By Kevin Leininger

COLUMBIA CITY, May 2, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
In all of her 87 years, Charleene Heintzelman had never experienced anything quite like Thursday, when a presidential candidate made small talk in her room, then promised to pray for her ailing son.

But Illinois Sen. Barack Obama did more than promise to pray for the health of Heintzelman's 54-year-old son Richard, who is battling leukemia. During an hour-long town hall meeting with 52 senior citizens at Oak Pointe, an independent-living facility operated by Parkview Health System about 20 miles west of Fort Wayne, the Democrat pledged his support for a variety of more down-to-earth programs designed to improve the health and well-being of Americans he said have been overlooked by a nation increasingly unconcerned about "people who are vulnerable."

If Heintzelman wasn't an Obama fan before Thursday, she is now -- with less than a week to go before Indiana's crucial Tuesday primary.

Although many of the points Obama made are familiar from his long battle with New York senator Hillary Clinton, the setting and atmosphere were dramatically different than when he spoke to 2,500 people at Wayne High School on April 4. Surrounded by well-dressed seniors just feet away, Obama seemed at ease as he answered often-emotional questions focusing primarily on health care and other issues facing the elderly.

The questions and questioners were not chosen by the Obama campaign, Parkview spokesman John Perlich said, and one of the first queries came from Heintzelman. Her son is fighting leukemia, she said, but the insurance company canceled her coverage. What would President Obama do?

"I'll be praying for your son," answered Obama the candidate, who offered encouragement of a possible recovery but noted his mother died of cancer at 53 "and it broke my heart she was worried about bankrupting her family at the end of her life." Many private insurers try to maximize profit and minimize risk by labeling some illnesses "pre-existing conditions" -- a practice he would try to control through regulation of the insurance industry.

Under Obama's plan for universal health coverage, Americans satisfied with their health insurance could keep it, while others could enroll in coverage similar to that enjoyed by members of Congress. "We've been talking about (universal) health care since President Truman, but what's stopping reform is lobbying from the drug and insurance companies, who have more influence over Congress than voters do."

Obama would pay for his health plan in part by increasing taxes on the wealthiest Americans while providing tax relief to the middle class. He also proposed making Social Security benefits tax-free and removing the cap that protects income above $102,000 from taxation for Social Security. Removing the cap would help the program remain solvent without cutting benefits or increasing the retirement age, said Obama, who also pledged to lower drug costs by negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to lower prices.

Wayne Johnson, treasurer of the Whitley County Council on Aging, implored Obama to help seniors on fixed incomes who find it difficult to pay bills because of soaring prices for fuel, food and other commodities. "I was really impressed," Johnson said later. "He can really bring people together."

Obama promised to work with leaders of both parties. The bipartisanship led to a gaffe, however, when Obama praised Republican candidate John McCain as a war hero "who deserves our support."

"Respect," he quickly corrected.

Alluding to his presence among seniors, Obama said, "I don't know how many people here go joyriding. But gas prices are the highest they've been and affect you even if you don't drive, such as through higher food prices (for transport)." But Obama differed with Clinton and McCain, saying a cut in federal fuel taxes would do little to help consumers, would reduce income used to maintain roads and bridges "and there's no guarantee the oil companies wouldn't increase prices."

Instead, Obama said, he would take a more long-term view by imposing taxes on windfall oil profits and use the money to develop alternative fuels. But short-term solutions aren't necessarily bad," one woman told Obama. "We're short-termers ourselves," she said, drawing a round of chuckles.

One man asked Obama how he could withdraw U.S. troops without undermining the world's confidence in America. Obama would withdraw troops over a 16-month period.

"My first job is to keep the U.S. safe, but we've been in Iraq longer than we were in World War I or World War II, and it's distracted us from finding bin Laden, is stretching our military and costing us $400 million a day," Obama said. "That's not a good strategy."

"(Obama) just seems so common, like he's one of us," Heintzelman said afterward.

"He's a charming guy," I was really impressed," agreed Dwight Willits, 96.

Standing in the background Thursday was Mike Packnett, president and CEO of Parkview Health, who understands the impact a President Obama could have on the health care industry.

"I didn't hear anything new today; I would like to hear more about policy," said Packnett, who said he supports coverage for more Americans but is uncertain how it could be funded. Currently, he said, Parkview and other hospitals write off about 7 percent of their bills because of service provided to the poor and uninsured.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0071-24978964