Conservative rallies register opposition to health care reform

SALT LAKE CITY — Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, held up a three-page bill he just wrote, which is roughly 2,000 pages shorter than major Democratic health care reform bills in Congress. He then read one line that made a conservative rally erupt into cheers.

It would prohibit all Utah state agencies "from implementing any provision of the federal health care reform plan." When cheers faded, Wimmer reignited them by adding, "Furthermore, it requires the state to opt out of any health care reform that is passed."

That is just what two "Code Red" rallies at the State Capitol on Tuesday wanted to hear. Such rallies were called for nationally by conservative groups to demonstrate opposition to Democratic health care reform that conservatives say is an unwise expansion of government. Those attending were asked to wear red to send a "Code Red" warning to Washington.

Locally, the conservative Utah 9/12 organization held a rally just before noon in the Capitol basement, and the Utah Tea Party organization hosted another afterward in the Rotunda. Both attracted only about 75 people each. A Christmas music performance by Murray High School choirs in the Rotunda at the same time as the first rally attracted about as many people.

The first rally could not use the Rotunda as it had announced, in part because the second group had formally reserved it and was setting up. Wimmer was one who worried about competition and rivalries among conservative leaders.

"Personalities, conflicts and egos are character flaws that will sink this movement instantly," he told the first rally and added that the other side "is counting on it."

Wimmer was among many speakers who vowed to fight Democratic health care reform and portrayed it as government taking away freedom. He quoted Martin Luther King saying freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressors and must be taken by the oppressed, and he urged audiences to help him do just that by helping to push his bill to block implementation of reform on the state level.

"It is a very small bill but is very powerful and something that is going to cause tremendous shock waves through Washington," he said.

Wimmer told the Deseret News afterward that conservatives in other states are drafting similar legislation to open up another front in the fight against reform. He said he has had "very positive reaction" so far from other legislators in Utah.

Cherilyn Eagar, a Republican running against Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, told a rally that conservatives need to stand up to local media and polls that say Utahns favor many goals and provisions of health care reform. She said she performed a private poll that disagrees and shows that large majorities of active Republicans in Utah strongly oppose reform provisions.

"It is time for us to start standing up for the truth, and we will use the truth to prevent health care reform from coming to Utah," she said.

She asked those at the rally how many believed health care is a right. None raised their hand.

Rep. Craig Frank, R-Cedar Hills, said, "Government that is closest to the people is best … Washington has forgotten that to a large degree." Many speakers vowed to remove politicians who help health care reform, or who forget basic constitutional principles.

e-mail: lee@desnews.com