people who are protesting won’t be affected by any change in ObamaCare because they are covered through alternative means like Medicare or an employer-sponsored program. He also blasted the current healthcare system, arguing it has not held up to the promises upon which it was passed.
Republican lawmakers have faced tough audiences as they returned home for congressional recess. Some have ditched the public town halls altogether in favor of events that limit the ability for direct criticism about plans to repeal and replace former President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare policy.
During brief remarks Wednesday, Trump told reporters a healthcare plan would come in “maybe mid- to early March.”
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