Obama Turns to Web to Defend Health Plan

(AP)  The White House on Monday turned to its favorite tool - the Internet - to bolster President Barack Obama's push for health care overhaul and challenge misconceptions about Democratic plans.

The Web site seeks to disprove several claims made by critics, including that proposed changes would result in rationing of care, euthanasia or end Medicare. As lawmakers return home for their August recess and faced wary constituents, the White House sought to calm fears and brace for a barrage of accusations.

"Given a lot of the outrageous claims floating around, it's time to make sure everyone knows the facts about the security and stability you get with health insurance reform," said White House senior adviser David Axelrod.

During last year's campaign, the Obama organization created a Web site to challenge what it said were smears. On that Web site, for instance, Obama posted a copy of his birth certificate to debunk claims that he is not a citizen.

Organizing for America, President Barack Obama's political operation, also urged supporters to visit the offices of members of Congress to express their support for overhaul. The sessions, dubbed "Office Visits for Health Reform," are designed to counter the opposition and tap into the president's extensive grass-roots network established during the campaign.

The e-mail appeal to supporters suggest they stop by the local congressional office for a quick conversation or to drop off a customized flier. "We can't let extremists hijack this debate, or confuse Congress about where the people stand," the e-mail says.

Claims about what health care overhaul would do have dogged the White House. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin posted on her Facebook page that Obama's plan would create a "death panel" that would deny care to the neediest Americans. Radio personality Rush Limbaugh compared a White House health office logo to a Nazi symbol.

Opponents have disrupted town hall-style events with members of Congress. The White House is bracing for its own disruptions when the president heads to New Hampshire to talk about health care on Tuesday. His aides and advisers, meanwhile, are pushing back on specific concerns on the Web.

"I'm here to tell you, quite simply, that if you are eligible for (Veterans Affairs) health care, you will remain eligible," said Matt Flavin, the White House's policy adviser for veterans affairs. "There is no impact on VA health care."

On the same site, Council of Economic Advisers chairwoman Christina Romer called complaints about small business impact a "myth" and White House policy chief Melody Barnes called rumors of euthanasia "fiction." They then explain why they believe the criticism is bunk.

Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, brushed off the White House's new message.

"In reality, the Web site simply recycles the same false claims that the administration and its allies in Congress have been pedaling for weeks," he said in an e-mail to supporters.

[Parsifal_tx]

MYTH: Opponents are against healthcare reform
TRUTH: The majority of Opponents are FOR healthcare reform, but AGAINST the 'Public Option'

The President is attempting to mislead the American public.

[CyberPro Daytona]

You have got to be kidding me.... He is turning to the Internet for support for his plan? Did he not recently belittle the Internet Audience for asking the top rated questions on his website in the past? "I DONT KNOW WHAT THESE QUESTIONS SAY ABOUT OUR INTERNET AUDIENCE" I believe were his words... With that comment he lost myself and hundreds of thousands of others...

Mr Obama time to understand the cost of making fun of the most informed portion of the United States People...

[lomtevas]

"The committee?s official summary of the bill says: ?Authorizes a demonstration program to improve immunization coverage. Under this program, CDC will provide grants to states to improve immunization coverage of children, adolescents, and adults through the use of evidence-based interventions. States may use funds to implement interventions that are recommended by the Community Preventive Services Task Force, such as reminders or recalls for patients or providers, or home visits.?"

This is the same home visit crap we're now getting when the child protective service knocks on your door to take away your child. Instead, we'll have health cops who will knock on our doors to tell us when we need to be immunized.

The government at our door.

Grants to states? We already have grants to states for child support enforcement where a child support court over calculates a man's income to pump up the support amount to get the state a bigger grant. We also have false adoptions to get states grants under ASFA and there is a grant for child abuse. We manufacture cases in court to get those dollars.

I for one am thrilled to see such vigorous debate throughout America for this latest boondoggle. If we Americans challenged child support, abuse and adoptions, there would be fewer children traumatized by the work of our government.

Lastly, nowhere in the Constitution is there an enumerated power that gives Congress the right to impose healthcare on the nation. That's a Tenth Amendment state power which had we allowed states to control child support, abuse and adoptions, again, there would be far fewer children traumatized today.

A state run healthcare scheme would eliminate the effect that federal money has on getting people to act stupidly to get more federal money.

[endurorob]

charlie821 August 11, 2009 6:53 AM EDT
Absolutely.. payback.



Payback to who? The American people are the ones getting screwed no matter who is buying the votes. You way of thinking is very twisted.

[endurorob]

charlie821 August 11, 2009 6:51 AM EDT
"I think it has to do with the liberals buying votes."

And again.. republicans never bought votes before.



I am sure they have. Does that excuse the libs doing it?

[endurorob]

charlie821 August 11, 2009 6:47 AM EDT


Has nothing to do with minorities being the less healthier of the bunch, does it?


I think it has to do with the liberals buying votes.

[endurorob]

Just read a story in the Washington Times. Seems there is a provision in the house versio of the health care bill that requires taking race into account when awarding contracts, sholorships and grants. So minorities will get preferential treatement. Back to the same old racist attitudes.

[andylance1]

The shrill, angry, lunatic voices are coming from both sides of the health reform debate, including Queen Bee Nancy Pelosi who claims disruptions at town hall meetings are "un-American."

The Queen Bee plans on restoring HUAC - The House Un-American Activities Committee - the witch hunting committee from the 1950s that accused Americans of being Un-American.

[genepoolbooboo]

Please read The 5 things you will lose under Obama's healthcare at CNN Money.com Fortune magazine. How in Hades did MSM let this slip through?

[ubrew12]

Between 2000 and 2007, the health insurance industry quintupled its profits. Thats an increase of 500%, for those puzzled by 'quintupled'. Guess who opposes the single payer public healthcare option?

You folks who are defending the 'status quo' in American healthcare deserve to be fleeced by these predators. You deserve to be laughed at as you die after being dumped by them.