Spokane MLK Day rally to McMorris Rodgers: 'Save Our Health Care!'

The state's most influential advocate for repealing "Obamacare" was greeted with chants of "Save Our Health Care!" at a Spokane rally marking Martin Luther King Day.

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers had tweeted earlier: "Blessed to be here in Spokane celebrating the life of a man who changed the course of history #MLKDAY."

But McMorris Rodgers was greeted with chants of "liar" as she took the stage before a crowd of several thousand at the Spokane Convention Center. It then broke into the "Save Our Health Care!" chant.

McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, a member of the House Republican leadership has spoken against the Affordable Care Act, notably in the 2014 response to President Obama's State of the Union speech.

She has been dogged, however, with evidence that the health care plan has provided health coverage particularly to low-income residents in both rural counties of the 5th District and in Spokane County.

State figures show that the 5th District, and adjoining 4th District in Central Washington, have the state's highest percentages of people aged 19 to 64 who have enrolled in Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., with then-House Speaker John Boehner. She iis fourth ranking member of the House Republican leadership.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., with then-House Speaker John Boehner. She iis fourth ranking member of the House Republican leadership. Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Spokane MLK Day rally to McMorris Rodgers: 'Save Our Health Care!' 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

(The 4th District is represented by GOP Rep. Dan Newhouse, who has also advocated repeal of the Affordable Care Act.)

McMorris Rodgers is to the soothing sound bite what Jascha Heifetz was to the violin.

"Those who currently receive coverage under Obamacare won't lose that coverage the day after repeal is signed into law," she tweeted last week.

When the House passed Obamacare repeal as part of a budget resolution last week, McMorris Rodgers said that "We're (Republicans) offering a 21st Century health care system that puts patients back in the driver's seat."

What "system"? The Republicans have produced no plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., warned last week: "Repeal of the Affordable Care Act, with no plan to replace it, will cause chaos."

McMorris Rodgers has faced pushback on this issue.

She once invited constituents to post, on her Facebook page, stories of troubles under the Affordable Care Act. Instead, she was deluged with posts from people who had obtained health coverage under the 2010 law. McMorris Rodgers claimed they were from outside her district.

Signups for coverage under Obamacare have been particularly strong in Spokane County, the population center of the 5th District, and in economically challenged Pend Oreille County at the northeast corner of the state.

Unlike a Donald Trump tweet, McMorris Rodgers delivered a conciliatory response after chants at the MLK Day rally, releasing a statement to KXLY4 in Spokane. As always, it was on message:

"The Congresswoman looks forward to keeping the lines of communication open when discussing how to ensure a smooth and stable transition out of Obamacare to put in place a 21st Century health care system."

Where is it?