Oregon Rep. Fights Palin, Gingrich Attacks

Democrat Earl Blumenauer, Author of Health Care Measure on End-of-Life Issues: Death Panel Charge is "Blatant Lie"

(CBS/ AP)  For more than decade in Congress, Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer has been known for his ever-present bow-tie and tireless advocacy of bikes.

So it is something of a surprise to the Portland Democrat that he has earned a new measure of fame in recent days - as author of a health-care provision that some critics say would set up a "death panel."

In a widely quoted Facebook posting, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin charged that federal bureaucrats would play God, ruling on whether ailing seniors or children with Down syndrome - such as Palin's son Trig - are worthy of health care. Palin called the proposal "downright evil."

Many news organizations - including The Associated Press - debunked Palin's claim. The provision that caused the uproar would authorize Medicare to pay doctors for voluntary counseling about end-of-life care.

"This is probably the most outrageous claim we've heard," Jonathan Cohn, senior editor of the New Republic and author of "Sick," said on CBS' "The Early Show" Thursday.

"There is a provision in the bill that they're moving through that if you want to write a living will, you want to talk to your doctor about it, you want to do it the right way … then Medicare will actually pay your doctor to sit down with you and do it. … That's all."

But Blumenauer says he is astounded that Palin and other critics have not tempered their bleak descriptions of the health care bill.

"It's deliberate at this point," Blumenauer said of Palin's failure to correct her Aug. 7 Facebook posting. "If she wasn't deliberately lying at the beginning, she is deliberately allowing a terrible falsehood to be spread with her name."

Blumenauer singled out another prominent Republican, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, saying he has "linked arms with Sarah Palin and death panels." While Gingrich has not used the term death panel, he has declined several opportunities to denounce Palin's claim.

"You are asking us to trust turning power over to the government, when there are clearly people in America who believe in establishing euthanasia, including selective standards," Gingrich said Sunday on the ABC's "This Week."

Blumenauer called the comments despicable and part of an orchestrated effort by Republicans to discredit the health care overhaul and scare seniors.

In nearly four decades of public life, "this is the starkest example I've ever seen of how, if we're not careful, political discourse dissolves into some type of partisan cage-fighting, where there are no rules and anything goes," said Blumenauer, 60.

A spokeswoman for Palin did not respond to requests for comment.

Rick Tyler, a spokesman for Gingrich, said Blumenauer was following a Democratic tactic of linking all Republicans to Palin.

"Obviously Newt didn't embrace her euphemism of death panels. But he said to the larger point, there is a concern that people have about allowing government to be involved in these decisions," Tyler said. "She's raising a point we should discuss."

Blumenauer said the measure he supports would merely allow Medicare to pay doctors for voluntary counseling sessions that address end-of-life issues. Topics include living wills, designating a close relative or a trusted friend as a health care proxy and information about pain medications for chronic discomfort.

The measure would block funds for counseling that presents suicide or assisted suicide as an option, Blumenauer said, calling references to death panels or euthanasia "mind-numbing."

"It's a blatant lie, and everybody who has checked it agrees," he said.

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said this week that Palin and other critics were not helping the GOP by throwing out false claims.

"Quite honestly, I'm so offended at that terminology, because it absolutely isn't" in the bill, Murkowski said. "There is no reason to gin up fear in the American public by saying things that are not included in the bill."

Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Republican who co-sponsored a similar measure in the Senate, said it was "nuts" to claim the bill encourages euthanasia.

"You're putting the authority in the individual rather than the government," Isakson said. "I don't know how that got so mixed up."

Blumenauer said the controversy was helping Democrats in a "perverse way."

By continuing to spread a widely refuted claim, Republican critics are undercutting their own credibility, he said. The controversy has drawn more attention to the original proposal, which passed largely unnoticed when a health overhaul was approved by three House committees.

"This has taken on an outsized significance and so more people are paying attention to it than ever before," Blumenauer said. "I think you will see more people use this to say, 'What will happen to me if I am in an accident? Here's what I want.' More people are going to take matters into their own hands."

[woeisme1]

One problem with the republican extremists is they are stuck in time. We no longer live in the simple world the republicans like. They are like a cranky old man who has to have everything in its place, who is impatient and grumpy, who refuses to try new things like the internet because he's old school and sees danger in the internet and claims he cannot learn that. Ect ect ect ect.

The world is changing. We do not live in the 1800's anymore. Our economy, like it or not, is globally driven. Each nation these days in a very real sense is co-dependent on other nations...that includes the USA.

Our own country has become so fragmented with a host of citizens here that originated from other countries. That's what America is all about. Read the inscription on the Statue of Liberty for crying out loud. But the extremists don't like this. They feel threatened. Threatened that they are losing their country and they are, for as America moves forward into the world, the extremists, like the Taliban, want to keep the world as it was, just like the cranky old man.

The republicans are being stripped from prominence because like a tree limb, they have failed to bend in the breeze and so now they have snapped in the wind.

The republicans insist the world stay the way of antiquity. They want their white race to remain superior and at the head of the pack. This has caused debate even among the republicans. Some of the younger newly elected republicans which I respect (they are not the republican extremists) want America to move forward but the old school republican party says stand firm for what we believe. We will not grow nor change. That's a sign of weakness. Some of the younger republicans want the party to become more inclusive while those with the money and power want to keep the party limited to out-dated ideologies and mentalities.

These older republicans, bought by big corporate insurance and other business entities, are the ones stirring this anger and mis-information campaign against Obama and ANYTHING that he tries to do, including healthcare.

Democrats do not object in the least debating the healthcare issue or any other issue. But you extremists want to hi-jack those meetings with your childish behavior. That is what is objectionable because it robs Americans of the very thing you republicans shout about the most - FREEDOM! People cannot freely exchange ideas while extremists shout and yell and oh yes, threaten....that's right, THREATEN. Seven Senators and Congressman and Obama himself have recieved death threats. That's real democratic now is'nt it? More to come

[cameraphone]

I guess if lying is acceptable regarding Health Care, then here goes -

Once the conservatives defeat the Health Care initiative, they will end the State Socialism Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. The only issue is whether to end it immediately or after one month so as to give people who are in a Hospice, Nursing Home or live only off of Social Security time to make other arrangements.

It is very unusual for conservatives to show the compassion of allowing people one month to make other arrangements for care.

[raskal_2]

I have a question? Why would the White house and democrats there of put up a window on the White house website to dispel rumors? Everyone knows that rumors without merit die of their own fruition. If there is reason to dispel a rumor then there is reason for the rumor and therein it is by defacto not a rumor. Who benefits from this bill is my real question.

[kansas1946]

Americans seem to have a lot easier time believing liars that anyone telling the truth, so let them die without insurance or adequate medical care, lose everything they own because of a medical emergency. You can not help people who are bound and determined to destroy themselves, and who would want to.

[speakinup22]

by pontesisto August 13, 2009 8:24 AM EDT
If you would like to help pressure Congress to pass single payer health care please join our voting bloc at:
http://www.votingbloc.org/Health_Bloc.php



pontesisto - I can see where a single payer care system would have advantages. A single EOB form and one customer no-service would be easier to negotiate than multiple for service care providers. I know this as I take care of my wife's EOBs - she's a Nurse Practitioner with her own business.

But I believe it is only part of the solution.

I believe we need to have competition among our health care providers to lower costs. This means the consumer must feel some of the varible costs within their own care, so as to cause demand for a lower cost and the competition it stimulates.

If we get all of these variable costs rolled into one overhead cost - there is no competition. I believe this is the reason for inflated costs. There is no check and balance of the invisible hand thoery involved. The patient doesn't care that their CPAP mask cost 1000 times more than it is to make it. Their perception is they are getting it for free after they have paid their monthly bill.

It is a shame that most people on here are making this a political issue instead of looking for ways to make something positive happen.

[RRBL]

My goodness, Republicans, pull your head out. We are not talking nuclear war or genicide or unjust war or unamerican activity or terrorism or heaven knows what else that could really devastate the country. We are talking about reforming "health care"....good grief...health care!!! Hardly an issue that requires such "drama". You people have gone nuts. Get a grip. Your overreactions are scaring me far more than the government actions. You are taking actions that will threaten our "peaceful" american existance over this. It scares me. Please reconsider your actions.

[pvperson3]

Poor Sarah needs her witch doctor to exorcise her demons again.

[brynaweiss]

Those screaming nuts at the Town Hall Meetings are there to disrupt, as is the usual way for Republicans. That's why we voted them out!! If they were for real, they would have actual questions and be looking for information or even to rationally express their concerns or differences. These are like the anti-abortion crazies who kill to get their way. It's ignorant, irrational and the news media should be making that clear, not acting like the country is angry at Obama. It's making me sick.

[TheMasses2016]

Take your Xanax hack.

[chonder2]

While waiting on the street corner for the light to change another fellow approaches pulls out a cigarette and proceeds to rifle his other pockets. Giving up he turns to you and asks...

[TheMasses2016]

........."my wife just ran off with my best friend. I SURE miss him ........."

[TheMasses2016]

..........."I don't even smoke ..........."

[TheMasses2016]

"Hear about the restaurant on the moon?

Great food but no atmosphere .............."

[TheMasses2016]

".... got a light?"

[TheMasses2016]

I ponder why chonder turns this into a DC hate-fest.
There's a thread elsewhere for that.

[chonder2]

massive-That would be too much like following a rule for the good of everyone.You know what THAT leads to.

[chonder2]

Get the documentary "The dark Side" and see the REAL Dick Cheezy.

[OregonJames]

The republican part has turned into a shameful circus of freaks, liars, and fools, with nothing to offer America except fear and more fear. The party has no plans or hopes to help America, but only to defeat Obama regardless of the cost to our nation. The republican party appears to believe that if they can defeat every Obama effort to aid our country, that our nation will fall to ruins and that the republican party can march right back into the White House and save the day. What fools they have become!

[jschmidt27]

I think that is the Republicans have no plans or hopes for America that the Democrats will let out of committee. Everything the Republicans have proposed has been shot down by Pelosi and Company.

[TheMasses2016]

Hey organ, the same can be said for both parties you hack.

[speakinup22]

OregonJames - if you feel they are fools, and rant on, they have won already.

Try to be constructive. It's ok to tell someone to go to hell, but the real trick is to make them look forward to the trip.

Yup - I'm a Conservative, and I understand how you feel. Everyone on this site seems to be making this a huge bash party. And, the more we do that, the less we get results. Don't let the b@stards grind you down.

[jschmidt27]

To Paraphrase Pelosi, "It's all the Democrats fault". They thought they could railroad through a bill that no one would pay attention to so they didn't explain it. Obama let Pelosi design it and really doesn't know the details. He's doing a bad job of selling it. But after the no-one-read stimulus bill that was vital to the survival to the economy has done nothing, and after the climate bill was railroaded through the House, even though it will result in an energy tax on people through increased energy costs, the voters have gotten wise to this tactic and are finally questioning. So Dems please don;t listen to the voters- just continue pushing through bills without listening and without explaining. But have your resume ready as you'll need it in 2010. The voters do not trust the govt or the Dems.

[snowylynne]

Looks like the scare tactics are working.Don't believe a word of it!!!!!

[femmefx]

Newt Gingrich was for advanced-care directives before he was against them:

http://trueslant.com/matttaibbi/2009/08/12/newt-gingrich-changes-whats-left-of-his-mind-on-end-of-life-care/

The distortions and blatant lies coming from Republicans right now is disheartening. Manipulation of people's fears--especially those of the elderly--for political gain is a dirty, disgusting, and despicable tactic, and it should be stopped.

[jschmidt27]

No worse than Obama's scare tactics that the economy was going to fall off the cliff due to the evil Wall Street and business interests, so the stimuuls bill had to be passed. That was where his credibility sunk. The stimulus has done nothing, so why should we believe anything he says especially since he is not fully knowledgeable about the several versions of the bill in Congress. And since the Dems don't seem to want to or be able to explain what is in the versions, you have mass confusion, ripe for distortion. When Obama says the AARP backs the bill, and they don't, how can anyone believe him?

[The_Finer_Point]

Any government involvement should be avoided at all costs. As evidence by the auto bail out failure the only thing that will happen is they will waste billions of tax payers money and then it will still not work...can't the public learn quicker before they do it all again with our healthcare?????? I sure hope someone is able to learn.

[DaBroiler]

Exactly!!! All you have to do is look at how the gov't has done with the VA to know that healthcare is too important to let the politicians be in charge.

[retiredgustav]

You wrote this while driving your Lexus!

[speakinup22]

windmaster2 - no one is advocating getting rid of the government. The government is great at setting up laws we can all live under. Our founding fathers did a great job there (although I wish they had implemented term limits on Senators and Representatives & the President of two to start with; and made the committee selection process in Congress NOT solely on tenure)

Problem is, government is NOT a good administrator of programs. We all see that.

Please accept my apologies for name calling in the past.

Lets see if we can be a force for good changes together.

Name calling is getting us no where - wouldn't you agree ?

[Joe_NY_15]

Democrats....just face it, your healthcare bill is toast...done

The American people DO NOT want the government running their healthcare....it's that simple.....so drop the whole bill, it's going no-where.....try to ram it through, pay the price at the polls

[speakinup22]

Hey Joe, I would agree on what seems to be a ram it down the throat attitude of Obama's; but, I have to give him kudos on trying to do SOMETHING. Both parties have failed to do ANYTHING in the past. All we hear is talk about things, and then nothing happens because we all disagree.

As you've probably seen from my posts, I'm a Conservative. And, I do blame Obama for this debachal of a 'debate'. Had he kept his promise on CSPAN, it would have been much smoother.

I think we could all start by finding some common ground. Like I think we all agree costs are too high. And, if we were NOT to take a socialistic point of view, it would be highly desirable to have at least some form health care for all UNITED STATES CITIZENS. (We all tend to be compassionate when not forced to give.)

Don't you agree ?

Let's do our best to stop smacking each other around. I know from personal experience it is too easy on this forum to get into the name calling mode. And, I blame no one for doing that; neither right nor left. I'd just like to see a common perceived problems get solved. I know they exist.

If someone keeps up the rant - after you respond with sincerity, then we should all treat them as trolls. I know that may be unrealistic, but let's try it for a change.

[lobo9755]

Perhaps Palin has read the Health Care Bill the same way she read all of the newspapers that were put in front of her during the campaign. She is only demonstrating how ignorant she really is. She is spreading lies knowning full well that her Republican followers will believe whatever she says whether it's true or not.

[ksandru]

What's getting lost here is the real reason (or I should say, 47 million) reasons on why healthcare reform is so important. I lost my job in March, 2009, and according to my former healthcare insurer (Horizon HMO), my coverage was gone the day I lost my job. Not only did I lose my healthcare, but so did my husband and our 2 children because we were insured under my employer's plan. We first tried to get state-run insurance but were denied because our income was above their guidelines DESPITE the fact I lost my job. We begged just to have the kids covered, and they refused. Then I got paperwork in the mail for COBRA, which was a joke (we would have to pay close to $1500 a month for family coverage to last 1 yr.). Thankfully, we were able to get coverage under my husband's plan at work (after waiting for a disenrollment letter from Horizon saying we were no longer covered).

Where is the outrage that our elected officials enjoy a very comfortable healthcare plan for themselves and their children (President Obama admitted this numerous times in his addresses to the Nation) while we as taxpayers are SOL if we are dropped from our insurance due to loss of employment or if a life-threatening illness develops?

As far as Palin's and others' claims of a so-called "Death Squad" in reference to end of life directives, they are adding nothing but fear & intimidation to the discussion. I think of Terry Schiavo and the heartbreaking conflict between her husband and her family concerning her end of life directive. No one wants to talk about this issue, but if you are exremely adamant about the choices you want to make concerning your end-of life care should you suffer a life-threatening illness, accident or intentional assault (shooting), you should be able to have the right to discuss this & lay out a plan with your physician so your wishes can be carried out. I did this prior to giving birth to my son last year should unforeseeable complications arrive during delivery, and I am glad I had this discussion.

If you happen to attend these Town Hall Meetings, do the following:

1. DO NOT ALLOW DISRUPTIVE IDIOTS TO SHOUT YOU DOWN OR INTIMIDATE YOU FROM ASKING QUESTIONS THAT YOU WANT TO KNOW.

2. ASK YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL ABOUT HIS/HER GOVERNMENT HEALTHCARE PLAN, WHAT PERKS THEY ENJOY UNDER THE PLAN - YOU AS A TAXPAYER ARE PAYING FOR IT.

3. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROPOSED REFORM?

[rightiswrong]

I've got one more thing to say before I eat my leftover breakfast pizza:

Hammer! Hammer! Hammer! Hammer!