Passionate health care discussion arrives to South Florida

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- It's a heated debate on health care, and it has now arrived in South Florida.

More than 2,000 people showed up to the Civic Center to express their varied opinions on both sides of the fence. To reform health care or not to reform? To many that is a loaded question. "I don't want the government. I walked all this way with my cane from 10 blocks down," said Caryl Daniels. "I don't want the government to tell me what to do. I don't want Obama care."

Denise Marchesseaulp, meanwhile, would like to see health care reform. "Drug companies that don't want to lose their pocket money, they're making billions off us, and it's not fair because people are suffering," she said.

People on both sides went into the Civic Center for the town hall meeting with Congressman Robert Wexler (D) of the 19th District and U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D), 23rd District. But the hardcore continued to protest and argue outside.

Patricia O'Conner is on the verge of losing her health insurance on Nov. 1 and has diabetes. No one will cover her. "I don't know," she said. "I hope that I don't get any worse and negotiate with my doctor so that I can pay her something to visit her every quarter to visit her and get my diabetes medicine."

Inside the Civic Center, Wexler, of Boca Raton, and Hastings, of Miramar, moderated the event, and Hastings even got into the arguing. "I favor universal health care, I favor a single payer, I favor a public option, and I don't back off for anybody about that," said Hastings as the building erupted in applause.

Despite the passionate protests, Palm Beach County Police reported no arrests.

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