Group Runs Facebook Ad Asking Palin to "Stop Lying"

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Republicans

(Facebook)

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin set off a frenzied debate about health care reform when she accused President Obama of planning to establish "death panels" via health care reform. Now, proponents of the president's health care agenda are taking to Palin's preferred medium to attack her claims, with a Facebook ad asking Palin to "stop lying."

The labor-affiliated group Americans United For Change is running the Facebook ad directly targeted at the more than 800,000 listed "supporters" of Palin on Facebook, according to Greg Sargent of the Washington Post blog the Plum Line.

"Health insurance reform is too important for outright lies," the ad says. "Send Sarah Palin a message; tell her to stop lying about 'death panels.'"

The ad reportedly directs people to a page on the Americans United for Change Web site with a submission form to send a letter to Palin. The page also includes a video indicating that the "real" death panels are insurance companies that deny customer claims for important treatments.

"If we don't confront the outright lies and liars as we did in 2008 then we allow the health insurance industry and their Republican supporters to swift boat health care reform," the page reads.

The ad attacks Palin on the ground on which she appears to be most comfortable. Without a political office or any other platform from which to express her views, Palin has aggressively used Facebook to keep up her high profile, most recently with notes on the social networking site about health care reform.

It has yet to be seen whether rebutting Palin's false "death panel" claims on Facebook proves any more effective than doing so through traditional media. As the Washington Post points out, the persistence of the death panel rumor is "a stunning illustration of the traditional media's impotence."

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by IndependantSam September 12, 2009 8:00 AM EDT: Some people say the government is incompetent.
They were in COMPLETE control for six years.
How?d they do?; Reply to this comment


by kiawest August 31, 2009 11:54 PM EDT: Dems on the message boards are the meanest, most hateful group of people and they talk about how others are. They don't know this woman and there is no reason to be so mean. She certainly isn't dumb or she would not be attacked non-stop. Why does she scare people. Why not ignore her. She is not the one with the power. The Democrats have special interest to 'write the bills'. Then the the bill is too big to for them to read and understand. If they did read it they would need a lawyer to explain it (by their own admission)..... and you call this women is dumb.... Have you guys read it? You might change your mind. READ THE BILL. Understand what is in it and what is not. What is not is just as bad as what is. It can be added without you knowing it. Stop bashing other Americans and work together. Lets understand the cost. PLEASE STOP ALL THE SPENDING WASHINGTON.; Reply to this comment


by kiawest August 31, 2009 11:37 PM EDT: The Union is promised money, tax payer money, to help pay for health care. They are 'one' of the Special Interest Groups and it is not fair for them to get billions while companies are being punished with higher rates that will move their employees to public options. OBAMA needs to get the special interest out and start over with the people in mind, ALL of the people. Instead his interest is illegals, AARP, Union and other special interest. They run lies and claim the millions of regular citizen (the majority) are the special interest. America can read the bills whether the Congress can or not. It appears this has came as a surprise to the White House and Congress.; Reply to this comment


by Notababykiller August 30, 2009 2:06 AM EDT: Get off the crack pipe please!!! I beg of you it is most un-becoming.
Delusional rants are thing of the past! ;) You really believe that G.W. went to war without everyone?s? approval Then you must surely oppose the new Pres because he has sent troops to Afghanistan and started a new campaign of death and destruction. Why? You might ask. So he can be like bush of course. Because he knows Bush will go down in history as a liberator of millions, hence Obama's attempt to start Obama care. He believes in his warped mind this would immortalize him also. More deaths in Afghanistan in a single day than any day of the Iraq war yet nothing from the media. Open your eyes please this goes way beyond your stupid pathetic political parties.; Reply to this comment


by Think2976 August 27, 2009 8:50 PM EDT: Death Panels is a tough term, but there will be a time when treatment is denied. Let's do the simple math for the libs. We have healthcare that costs too much money. Medicare is bankrupt. The solution is to take all our healthcare money, place it in a fund, add 45 million more people who will pay no money then add the BIG Unions and magic... all will be well... You libs have low self esteem. You want to be nice and have everyone think you are a nice person... You know deep down you suck and hate Sarah because she does not need your approval. Obama has you so love sick that you think that math is correct.; Reply to this comment


by local_doctor August 27, 2009 7:04 PM EDT: The truth about Sarah Palin's website is:
1- if you log into the site and try to correct anything you will be attacked vigorously and personally. Be prepared for personal attacks.
2- If you persist and attempt to correct an inaccuracy you will be engaged privately on the side by a smooth talker and diverted until your post moves off the current post list.
3- The number of inaccuracies is simply astounding and I estimate >50% and about things I know .. ie medicine... etc.
4- The quotes generated by other inaccurate websites are persistent.
5- People with no credentials, bad grammar, & zero logic are abundant. Such as truck drivers commenting on medical matters they could not possibly know, and they are wrong.

Conclusion: it's impossible to go on the "Palin euphoria" website(s) and engage them at any level. I would characterize them as unteachable, prejudiced, and so defensive they will say anything to win the first round of this "conspiracy" argument. I tried to be reasonable. They are not reasonable.
sincerely a local MD in North Carolina.; Reply to this comment


by Mikem400 August 27, 2009 3:24 PM EDT: If Sarah Pailan is the best the GOP can muster we will be stuck with Obama for another 7 1/2 years.; Reply to this comment


by hockeymom441 August 27, 2009 2:20 PM EDT: Why anyone carees what this moronic quitter and embarassment says, or attempts to "think"... is beyond me.; Reply to this comment


by nordeck52 August 27, 2009 2:13 PM EDT: How about a Facebook ad asking the entire government to stop lying?; Reply to this comment


by myakka54 August 27, 2009 2:09 PM EDT: All I can say is that Dems remind me of schoolyard bullies. They like to pick on people and try to impose their will by demeaning, attacking, bullying people. When they are attacked they run scared because they can't believe that someone defied them. Thats been their reaction to Palin, Town Halls etc. Hypocrites to the Nth degree who have protested, destroyed property, and demeaned people to move their agenda but when their oppostion fights back they get real mean and angry. A sorrier group of people I have never seen.; Reply to this comment