Barack Obama seems to have taken personally Sarah Palin’s accusations that his administration wants to set up “death panels” for the elderly.
At a town hall meeting in Grand Junction, Colorado on Saturday the president got personal — citing his own grandmother, who died shortly before he was elected last year — when refuting charges by the former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential nominee about his healthcare reform plans.
“I just lost my grandmother last year. I know what it’s like to watch somebody you love, who’s aging, deteriorate, and have to struggle with that,” Obama told the crowd.
“So the notion that somehow I ran for public office, or members of Congress are in this so that they can go around pulling the plug on grandma? I mean, when you start making arguments like that, that’s simply dishonest,” he said.
The issue stemmed from a provision in a House of Representatives bill that would have provided government funding for optional counseling on end-of-life care issues such as hospice.
Palin, who has spoken out against Obama’s reform plans, and other critics referred to the process as “death panels.”
Obama, who has refuted the rumor before but is struggling to gain support for his overall healthcare reform agenda, said enough was enough.
“We’ve got enough stuff to deal with without having these kinds of arguments,” he said, without mentioning Palin by name.
Reuters photo by Larry Downing (Obama in Grand Junction, Colorado)
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Philip. This quote is from a Reuters news story printed online today regarding the government health care plans throughout the world:
“RATIONING IS REALITY
But the rallying cries cannot drown out the hard truth that access to healthcare is restricted everywhere.
“There are not unlimited resources in any country to fund unlimited amounts of healthcare for everybody,” said The King’s Fund’s Dixon.”
If you can’t get the care you need because a government bureaucrat will not allow the government to pay for the treatment…because of some sliding scale…etc…Then what good is government health care? Answer: It’s worthless.
My point is simple. If you think the government can afford this ponzi scheme, then you are naive and you will be very sorry you didn’t speak out against this fiasco when you had a chance.
- Posted by TC[...] was the cause for great consternation, strum und drang among the punditocracy and even Barack Obama himself who seemed rather annoyed that private citizen Palin would have and express an opinion. Be that as it may, her words caused a lot of ripples in the pond of the health care debate which [...]
- Posted by Drill baby Drill!! (Just don’t do it here) « The Truth in Black and RightEric. Check what out? There are so many bills mucking around in congress that no ones knows the final outcome. That’s what makes the issues discussed valid. If you think “end of life…death panels” counseling will be benign when you won’t be treated because we, as a nation, have no money, then you will be sadly disappointed and outraged when you are told, “you have lived a good life…”.
BTW, your statements are always liberal in scope. You are no moderate.
Anyway, Sarah Palin is providing this country a service by bringing attention to the “end game”. Health care will be rationed and old people will be the victims.
Also, there is a financial incentive for doctors to give “end of life” counseling. Do you really think that is voluntary? No, it isn’t. Besides, why would that even need to be put into a health car bill? It doesn’t, if it is voluntary, a patient can request it at any time now. It isn’t voluntary, when a doctor strongly recommends it, then doctors up the paperwork in order to get the “money”.
You are so naive.
- Posted by TCTC makes the following comment: “I hope none of them get their way. We can’t afford it as a nation and as American citizens…in more ways than one. The American people agree with me. If they didn’t, then a health care bill would already have passed….You know I am right…”
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Response:
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The US — supposedly the most powerful nation in the world, and supposedly the richest and “best” nation in the world — cannot afford a decent healthcare system that works for everybody?
Is this a sick joke?
The US was able to put the first man on the moon. The US has created some of the finest medical (and other) technology in the world. Yet the US remains one of only two Western nations (the other being South Africa) that does not have a national healthcare system — and you tell me that the American people CANNOT AFFORD that which every other industrialized nation possesses — a good healthcare system?
GIVE ME A BREAK! GET REAL!
This has nothing to do with affordability, and everything to do with ideological points-scoring — at the expense of the American people. Sooner or later, they will see through this charade, and sooner or later, President Obama (or a later Democratic President) will implement such a system.
PHILIP
- Posted by Philip ChandlerBrian, glad to here it about Palin. The last public figure I have faith in is George Mitchell. Lobsters and crabs are cheap right now on the east coast, you should have some shipped to you.
TC, I noticed you said “your liberal friends” maybe now you’ll understand why I call my self a moderate and not all who disagree with you are screaming liberals. I was never in favor of a government run option but still think the co-op is the best way to go.
I still can’t let the “death panel” lie thing go, it’s Swift Boating at it’s best. There never was such a thing and I believe end of life counseling was added to the bill by a Republican but I have to check that out, you both do the same and then we’ll have confirmation.
- Posted by Eric HI wish we would stop discussing the rhetorical words and started discussing the words in the legislation.
- Posted by PGhi, eric h incidentally i had some comments regarding the posting on afghanistan? I Think Sarah is a cool lady,would i vote for her as president no,i din,t vote for Mc Cain, as soon as Romney left the race so did i.Compare Sarah to Boxer or Pelosi for me that says it all,but i amuse myself imaging your reaction when i intentionally include her in a posting. You are correct about my mistrust of politicians,living in CA i occasionally see the discarded skin of a rattlesnake and i would not be surprised if several of of our notable democratic congressmen could do that with out any difficulty. The change of name to the single payment plans or any other plans are going to be snake oil,in the hands of these reptiles,nominate a commission of people with known integrity away from Washington and i might listen. Incidentally i have never had a crab over here that can touch the taste of the ones i used to enjoy were i came from ,god bless.
- Posted by brian leeEric. Please, sensible? Not only that, the backpedaling by the White House the the screaming of the liberals in congress show there is anything but sense coming out of the democratic party. Even your liberal friends don’t want a co-op.
A lot of politicians are trying to paint the republicans into the villains (along with the health insurance companies and old people who protest the town hall meetings), but that is just a diversionary tactic away from the fact the democrats can’t even come together as a party to pass anything. They are their own worst enemy. It’s either the blue dogs or the liberals who won’t support any plan. It’s fun to watch the ship sinking.
As the majority of people keep saying, it is better to keep taxes low and have less government in order to get the deficit/debt down, than to pass health care reform.
Everyday there are more people (a clear majority) who say they are happy with their own health care plans than anything mucking around in congress.
So, isn’t so sensible afterall. I have yet to hear any of these progressive reformers say they want anything to do with co-ops…they only want that elusive “government” plan to go through.
I hope none of them get their way. We can’t afford it as a nation and as American citizens…in more ways than one. The American people agree with me. If they didn’t, then a health care bill would already have passed….You know I am right…
- Posted by TCDoes Obama pay you to use his photos? Your piece highlights just one more picture of Obama’s “angry/barking/telling us what we should do since he’s in charge” shots.
- Posted by Gail ReynoldsSince Palin’s remarks and moves were what spearheaded this piece - why not include her photographic (calm, slef-assured, not angry nor fighting for some kind of ego-oriented self-absorbed and so publicity-hungry) image in this article?
You were only allowed the one photograph? Not even hardly.
I’ve been involved in journalism for eons and you have always been respected (by me and all media for decades) for your honesty and factual reporting.
It would be kind to all the longtime readership who believed in you…not to suck-up and/or bail-out at this point.
Please do not let us down. We don’t need the OBAMA headlines nor the continual OBAMA pixs.
ALL WE ASK FOR FROM YOU IS TRUTHFUL (as in your tradition) reporting. And if you are going broke - then, many of us would donate some bucks to you to NOT suck up to this Obama-power thing.
Anyone who followed Palin during the presidential campaign would know she is a purposeful purveyor of inaccurate and untruthful information. She is deceitful and dangerous and it is amazing ANYONE still takes her seriously.
- Posted by Dalton
Anyone who followed OBAMA during the presidential campaign would know HE is a purposeful purveyor of inaccurate and untruthful information. HE is deceitful and dangerous and it is amazing ANYONE - while he methodically trashes the absolute fundamentals upon which America was founded and continues to perpetuate his purveyorship of inaccurate and untruthful information - (does he really believe this was all about him as he continues to run the campaign trail instead of acting as an “acting” president?) still takes HIM seriously.
- Posted by Gail ReynoldsSo finally we have a reasonable solution, a health insurance co-op. My mom and her husband belong to a lobster fishermens co-op and it works just fine. This is the idea I have been in favor of all along. A co-op will increase the buying power of it’s members and the fact that it would be non profit will mean that the level of care will not be determined by the bottom line.
Brian Lee, of all the people who post here I’m surprised that you, who seems to distrust all politicians, would be suckered by the Palin propaganda machine. I understand your reservations about Obama but didn’t think you would defend Palin as much as you have. I expected as much from TC but not you. I hope this co-op idea puts your mind at rest.
- Posted by Eric HDEATH PANELS! DEATH PANELS! DEATH PANELS!
What could possibly be the explanation for the American people’s positive genius for falling for the most blatant and obvious propaganda? I have a possible theory if you’re interested in hearing it….
We’re idiots.
That could be the only explanation. What other reason could there possibly be? Any takers?
When a contemptible half-wit like Sarah Palin “twits” (an appropriate word) about “death panels” and the next moment it is a serious part on the national conversation - there is really something seriously wrong.
Here is (Excuse me, I meant “was”) a golden opportunity for real reform and the idiotic Americans are screaming about socialism. Is it any wonder that we are the laughingstock of the industrialized world?
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
- Posted by Tom DeganTo JC. I made no such reference to anything racial. I assume you are talking about “calling a spade a spade”. Okay, fine. Here is the definition:
To “call a spade a spade” is to speak honestly and directly about a topic, specifically topics that others may avoid speaking about due to their sensitivity or embarrassing nature.”
Sarah Palin is bluntly and directly talking about the “end game” on this issue. You may not believe it now, but when the government is finally honest about the money issue, it will no longer be voluntary counseling. It will unequivocally result in, “this is your age, this is your condition. We won’t cover it, so please pass into the next life without a word….Thanks for coming out!”
- Posted by TCMore lies from Palin.
There is no “death committee” proposal. It’s just another delusion from the crazies who brought you “Obama was born in Kenya”; “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (that name was a good joke!!!); and”Obama is a muslim terrorist”.
Can we somehow stop focusing our national debates on the utterances of delusional people, and have a rational debate about policies instead?
- Posted by robertI hate to be the bearer of bad news for all those who giddily and gleefully await every word from the lips of Sarah Palin, BUT, a check of the facts reveals Sarah’s “death panels” never existed other than in the strange, paranoid and conniving mind of Sarah herself.
- Posted by A. CroweTC and Brian Lee, There never was a death panel. Geez, end of life counciling is about having the new health care changes (if there ever is going to be any) pay (not participate in) for you to get counciling on living wills, DNR’s(choice) and such. These are things you should do anyway if you have half a brain.
Also TC your not so veiled racial comment reveals much about you.
Keep spreading the fear and not the facts or do a little research… your CHOICE
- Posted by JCI think that anyone serving as a judge, passing judgement of life or death on the elderly should be publicly identified, a target on their back. Presidential advisors should be first in line
- Posted by edAnyone who followed Palin during the presidential campaign would know she is a purposeful purveyor of inaccurate and untruthful information. She is deceitful and dangerous and it is amazing ANYONE still takes her seriously.
- Posted by Dalton