Palin Weighs In on Health Care Reform

Sarah Palin, nearly two weeks into her new life outside of Alaska politics, is adding her voice to the health care reform debate via her Facebook page, suggesting that implementing the Obama administration's proposed plan would allow bureaucrats to decide whether the sick, elderly and disabled, including children with Down Syndrome (like her own baby, Trig), are worthy of health care.

She wrote a brief post, "Statement on the Current Health Care Debate," in which she said:

"As more Americans delve into the disturbing details of the nationalized health care plan that the current administration is rushing through Congress, our collective jaw is dropping, and we're saying not just no, but hell no!

(AP Photo/Al Grillo)

"The Democrats promise that a government health care system will reduce the cost of health care, but as the economist Thomas Sowell has pointed out, government health care will not reduce the cost; it will simply refuse to pay the cost. And who will suffer the most when they ration care? The sick, the elderly, and the disabled, of course. The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.

"Health care by definition involves life and death decisions. Human rights and human dignity must be at the center of any health care discussion."

The "death panel" she conjures is a reference to the Advance Care Planning Consultation section on page 425 of the H.R. 3200, Democratic House bill , according to Palin spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton.

Stephanie Condon's CBSNews.com story, 10 Health Care Reform Myths, examined whether H.R. 3200 mandates or encourages euthanasia or "death panels," and she concluded that the bill offers a provision in which Medicare would cover patient-doctor consultations about end-of-life planning for the first time, which is different than an Obama "death panel" that would decide whether former Governor Palin's Down Syndrome baby is "worthy of health care."

At a tele-town hall meeting with members of the senior advocacy group AARP last month, President Obama could not help but describe one question he received as "kind of morbid."

"I have been told there is a clause in (the health care bill) that everyone that's Medicare age will be visited and told to decide how they wish to die," said a caller named Mary from North Carolina. "This bothers me greatly, and I'd like for you to promise me that this is not in this bill."

There is nothing in any health care reform bill before Congress that would require people to "decide how they wish to die."

Conservative talking points from activists and legislators, however, would suggest otherwise.

This rumor gained traction in large part because of comments from New York's former Republican lieutenant governor Betsy McCaughey. On a radio show on July 16, McCaughey said she had read the bill and discovered that "Congress would make it mandatory . . . that every five years, people in Medicare have a required counseling session that will tell them how to end their life sooner, how to decline nutrition, how to decline being hydrated, how to go into hospice care . . . all to do what's in society's best interest . . . and cut your life short."

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Republican Policy Committee Chairman Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) put out a statement on July 23 that suggested as much:

"Section 1233 of the House-drafted legislation encourages health care providers to provide their Medicare patients with counseling on 'the use of artificially administered nutrition and hydration' and other end of life treatments, and may place seniors in situations where they feel pressured to sign end of life directives they would not otherwise sign," they said. "This provision may start us down a treacherous path toward government-encouraged euthanasia if enacted into law."

In fact, Section 1233 of Democratic House H.R. 3200 would allow Medicare for the first time to cover patient-doctor consultations about end-of-life planning, including discussions about drawing up a living will or planning hospice treatment. Patients could, of course, seek out such advice on their own — but they would not be required to. The provision would limit Medicare coverage to one consultation every five years.

[yolli777]

To Veteran71 and his post of declining Rep. stats. Hello?....or haven't you been privy to the lowest rating ever of the Dem. Congress. How say you to that? Both extremes are ludicrous...to quote St. Augustine..."moderation in everthing." Americans have a right to disagree with Washington's ideas. We all need the opportunity to be heard. Nothing good was ever accomplished overnight, but through careful study and discourse. There definitely is need for health care reform. Unfortunately, the issue has never passed over the many years it has been discussed, because the majority of us have not been involved in the process. Instead too many loop holes existed in the proposed legislation. Why not allow the American people to vote on a clearly presented proposal. Have referendums. Get people involved in the process. Let's begin with stabilizing the out-of-control system we have now, streamlining the good in it and getting rid of the waste. Then we will have enough to allow the millions who have no insurance and who want it, to have it. We definitly cannot afford to provide healthcare to everyone who enters the U.S. unless they have paid into the system the way everyone else has. The system is broke, because of the greed of administrators. Everyone takes their cut and what's left (about 50%) is fed into the system. Less administrative costs, more direct services. Keep the faith.

[WhicketA]

Sara Palin WILL be our next president!

[ladypirate2]

by veteran71 August 8, 2009 12:41 PM EDT
Little Twig, or Branch, (whatever it's name is), is actually the first love child of Brush, or Bristle, (whatever her name is)....
Since she keeps perpetuating the lie it's hers, she can be dismissed as a liar for anything she claims


Prove it's a lie! Come on! I dare you! Either put up or shut up! You really shouldn't publish things that you can't prove!

[ladypirate2]

If you want proof that you can't believe a word that Obama tells you about this bill just go to Newsmax.com. Newsmax reported yesterday that the statement that Obama made Tuesday that said AARP had endorsed his health care legislation is not true!

At the town hall in Portsmouth, N.H., Obama said, "We have the AARP onboard because they know this is a good deal for our seniors." He added, "AARP would not be endorsing a bill if it was undermining Medicare."

But Tom Nelson, AARP's chief operating officer, said, "Indications that we have endorsed any of the major healthcare reform bills currently under consideration in Congress are inaccurate."

Newsmax goes on to say that like Obama, AARP wants action this year to cover the uninsured and restrain healthcare costs, but the organization has refrained from endorsing legislation. Nelson said AARP would not endorse a bill that reduces Medicare benefits.

A spokesman said the Medicare cuts that have been proposed so far would not affect benefits.

PEOPLE OBAMA DIDN'T TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS! HE LIED! IT MAKES ME WONDER WHAT ELSE HE'S NOT TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT! HE'S PUSHING THIS BILL THROUGH TOO FAST! HE'S TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING FROM US! PLEASE DON'T TRUST HIM PEOPLE!

[ladypirate2]

by pasmalltown August 10, 2009 9:01 PM EDT
To Lady P2 -
I was quick to rush to judgement and I apologize, you may not be a fascist, but your remark "...it IS Obama's fault for not defending her more vigorously and not putting a stop to the attacks on her children..." smacks close to neo-fascism. To think that the President of the United States can mandate to individuals, the media or even Elmer Fudd what can or cannot be said is neo-fascist thought. Being such a staunch defender of the Constitution and the Right to Free Speech I thought you might realize that.


You liberals and the liberal media are so in love with Obama that you'll listen to anything he says and do whatever tells you to do!


And about my comment about Obama trying to silence those who oppose him was in responce to another person's comment on page twelve. I don't know if you've noticed or not but our comments somehow get automatically duplicated in this comment board. I answered that person's comment on page twelve and somehow my answer also appeared on page 13. In fact I think most of the comments on page 13 are duplicates or copies from page 12.

[ladypirate2]

by pasmalltown August 10, 2009 7:29 AM EDT
So what you're saying is Sarah and Todd have the right to talk about their baby and it's "POTENTIAL" plight in public and no one else has the right to talk about it, but them? AND now it's Obama's fault for not defending this so-called right more vigorously? If this be the case, you're not a Republican, independent, Democrat or even reasonable. You're a fascist. Especially if you believe Obama has that much control over what the media does or does not do.



I'm saying that Sarah should not be criticized for simply mentioning her baby in public! He is HER baby and she has a right to mention him whenever she wants and it's NOT exploiting him and it's NOT child abuse as some of you think it is!

You can call me whatever you want but, yes, it IS Obama's fault for not defending her more vigorously and not putting a stop to the attacks on her children and the media's smear campaign against her! He could have because he knew what was going on but he deliberately allowed it to happen!

[pasmalltown]

To Lady P2 -
I was quick to rush to judgement and I apologize, you may not be a fascist, but your remark "...it IS Obama's fault for not defending her more vigorously and not putting a stop to the attacks on her children..." smacks close to neo-fascism. To think that the President of the United States can mandate to individuals, the media or even Elmer Fudd what can or cannot be said is neo-fascist thought. Being such a staunch defender of the Constitution and the Right to Free Speech I thought you might realize that.

[ladypirate2]

by chitown639 August 10, 2009 9:22 AM EDT
@ladypirate,

Well, if Palin's children are none of OUR business, as you've proclaimed, then why does she continue to MAKE her children our business. Why would she include her Down Syndrome son in that ridiculous fear-mongering lie about "DEATH PANELS"? Sarah Palin has consistently paraded her children into the harsh political environment everytime she thinks it will further her career. Palin is exploiting her mentally-ill child to promote her own hate-filled misinformations campaign.



She doesn't make them your business! She only mentioned her baby and you think that gives you the right to "make them your business"!

It also isn't a lie about the death panels as you will find out the hard way if HR 3200 passes as it stands!

And as I have told you REPEATEDLY, she has a right to "parade" her children wherever and whenever she wants to and IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! They are HER children, not yours!

[nyoped]

There is already a death panel in the US. It is called Republican Party -denying health coverage to millions of Americans. What do republicans think happen when a sick person cannot afford medical care (usually never and sometimes not on time)? The panel has reached a verdict: pay up or die!

[ladypirate2]

I guess you don't know about the republicans' health care reform bill HR 3300 written by Senator Tom Price! It is much more acceptable than HR 3200 and a lot easier to live with! It is absolutely not true that we republicans don't want health care reform! It is also absolutely not true that we don't think everyone should be covered! We just don't think taking health care away from senior citizens is the way to do it! Our bill HR 3300 is a better way!

[endurorob]

mattcat25 August 10, 2009 9:58 AM EDT
I WANT TO PAY $200 FOR AN ASPIRIN!!

$200 ASPIRIN!
$200 ASPIRIN!
$200 ASPIRIN!
$200 ASPIRIN!

Real Americans don't want to pay taxes, they?d rather be over charged for their HealthCare to support Wall Street Investors?




I would rather have my money go to someone who earns it rather than someone who feels they are entitled to it.

[mattcat25]

I WANT TO PAY $200 FOR AN ASPIRIN!!

$200 ASPIRIN!
$200 ASPIRIN!
$200 ASPIRIN!
$200 ASPIRIN!

Real Americans don't want to pay taxes, they?d rather be over charged for their HealthCare to support Wall Street Investors?