The INDsider -> Nathan Stubbs MON, OCT 19 10:23AM by Nathan Stubbs

Democrats get their own KLFY health forum

After taking heat for airing a health care forum last month with an all-Republican panel, KLFY has announced it is teaming up with the local Democratic Party for another hour-long health care forum that promises a different point of view. KLFY has begun running promos for the "TV 10 Health Care Town Hall meeting" to take place this Saturday, Oct. 24 at 4:45 p.m. at the Clifton Chenier Center. Tickets are free and can be obtained through either KLFY or the Lafayette Parish Democratic Executive Committee. KLFY will broadcast the forum on Monday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m. The forum's three panelists are all Democrats: U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, who has emerged as a key swing vote in Congress for any health reform bill; Dr. Mike Robichaux, a physician and former state senator from Raceland, and Dr. Nellie August-Prudhomme, a nurse and member of the LSUE clinical faculty.

The event comes on the heels of last month's health care forum, conducted by Shreveport TV station KTBS, which featured a trio of Louisiana congressmen — John Fleming of Minden, Bill Cassidy from Livingston, and Charles Boustany of Lafayette. All three are Republican physicians who oppose President Obama’s plans for health care reform. The forum prompted members of the Lafayette Parish Democratic Executive Committee to fire off a letter to KLFY General Manager Mike Barras and News Director Dwight Dugas demanding equal time.

According to DEC secretary Mike Stagg, the program could be considered an in-kind contribution that went unreported by the three congressmen. "The only way that any kind of balance can be restored here would be to give us our shot and that's what we've asked for and that's what Channel 10 has graciously awarded us," he says. Shreveport's KTBS, the only other station to carry the Republican town hall, has agreed to also air the Democrats forum the following week. Stagg adds, "We're going to follow the same format as the first event, except that there will be Democrats included this time."

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written by PMS Barbie , October 19, 2009 - 12:48 pm

I missed the first one so I plan to miss this one too. Besides the Weather Channel is better.

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written by queenbee , October 19, 2009 - 01:03 pm

I, for one, would like to thank KLFY for their attempt at uniting the divide between the Republican and Democratic parties. Nathan,there shouldn't be any diatribe permitted here--political party or katc viewers. There are some people that will NEVER be satisfied. I will be out of town on Saturday and I'm happy to have the opportunity to view it at a later date. Thanks KLFY.

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written by ADS , October 19, 2009 - 01:37 pm

A televised health forum as a result of partisan pressure always results in bad TV.

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written by Resident , October 19, 2009 - 01:48 pm

From one partisan talking point party to another. Meanwhile, the real Congress continues writing bills for its corporate masters.

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written by Westward Orange , October 19, 2009 - 02:17 pm

By now the subject (health care) has been worked to death (pun). Nonetheless, Mike Stagg aka Red Mike, would add little to the debate.

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written by Plumpy , October 19, 2009 - 02:48 pm

big waste of time...i believe obama and his company of thugs have already designed the health plan and it has public option...we're all doomed....

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written by Cajunrunner , October 20, 2009 - 10:29 am

I hope everyone in Lafayette is at Cajun Field supporting our local university while this public forum is taking place. Or if you already have tickets to LSU-Auburn in BR, I suppose that would be ok as well!

The Landrieu staff and Lafayette Democrats scheduled this thing during the Ragin Cajun homecoming game and LSU hosting a major conference opponent.

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written by Phil , October 20, 2009 - 04:27 pm

I'll miss it, because whatever anyone says, isn't going to be on the bill. And the bill won't pass, because no taxpayers think it is workable.

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written by Speak up , October 22, 2009 - 02:41 pm

What a shame there isn't more concern about out health care in Louisiana. We are ranked 49th in the nation in health care. We need to attend and speak up for the public option, which is the same as medicare. Anyone over 65 years old has a public option government run health care program, and I have never heard anyone say that they don't want medicare. We have spent $694 billion in Iraq, and $34 billion in Afghanistan in 2008, and 47 billion this year. The health care reform will cost $871 billion over 10 years. We are getting out of Iraq on August 31st 2010. That will save us billions of dollars. Isn't it time that middle class Americans under the age of 65 years old gets an insurance reform program that will improve many lives? I am retired, middle class, and work part time. I have insurance and will receive medicare in several years,( I never paid into the medicare program but I qualify because of my husband. That doesn't seem fair either) but I would like to see our country give citizens the option of selecting good insurance at a reasonable cost.

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written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , October 24, 2009 - 05:31 pm

TAKE AH DEEP BREATH AND HOLD IT ,BEFORE YOU HAVE TO EXHALE WE'LL BE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY ""WARRING""! iF WE DON'T KEEP THE MUNITIONS COMPANY BUSY,HOW WILL THEY STAY IN BUSINESS,AND BE FURNISHING OUR AMMO ,WHEN WE BE "WARRING AGAIN !!!!!!!

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written by RedPatriot , October 26, 2009 - 11:00 am

Citizens should be able to select good health insurance at a reasonable cost but not controlled by the government. America needs to wake up and see what is really behind the federal government's decision to be nice and give us affordable health insurance. It's just a front for more government control = communism.

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