Specter foes Sestak, Toomey hold town hall

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Two candidates from opposite ends of the political spectrum , but united in their desire to oust Sen. Arlen Specter , debated health care Wednesday night at a town hall-style meeting that allowed them to raise their profiles while keeping the incumbent on the sidelines, at least for a few hours.

Former Republican Rep. Pat Toomey and Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak offered starkly different visions of health care reform during their televised debate at Muhlenberg College in Allentown. Neither mentioned Specter by name.

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Anger at Obama's plan to overhaul the health care system has erupted at recent town hall meetings hosted by members of Congress across the country. But questioners at Wednesday's town hall were unfailingly polite, and the audience of nearly 400 listened attentively to the candidates' answers.

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On the debate stage, Sestak, 57, accused health insurance companies of "cherry-picking" the rich and healthy when deciding whom to cover. He said he favors a government-run insurance option that will force private insurers to compete and offer better service, leading to a system in which "everyone can have health care."

Toomey, 47, said he supports "common sense bipartisan reforms" to rein in spiraling costs and improve access to health care. But he said a "huge government intrusion" into one-sixth of the U.S. economy would prompt employers to stop offering health insurance to their workers, forcing them into the government-run program.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20090902_ap_specterfoessestaktoomeyholdtownhall.html

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Town Hall was webcast earlier tonight, and should be available online for rebroadcast.

he's lying! Always has, always will...

That is why I am voting for Specter.

had Tommey beating Specter by 12 and Sestak by 8.

are those backing Toomey- namly Richard Mellon Scaife. In other words I would be more concerned if this poll was closer to the election.

Why a public option would cause companies to drop their health insurance plans for employees. One reason companies do this today is for work force recruitment. To stay competitive companies need a health insurance plan and that doen't change with reform and a public option. When Toomey provides his study then the media needs to look into the background for the study. I suspect it would be a study funded by the health insurance industry using a subsiderary to mask the actual source.