White House Makes Online "Myth Busting" Interactive
"The biggest myth of all is that our health insurance system is just fine, that there's no serious need for reform," Biden says in the video. He alludes to comments made by Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) that health care reform "is not a major issue among the American people."
"Nothing, nothing could be further from the truth," Biden says.
But instead of explaining why himself, the vice president says, "I'd rather have you, the American people, bust this myth."
To argue their point, the White House has created a quiz to show how President Obama's health care reform proposals will impact different individuals.
"No matter how old or young you are, where you work, whether you have insurance or not, I'll bet you'll be surprised at how much you'll get out of this health insurance reform we're proposing," Biden says.
The vice president urges people to take the quiz and then upload a video response via YouTube to "bust" Rep. King's "myth."
Its YouTube discourse with citizens could be seen as an attempt by the White House to reignite the public support it rallied with Web 2.0 tools during the 2008 campaign. But as the president learned during a March virtual town hall, inviting online feedback from citizens has its risks.
As of Monday afternoon, a few dozen video responses were posted to Biden's video. Some respondents honored the vice president's request.
"What health insurance reform means to me is private insurers might finally have some actual competition, which could bring costs more in line with services provided and reduce the amount of cost shifting from people without insurance to those of us with insurance," Terry Aman of North Dakota says in his video. "Seems like a good idea."
Others, however, critized the administration's plans.
"Respectfully, sir, are you drinking?" Pennsylvania resident Josh Williams asks the vice president. "Here's a myth that is true, and it's a reality that most Americans know: government is not effective and not compassionate. And what you don't get and what you don't understand is Americans don't want government to be in the role of providing health care."
Meanwhile, at least eight videos were posted by Movement Vision Lab, a project of the liberal organization Center for Community Change.
