'House Call'

Thousands of protesters arrived by bus for the rally against the Democrats' health care legislation, which the GOP is calling an emergency "House Call." The event drew the conservative "tea party" activists but unlike past rallies was officially sanctioned by House Republicans (FNC).

Republicans want those who attended Thursday's rally to track down their elected representative in Congress and put pressure on him or her to think twice about voting for the more than $1 trillion health care overhaul pushed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (FNC).

The Republicans have put forward their own version of health care reform as an alternative, but the Congressional Budget Office estimated that their plan -- while keeping premiums down and costing a mere fraction of the cost of the Democrats' bill -- would cover only 3 million more Americans. The Democrats' bill is projected to cover 36 million (FNC).

The demonstrators came to Washington by plane, bus and other means to send a message to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., as they press ahead with health care legislation (FNC).

The White House on Thursday downplayed the rally. Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs criticized a Republican reform plan, saying it wouldn't reduce government cost of health care and includes "old ideas" (FNC).

Republicans say they want to kill the bill with Thursday's rally. But it's unclear how much of an impact the "House Call" can have so late in the process (FNC).

Republicans say they want to kill the bill with Thursday's rally. But it's unclear how much of an impact the "House Call" can have so late in the process (FNC).