The new chairman of the state Democratic Party David Young was the featured guest at Friday's meeting of the Scotland County Democratic Women.

But much of the focus was U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell's opposition to healthcare legislation.

Aides to Kissell, who attended Young's talk, were grilled for about 15 minutes about the lawmaker's decision announced Tuesday that he would vote against healthcare legislation because of his concerns about Medicare.

"When he made the announcement, he was referring to the bill as it was at the time," said Tom Thacker, deputy chief of staff and district director. "He is against it... is because of the $390 million cuts to Medicare, not all of which are to Medicare Advantage."

"The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) came out for that bill, and I don't think the AARP would come out for a bill that would cut benefits from its constituents," said Jan Schmidt a former chairman of the county Democratic Party. "It is not a cut of medicare money, as I understand, but of waste, fraud, inefficiencies. Medicare is not sustainable the way it is.

"We hear a lot about how the government is supposed to run like a business model. Part of running like a business model is cutting waste, fraud and inefficiencies and not overpaying people."

Thacker said the congressman's vote should come as no surprise to democrats who campaigned for Kissell. He read a passage from Kissell's campaign material in 2008.

"Our nation must preserve medicare," Thacker said. "We must expand medicare coverage for home healthcare so that seniors may continue to live in their homes instead of being forced into nursing homes."

Thacker said Kissell has kept his campaign promises and should not be faulted for staying true to his word.

"The congressman made that promise and I understand that some people are not going to agree with his no vote on Saturday," Thacker said. "That is your prerogative, that is your right to disagree."

He told the crowd that should the healthcare legislation be changed to Obama's original plan for funding the overhaul the system, Kissell would vote for the measure.

Several women also said they may have difficulty supporting the Kissell in the midterms.

"We are a little disillusioned by what you are saying that tomorrow he (Kissell) will vote against the bill," Diana Altman said.

Schmidt agreed.

"I voted for someone who I thought was going to truly stand by Democratic principles," Schmidt said. "I'm not voting again or giving money to someone again who votes against energy bills I think are important, who talks about how this war is too long but not too long... I'm not voting for someone who votes against healthcare."

"I supported Larry Kissell (in 2008)," Walter Rogers said. "It was a challenge for me. I asked over 500 African-American church congregations in this district to support him. We worked hard to see that Larry went to Washington

One of our biggest concerns is our elected officials taking offices and getting amnesia."

Young, who had been talking earlier about keeping Democrats in office, came to Kissell's defense.

"Larry Kissell is a great man and has done a great job," Young said. "I respect him, I think there are obviously issues that are going on that he is fighting for and using some negotiating skills to try to get some things in and out of the bill... We hope he will be here soon to explain his way of thinking and what he is going to do."

Young reminded the group that this is just the first of many votes on the healthcare package, voicing both his support for the measure and his hope that Kissell can reach an amicable agreement with other House democrats where he'll be able to support the legislation.

Several of the participants asked that Thacker take their words back to Kissell, something he agreed to do.

Joyce McDow, chairwoman of the Democratic women urged the attendees of the event to call Kissell's office in Washington to voice their concerns as well.

After the event, Thacker let the attendees know he took no offense at coming under fire during the meeting.

"We've been to town halls were people came with guns," Thacker said.

NCDP chair

Young talked to the Scotland County Democratic Women about what the state Party was doing to hold seats in 2010 and expand the Party's leads in the state legislator.

"We are going to play every where," Young said. "We are going to play in every precinct, in every district and in every county in this state. We are not writing off any are and saying this is a red area and we aren't going to win there."

He said there would be significant support from the state party for local political groups in the midterm elections.

"We are putting people on they ground to help you get the vote out next November," Young said.

Young says the state Party is looking at becoming more tech savvy to better recruit and interact with younger people.

"We are going to vastly improve our technology of the NCDP," Young said. "Our website is terrible right now."

He said the party needs to incorporate cell phones, texting and social networking into future outreach efforts.

Young pointed to his own daughters, who rarely answer the phone when he calls but quickly respond to his texts, as an example of the effectiveness of newer methods of communicating.

The state chairman also said the Party can win converts by letting people know what republicans in congress are really saying.

"Virginia Foxx last week stood on the House floor and said that she is more fearful of the healthcare bill passing than she is of al-Queda terrorists," Young said. "We've got to go tell that story everywhere we can because they are saying wacky things and getting away with it."

He also said it was important people get out and vote, even if some people are upset about some current actions, or inactions, of their representatives.

Young pointed to 1994 as an example of when democrats did not turn out, and the republicans gained control of both houses of congress, the N.C. House and most governorships in the country. He warned that this could happen again if people sit out because they aren't happy with democrats in office.