In Iowa, student journalists report on Obama’s visit to their campus

Sam Kienzle, a senior from environmental science, wore a pro-health care reform button on Thursday outside of the Field House. He said he was there mainly to observe. “Iowa City is my home town. And this is a spectacle,” he added. He liked to see all kinds of signs people held during the demonstration, but those that indicated racial slur bothered him, he said. He also said he was expecting to see about 100 more people join the demonstration. Photograph by Josie Liu, PhD candidate Unv. of Iowa

We’re grateful to students from the University of Iowa who offered grassroots reportage on Obama’s visit to Iowa. If you’d like to read direct and non-mainstream filtered accounts of this pivotal visit, here are some summaries:

Heather McKeag gives an account of the drama that ensued as opponents of the bill picketed outside the venue of Obama’s speech:

Demonstrators from all over Iowa gathered in protest and support of the new federal health-care reform legislation.

Supporters of the reform proudly raised signs that read “Health Insurance Reform Now” and “Standing Together for Health Care Reform,” while protester’s signs read “You’re Fired” and “Obama Stole My Wallet.”

“I disagree that health insurance is wasteful spending. However, I wouldn’t disagree that we are in a huge deficit.”
Andrew Alemao, a UI senior said.

Also check out this quote McKeag reported on from another protester:

Nancy Bothius, a doctor of pharmacy and clinical assistant professor came to protest critical issues she has witnessed in the medical field. Nancy’s sign stated, “I support health care reform but NOT this reform.”

However Lisa Brahm reports that it wasn’t all about protests as Obama found a friendly audience at the Filed House:

President Barack Obama applauded Iowans on their support of the health care reform just as much as the packed audience in the University of Iowa field house applauded him. People from the Iowa City area and students from the University of Iowa waited in a line around the corner from the field house eager to listen to the president speak.

His speech consisted mostly of the health care bill that he signed Tuesday afternoon, and while there were several protesters outside and even a brave young man yelling rebuttals at the president inside, many people in the audience were joining in on cheers before the president took the stage and frantically snapping pictures as he approached the podium.

Spectator and University of Iowa student, Paige Wallace described the scenery inside the field house as, “filled with Iowans eager to hear what the President had to say.” As the president walked onto the stage Wallace snapped pictures as she stood on her tip-toes in order to get a better view.

“His delivery was even better in person than when watching him on TV,” Paige said, “He is such a likable person. I didn’t feel like I was listening to the President speak. He seemed just like an average Midwesterner just like us.”

And finally, a summary of reactions before and after the speech from Kelly Oelmann’s report :

Several hundred people from all over the state and country lined up outside the Field House at the University of Iowa this morning in hopes of seeing the President Barrack Obama before or after his speech. While some picketed on one side of the street and others watched from the other side on this chilly windy day, they all wanted to get their voice heard.

A concerned business owner, Robin Staak of Iowa City says, “it is unconstitutional…it’s against the law….your telling people that they HAVE to buy something.” She believes that this bill will absolutely cripple our country.

Logan Garmoe age 14 of Mt. Pleasant is neutral about the bill. He states that the bill is, “taking away choice. They’ll keep doing that. It will keep getting bigger and bigger until we don’t have any way in it.”

College students like Dustin Krutsinger, a second year medical student wanted to encourage President Obama to go back to the Constitution. Krutsinger states, “they continue to ignore the Constitution.”

Tina Thomann of Riverside believes that the health care bill is, “a step in the right direction.” Vernon Rollins of North Liberty agrees and says that it is great that it passed. Vernon was one of the many lucky to receive a ticket to enter the building.

US health legislation receives mixed reviews in Iowa as Obama holds crucial rally

By Amy Tiffany, Guest Reporter, University of Iowa

When President Obama came into Iowa City Wednesday afternoon to speak, people voiced their opinions. The University of Iowa campus was buzzing with energy, emotions, and adrenaline as protesters and supporters rallied before and after the historic event took place at the Field House, speaking up about the highly controversial Health Care Reform that was recently passed.

One protester sign said, ‘My Money, My Health, My Choice.’ Another said, ‘We Earn our Healthcare’ and ‘Honk if I pay your Medical Bills.’ Supporters held up signs saying ‘Healthcare for America Now’ and ‘Obama 08 Thank You’ and ‘Change.’ The opinions varied as much as the signs.

Robert Foster, a Korean War veteran and Iowa City resident said, “I think it’s good for the country,” and he said it’s a first step in the right direction to help young and old people.

Another veteran expressed a different opinion. “He [President Obama] lies constantly,” said Mark McAvon, a veteran of the Vietnam War. He asked President Obama to be more transparent, and not sneak behind America’s back.

University of Iowa junior Kevin Hickey, who had stopped to observe during the couple of hours he had between classes, agreed. He said Obama needs to face the people up front with what he is doing, and asked, why does Obama have to go around selling the Health Care Reform?



McAvon also said the day the Health Care Reform passed was the day freedom died.
Some people were concerned with the financial issues. Sarah Turner, from Washington, Iowa, said America does not have the money for this. Hickey said, “We’re all going to have to pay for this somehow.”

Not all were concerned with the same financial issues. A bystander in a different conversation said to a Republican, “All you care about are rich people!” Turner said the quality of medical care will go down. “There won’t be home grown doctors,” said Kitty Rehberg and Linda Bowden, who traveled from Independence, Iowa to protest.

“Doctor Obama, your prescriptions don’t work,” the pair said while chuckling.
But inside the Field House was where the majority of the supporters would be found. During the speech UI senior Krisanne Ryther said Obama did a good job explaining the positive affects the Health Care Reform will have in laymen’s terms, and even laughed at how UNI’s upset against Kansas messed up his NCAA bracket.

Though tensions were high and everyone had a different opinion of President Obama and the Health Care Reform, one thing was for sure. His visit brought out the passion of University of Iowa students and residents.