Democrats stress need for passage of health reforms at Harkin steak fry

INDIANOLA –U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., and Iowa's top elected Democrats struck an urgent tone Sunday on what they said is the need to pass health care reforms.

The issue dominated speeches at U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin's 32nd annual steak fry fundraiser, as Democrats who control Congress attempt to pass a health care reform package this year.

Franken, who keynoted the event, provided some of the humor he was known for during his stint on “Saturday Night Live” as he talked about health care.

“Of course, one way nutritionists tell us we could prevent disease is if we ate less charcoal-grilled, marbled red meat,” Franken joke to the crowd, who had just dined on steak dinners.

But Franken, the Senate's newest member after defeating Republican Norm Coleman, turned serious about the need for passing health care reform measures.

“We want to look back on this day from an America in which everyone has health care and say ‘it wasn't the easiest thing, but it was the right thing, and together we got it done',” Franken said.

Speakers at the event pushed back against criticism that opponents have dished out at town hall meetings on health care.

Harkin compared the fight for health care reform to Democrats' historic fights for civil rights and programs like Social Security and Medicare.

“Let's fight the lies and distortions,” Harkin told the crowd. “Let's educate our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers. This is the year, my friends. Let's make history by finally creating a health care system that works not just for the healthy and the wealthy, but for all Americans in our country.”

Harkin last week was named chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to replace the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Harkin pledged that any bill that passed his committee would have a strong public insurance option, drawing some of the biggest cheers of the day from the crowd.

More than 1,800 Democrats are estimated to have attended the steak fry, which has become one of the most important gatherings for Iowa party activists each year.

Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat from Waterloo, said since President Obama was elected, Democrats have put up with a campaign of lies and fear “to keep the American people from knowing the truth about the great things happening in this country.”

“Now is not the time for fear, and now is not the time for silence. We're Democrats; we're proud to be Democrats, and we're not going to put up with this crap any longer,” Braley told the crowd.

A handful of protestors gathered outside the gates of the grounds where the event was held, including Jim Carley of Altoona, who held a sign saying he's a “ticked off taxpayer.”

“I'm fed up with where this government's going. All they know how to do is spend money – money that doesn't solve problems,” said Carley, a retired store manager.

He listed the stimulus package and bailout known as the Troubled Assets Relief Program as examples and said the country cannot afford the health care reform legislation.