Barrington teens stage own health care picket

For a 14-year-old, Ian Trotta of Barrington has some pretty strong opinions about politics.

He's a big supporter of President Obama and, having explored the issue as one of the debate team captains at Barrington Middle School's Station Campus, a big proponent of health care reform.

So when Ian saw a couple of people who identified themselves as part of the Lyndon LaRouche political movement protesting Obama's health care plan outside the downtown Barrington post office recently, he felt compelled to respond.

What bothered him more than the protesters' message was how they delivered it: with a big poster of Obama with a Hitler mustache.

"I don't care if it's George Bush or John McCain, but to put a Hitler mustache on someone is disrespectful," Ian said.

So, assisted by his older brother Jake, Ian went straight to the store and bought some poster board and markers. The brothers made up their own pro-reform signs and took them back to the post office to protest the protesters, who called police on them.

All ended peacefully, though, and Ian was prepared to continue his protest the next day, but the other side didn't show up as threatened. Ian said he'd like to think he drove them out of town.

He says he's glad he took the time to take a stance, and he hopes to start a Youth for Universal Health Care Club when he gets to Barrington High School in the fall.