Hoping to sway Etheridge

RALEIGH -- About 150 demonstrators held signs and chanted outside U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge's downtown Raleigh office Tuesday.

Etheridge has not yet said how he intends to vote on the Democratic proposals for health care reform, and the protesters hoped to push him to oppose it.

"Hey hey, ho ho, tell Bob to vote no," they chanted. Signs proclaimed "Obama Care Makes Me Sick" and "No - Hell no - to socialized medicine."

"They're fixing to set up a new entitlement program with money we don't have," said Ken Martin, 65, of Raleigh.

The rallies outside Etheridge's office are becoming a weekly event. Last week, supporters of the Democratic plan outnumbered opponents at competing demonstrations at the spot.

Meanwhile, interest groups have taken to the airwaves on either side of the debate as the health care plan nears a vote in the U.S. House.

Unlike last week, no counter demonstrators showed up Tuesday on Fayetteville Street. An occasional motorist shouted at them, while many other cars honked in support. Raleigh police officers stationed at the rally urged drivers to lay off the horns.

Many in the crowd said they think the health care bill is the first step toward a larger government.

"I'm here because I'm worried about our country," said Ellen Batten, 60.

"It is one more step toward government control."