Lincoln Retracts Description Of Health Care Protests As "Un-American"

LITTLE ROCK -- Efforts to disrupt town hall meetings on health care reform are un-American, U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., said today, though she later issued a statement retracting the remark.

"It's so sad, because it's diminishing to the process, it's diminishing to our outcome," Lincoln said in a conference call with reporters. "I think it's sad that they choose to do that. I think it's un-American and disrespectful."

A few hours later, Lincoln issued the following statement: "Although I do believe that some of these protesters are disrespectful of other citizens in the audience who truly want to ask questions about health care, I shouldn't have used the term 'un-American.' I support the right of every Arkansan to speak out and have their voices heard. I would just ask that we all continue to work in a constructive way to rebuild our economy and fine-tune out health care system so it works for all of us."...