Shutting down discussion not right approach

Arizona Sen. John McCain faced a sometimes angry crowd Wednesday at a Phoenix town hall meeting on health care reform, joining other members of Congress in the unpleasant experience.

Much of the heat generated in the health care debate has involved opponents of change, but McCain, a Republican, faced some members of the crowd who were angry that he has been opposing the Obama administration's efforts on health care.

At one point, McCain had to tell a vocal audience member she would be thrown out of the meeting if she did not behave. She chose to leave.

In recent weeks, it has often been Democratic supporters of health care reforms that have felt the heat of angry opponents of health care proposals at town hall meetings. Rep. Raul Grijalva, who represents the Yuma area in Congress, is one of those Democrats, as seen to some extent in a meeting here last week.

Perhaps some supporters of the reforms, upset by what opponents have been doing to stall the reform effort, have now taken a page from their playbook and become more aggressive and rude in expressing their support for change.

If so, they are as wrong to do so as those who oppose reform.

There are very strong feelings on both sides of the health care debate, but strong feelings do not justify inappropriate behavior. Efforts to shout down discussion or to become physical have no place in a free society.

It is unlikely there is any dominate thought on health care reform yet in the nation. For one thing, there is not yet a definite plan to debate. There have been various proposals in Congress, but they have yet to coalesce into one proposal that will allow proper consideration. Much of what is being debated now are simply proposals. What eventually may be offered could be different.

Many Americans likely are only seeking information at this point and waiting for the final proposals that may emerge. That is why those who try to shut down the discussion, whatever their political persuasion, through intimidation, screaming and unruly behavior do such a disservice to the process.

It was wrong to do this when Grijalva had his meeting here and it was wrong to do it to McCain in his Phoenix meeting. It is a time for listening and discussing, not for some of the antics we have seen at the health care town halls.