This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Posted: 2:49 PM- CONCORD, N.H. - Utah's unofficial favorite son Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, walked into a verbal buzz saw today in the form of an angry waitress.
Romney, who ran Utah's 2002 Winter Games and served as Massachusetts' governor, was making a stop at a Concord diner when the topic of health care came up.
KUTV reports that after walking in, Romney apologized for interrupting patrons' lunches - and then held forth on his presidential plans, if elected.
"Despite what Michael Moore said, we are the envy of the world when it comes to health care technology. And we can reach out and help other nations," he said.
That apparently set off Michele Griffin, a waitress at the Red Arrow Diner. She asked Romney, "What about our needs? We are the USA ... come on!"
Romney at first tried to plow ahead, but eventually answered the waitress.
"Before you leave, Miss... with regard to our nation, one of the things I'm most proud of [in Massachusetts] is putting in a plan that gives everyone health insurance," Romney answered.
Griffin seemed unmoved.
"We pay over $1,000 a month in insurance," the waitress retorted. "And then we have co-payments to go to the doctors, $50 a visit. And then you have a co-payment on your prescriptions."
Griffin then went after Romney regarding his personal health care coverage.
The waitress said she has two daughters with health problems and that one was recently taken out of school and no longer has health care.
"Well, one of the things I think is important to do... is to find a way to get health insurance to all of our citizens," Romney said.
In the middle of his reply, the waitress spoke up again, asking, "But how do your citizens pay for all the care?"
Romney explained that in Massachusetts, he constructed a program in which the government uses citizens' taxes to help pay for private insurance coverage -- rather than use the money to give away free care.
Later, Griffin was still unconvinced.
"Maybe they [politicians] should live in our shoes... just to see how it is. It's not pretty," she said. "I'm just so sick of the nice clothes, all these fancy cars. They walk around like (pauses)... you know?"
------------------ To view video of the exchange, visit: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2007/08/02/VI2007080201294.html" Target="_BLANK">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2007/08/02/VI2007080201294.html