By Nathan Duke
A group of Queens and Long Island residents associated with the national Tea Party movement protested outside U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman’s (D-Bayside) Northern Boulevard-based office last week, blasting his stance on health care.
More than 10 people who live within the congressman’s northeast Queens district held signs reading “Freedom: A Stimulus We Can Afford” and “Stop Spending Our Future” as they criticized Ackerman’s support of national health care reform outside his office at 218-14 Northern Blvd. in Bayside.
“Obamacare threatens us all,” said Stuart Kaufman, of Great Neck, L.I., who led the protest last Thursday. “Mr. Ackerman appears to take his dictates from [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi [D-Calif.]. We are trying to show him there is another side. If he wants to vote with Pelosi and the president, he’ll drive off the cliff.”
Kaufman said the group, which was associated with the national Tea Party protest movement, had not directly spoken to the congressman about their concerns.
“Ackerman is one of those people who speaks through a spokesman when he speaks to his constituents at all,” Kaufman said. “He never consents to meet with us. He’s Mr. Friendly, Mr. Superfluous, Mr. Supercilious.”
In a statement, Ackerman said he supported the group’s right to protest.
“These folks have the constitutional right to peacefully express their political opinions to their elected representatives, and that is what they did today,” the congressman said. “I fully support that right.”
The protesters had gathered outside Ackerman’s office last month to critique the congressman’s votes on the economy, national defense and the bailouts of national financial institutions.
Some drivers heading eastbound along Northern Boulevard honked their support for the protesters as they waved their signs.
Brendan Ogle, of Middle Village, said he believed President Barack Obama’s proposal to overhaul health care was “ominous.”
“Obama is a slick salesman, but this is really insane,” he said. “It can only be a disaster. People will be living here like they live in Appalachia. All wealth will be destroyed. There’s not the slightest bit of concern for the unemployed. It’s like we’re living in a Third World country.”
The president’s plan would expand health care to more than 30 million people who lack insurance and prohibit some insurance company practices, including denial of coverage to patients with pre-existing medical conditions.
Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at nduke@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
