Obama Turns to Web to Defend Health Plan

President Pushing Health Care Overhaul, Challenging Misconceptions about Democratic Plans

(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.

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...

"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.

[chitown639]

The neoconservatives are the American Taliban, set on disrupting the process, action and function of our government purely for ideological reasons. They are the enemy within and will stop at nothing to undermine our nation, and blindly oppose the president regardless of the issue at hand. They will employ every effort to weaken and ruin their own nation. They do this all in the name of hatred, because their demoralizing defeat last November has left a bitter taste in their mouths. They are slowly transforming from a national political party into a murderously angry mob, because with the election of Obama, they are suddenly alarmed to the fact that as the country slowly changes so does the white monopoly of power and influence in America slowly diminish. Some even openly weep, "We want OUR country back!!!".......A black president.....indeed, the racists are having a tough time adjusting to the changes in our nation..........

[Soapm]

The more this debate takes shape I am saddened and ashamed at how the most vulnerable and innocent in our society are being preyed on to advance the conservative agenda. This is very sad and is really starting to bother me.

Scarring grandma with talks of death boards, poison cocktails and government deciding you're not worth saving is lacking ethical motive and morality. It is heartless and cruel and should be discouraged by any American.

The gentleman who stood and said, "I don't want government touching my Medicaid" should tell you just how innocent and vulnerable these people are. Have they know conscience? How do you scare the seniors like this. I think someone needs to speak up on behalf of the seniors and shame them for what their doing.

[incog-nito]

As a lifelong conservative I support getting rid of all socialist government programs like Medicare. Even though they're not doing it now, I'm sure our friends the private insurers will step in and provide affordable insurance for elderly retirees who are on a limited, fixed income and likely to have existing health problems. If they don't because it's not profitable, then that only proves that the free market is efficient and very good that weeding out the deadwood. After all, it's a dog-eat-dog world out there.

[ubrew12]

And elderly dog is tough meat.

[thusspokezara]

Mr. Obama is not keeping his word.
1. Guantanamo is still open.
2. Don't Ask Don't Tell remains in place.
3. Silence on immigration reform is deafning.
4. He is backing away from single payer system.
5. Silence on gun control.
6. Silence on judicial reform.
7. Has yet to appoint Jimmy Carter as special envoy to the Middle East.
8. Has failed to support Mr. Conyers reparations legislation.
9. Has failed to name Reverend Wright as Poet Laureate
10. No statue of Malcolm X in the Mall yet.

What kind of change is this?

[quidam56]

The Mob Squad

We already have people standing in long lines to see a doctor, only they are lined up at a Remote Area Medical event. http://www.ramusa.org

You are already paying for rationed care until you pay through the nose, then pay all those deductables, you may get something paid for by the health insurance companies and business is restrained from hiring because of health care costs, hurting our economy and the employment rate.

The status quo is not paying attention to hospital acquired infections. Too many children and seniors are vunerable to these staph infections and are dying. http://www.stopmrsanow.org

The health care industry is increasing rates and increasing deductibles, no wonder they are setting record making profits, while we the people are going bankrupt or are dying from getting a hospital acquired infection. It's obscene that the UnitedHealthCare chairman makes $ 102,742.00 an hour ! http://www.sickforprofit.com

After my father's experience with the current system, he was begging for a gun, looking back, I wish I had loaded one and handed it to him. http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 He had good insurance and was in supposedly in the best hospital in the land. Health care is a fraud and a farce in America.

Get the facts, there's no death panel, seniors are not going to be denied care. http://www.hhs.gov

[enwr77]

Is it the insurance companies keep sponsoring this disruption and deceit? Congress should appropriately deal them. At least pass legislation to rein them in and make them operate legally, ethically and morally for the benefit of the people. Too many corporations have a hold over our country. That is not a good check and balance. Cutting them out, the middle man would save a lot of money.

[the74blaster]

I love how you opponents of the plan duck a very simple question.

Do you trust a private insurance company to make the best decision for your personal health when it could reveal a medical problem that could cost the business millions?

Considering how private business has eliminated jobs here to take advantage of cheaper labor offshore, I'll take my chances with a government run option. At least the government is not concerned with making a profit at the expense of someone's health!

[jsd330]

I've alredy trusted the government health care at the VA, and I would never trust the government again with any of my health issues.

[Dave3449]

"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"

It has to ration care. There is no where near the money available to pay the cost of this program. The only alternative is to spend less. If you spend less and the system faces more demand (+48MM people), the result has to be less care.

The facts are that 85% of the American people have medical coverage and the majority are happy with the care they receive. Can improvements be made - absolutely. But the entire current system does not need to be destroyed in order to provide some form of health care to the 15%. This is what has most people upset.

When the town hall meetings occur, the politicians are not prepared with specifics. They voice support for the concept but do not know what is in the bill.

Here is a question. Would you find a home builder, give the builder say $300,000 on his promise that you will like the house he will build you and will love the location. Would you buy sight unseen -- I think not. Same with healthcare. We are all being asked to "buy" a plan that really has not been written yet.

We would all like truthful answers to some basic questions -- the smoke and mirrors are not sufficient.

[ubrew12]

"The facts are that 85% of the American people have medical coverage and the majority are happy with the care they receive." No they are not. Where did you get that statistic?

[stephand]

Why no tort reform?
Why no competition across state border for insurance companies?
Why don't they fix the medicare budget?
Fix the basics first... Then you earn the right to mess with everything else.

[jsd330]

stephand
Do you really beleive that the supporters of this public plan or Obama and company could give you an answer to those questions. Questions like that are what's being asked at the town hall meetings and the Dems ignore them so the people get mad and start shouting.

[sjc_1]

Tort reform is not the issue. Less than 1% of health care costs goes to court awards. Doctors should be held accountable for their actions, if you cap it then it is just another cost of doing business.

[azfalcon]

If Obama's health care plan is so great - then put the people who don't have (and want) health care coverage on it and leave the rest alone. He can pay for it with the mysterious 'savings' he'll get from all those people who won't be going to the ER for their care. If it proves any good - other people will pay to get on it. If not - he'll flame out. Either way everyone will find out if he knows what he is talking about.