Two dozen protest Trump over Medicare

Oct. 3--An empty wheelchair placed along Southwest 60th Avenue served as a sign-post for a message to President Trump.

The message, spelled out in yellow-colored capital letters on a black background, simply said: "Protect Our Medicare and Social Security Benefits."

About 20 protesters lined both sides of Southwest 60th Avenue on Thursday to protest projected cuts to Medicare in 2020 under Trump.

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare says it wants to educate Americans about Trump's Medicare policy. The protesters were located a few miles north of the Ocala International Airport, where Trump landed at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

Even in protest, the group stopped waving at cars and watched in awe when Air Force One approached.

Soon after the plane landed, the 45-minute protest was over. Trump headed to The Villages for a televised visit and protesters headed home.

While in The Villages, the president signed an executive order that the federal government says will protect and improve Medicare. During his speech, he criticized political opponents who promote a "Medicare for All" approach.

"There are (affluent) people out there that think Medicare is just extra spending money," said one of the protesters, Anne Mangum, who says many Americans need every penny from Medicare to survive.

Mangum said Trump's team organized the invitation-only event at an affluent retirement community where most of the residents "do not need Medicare."

"Why else would he speak to a select group and go directly to The Villages?" Mangum asked. "He needs money for his campaign."

Max Richtman, president and CEO of the national organization, said in a release that Trump's 2020 Medicare budget cuts could top $800 billion over the next decade.

"Seniors recall the 2016 promise from then-candidate Donald Trump to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices as a strategy for lowering prescription drug costs," Richtman said. "And they still are waiting for that to happen. Older Americans won't be fooled by a parade of empty words and promises."

Richtman said seniors need a "real-world solution" to the high cost of prescription drugs.

"Seniors do not need PR events to disguise the president's true agenda," Richtman said. "They need Medicare to be strengthened and expanded -- not cut."

At Tuesday's protest, local organizer Mary Savage said she is skeptical about the true results of Trump's plan.

Savage said Trump's 2020 budget calls for massive Medicare cuts through 2030.

Delphine Herbert, a group member, said Trump went to The Villages "not to support Medicare, but to kill it."

"He is also going there just to raise more money for his continued assault on all of our Democratic institutions," Herbert said.

Protesters were in the minority on Thursday. Trump supporters far outnumbered them along Southwest 60th Avenue.

Many of the protesters had more on their mind than protecting Medicare. Joyce Karta said her protest sign was written in Russian, using Cyrillic script. The English translation: "Great Job, Donald!"

"Is it sarcasm? Yes." Karta said.

Protester Daniel Lack said was there to protest because we have a "hoodlum in the White House."

"He acts like a mob boss," Lack said.

Joe Callahan can be reached at 867-4113 or at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JoeOcalaNews

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