One day you’re answering the question of a local radio station, and the next you’re speaking on a nationally televised program with President Barack Obama from the White House.
It sounds far-fetched, but that’s what happened to Gary Cloutier, owner of Cloot’s Auto Body of Westfield, Mass., and secretary of AASP Massachusetts/Rhode Island. He was one of 164 participants in ABC-TV’s nationally televised program, “Prescription for America,” which was broadcast on June 25. The show featured President Barack Obama in the East Room of The White House, and was hosted by ABC-TV anchors Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer.
Cloutier had been interviewed several weeks before the program by the local affiliate of National Public Radio WFCR-FM in Amherst, Mass., regarding his opinion of health insurance reform on both a national and statewide basis. His answers triggered an ongoing set of comments in the local media and put him in the national spotlight. Four days before the show aired, Cloutier was contacted by the staff at ABC-TV and invited to participate in the forum at the White House.
“Prescription for America” was scheduled to air for one hour but was extended into the half-hour slot usually taken by ABC-TV’s “Nightline” program, because several topics remained to be addressed. Cloutier’s question was asked a couple of minutes after midnight, and led into the final question of the program from ABC-TV Medical Reporter Dr. Tim Johnson.
After a humorous plug for his company, which drew an encouraging comment from President Obama, Cloutier stated that he has been uninsured for several years and that even the new Massachusetts “universal” plan left him on the rolls of the uninsured. Cloutier asked the president if his plan would do anything to help him become insured. Obama answered that, under his plan, large groups would form for the purpose of providing discounts on health insurance, and that the lower prices could help Cloutier be better able to afford to purchase coverage.
