Protesters swarm Capitol offices after anti-healthcare bill rally

Chants of "Kill that bill!" greeted House Republicans who assembled on Capitol Hill on Thursday afternoon to launch their latest offensive against Democrats' healthcare reform proposal.

The event, largely the brainchild of Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), seemed to attract a sizable crowd of voters, audibly eager to voice their concerns about the majority party's healthcare plan, which could come to a vote as early as this Saturday.

"My colleagues and I last week were racking our brains, trying to figure out what we could do, because Republicans ... don't have the votes," said Bachmann," who used her appearance on Fox's "Hannity" show earlier this week and her sizable online following to urge protesters to converge on the Capitol.

"We knew that we were limited, but what we knew was unlimited was the voice of persuasion of the American people," the congresswoman added. "And that's why you're here today."

"We are here today to bring focus and voice to the concerns of the American people about this bill," noted Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), who spoke after Bachmann. "We are here today for a House call on Washington.

"As a physician, I've read the majority of this bill. And I've got a diagnosis: It's legislative malpractice," he added.

Bachmann's "House call" — which attracted the likes of actor Jon Voight, a host of GOP lawmakers and conservative pundits — had fielded serious criticism in recent days, mostly because the congresswoman repeatedly urged supporters to confront lawmakers on Capitol Hill about their support for Democrats' healthcare plan.

But the White House on Thursday seemed to pay little attention to events happening only blocks away. As GOP members lamented Democrats' healthcare bill, the president visited the briefing room to stress House Democrats had a new ally in their healthcare fight -- the American Medical Association, which offered its conditional support for the chamber's efforts Thursday morning.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs similarly dismissed the protest, noting "anybody that watches is struck by the fact that there's a rally going on without a solution on their side." Interestingly enough, some networks opted to air footage of the protest while Gibbs and the president spoke.

Back on the Hill, Voight devoted most of his speech to criticizing the president for his handling of Afghanistan, his relationship with ACORN and his connection to Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the controversial pastor who first made headlines during the 2008 campaign.

After Voight had finished, conservative commentator Mark Levin found himself joining supporters who were chanting, "Vote them out!" in reference to Democrats.

But that seemed to put those GOP lawmakers who spoke after Levin — including House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio) — in the awkward position of returning the rally to its original purpose: defeating a bill Boehner called "PelosiCare."

"I don't know what the outcome of that vote is going to be," the Republican leader said. "But I'm going to stand with you and all freedom-loving Americans against this bill."

After the rally, thousands of protesters swarmed into the hallways of Hill office buildings, some chanting "We want Michele!"

Ultimately, Capitol Police arrested at least 10 in the Cannon office building. Four were charged with unlawful entry, and six were cited for unlawful conduct, according to police.

On the Orange Line Metro train Thursday, protesters told The Hill that buses were coming from Atlanta and Virginia Beach, as well as protest groups from Chicago and as far away as Seattle.

Brothers Scott Brown and Dean Brown of Northern Virginia said that they hoped the effort would be a "wakeup call" to legislators, particularly in terms of 2010 vulnerability.

"We don't wan the public option of government-run healthcare," Scott Brown said. "The healthcare system is not 'broken,' it just needs a tuneup now and then."

Dean Brown said he took off work with the blessings of his company and co-workers to attend the protests. He said he hoped that Blue Dog Democrats pay attention to the demonstrations. "If they stick with their fiscal values, they won't vote the bill in," he said.

Scott Brown, who said that the protests signified the awakening of a "sleeping giant," said they also hoped President Barack Obama would pay attention to the discontent.

"He could be so into himself that he doesn't take any notice of it, but he should," Brown said.

Thursday's gathering, however, preceded another GOP event: a 12-hour town hall, during which top GOP lawmakers and analysts say they will debunk Democrats' healthcare bill.

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