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Palin Paints Picture of 'Obama Death Panel' Giving Thumbs Down to Trig
August 07, 2009 9:30 PM
When we last heard from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin she was -- not without some justification -- beseeching some members of the media to "quit making things up."
But in a post on her Facebook Page today, the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee seemed to take some liberties of her own.
In a column titled "Statement on the Current Health Care Debate," Palin wrote that as "Americans delve into the disturbing details of the nationalized health care plan that the current administration is rushing through Congress, our collective jaw is dropping, and we’re saying not just no, but hell no!"
She questions Democratic promises that the health care reform plans will reduce the cost of health care, invoking economist Thomas Sowell, saying the only way to cut costs is to refuse treatment.
"And who will suffer the most when they ration care?" Palin asks. "The sick, the elderly, and the disabled, of course. The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil."
One can question whether there will by necessity be any rationing decisions that will need to come as a part of health care reform (and, in fact, we have) but pictures of government bureaucrats forcing euthanasia upon seniors -- and, now, children with Down syndrome -- because they're not productive members of society are not part of any reasonable debate on the facts of the matter. (And frankly, I agreed with Palin previously, when she was asking members of the media to keep her children out of any public debate.)
Asked specifically what the former governor was referring to when painting a picture of an Obama "death panel" giving her parents or son Trig a thumbs up or down based on their productivity, Palin spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton responded in an email: "From HR3200 p. 425 see 'Advance Care Planning Consultation'."
That's a curious reading of page 425 of the House Democrats' bill, which refers to “advance care planning consultation,” defined as a senior and a medical practitioner discussing “advance care planning, if…the individual involved has not had such a consultation within the last 5 years.”
This includes an “explanation by the practitioner of advance care planning, including key questions and considerations, important steps, and suggested people to talk to,” an “explanation by the practitioner of advance directives, including living wills and durable powers of attorney, and their uses,” and an “explanation by the practitioner of the role and responsibilities of a health care proxy.”
It directs the medical provider to give the patients “a list of national and State-specific resources to assist consumers and their families with advance care planning,” and an explanation “of the continuum of end-of-life services and supports available, including palliative care and hospice, and benefits for such services and supports that are available under this title,” as well as “an explanation of orders regarding life sustaining treatment or similar orders.”
Factcheck.org disputes this interpretation, saying “accepted definition of end-of-life planning means thinking ahead about the care you would like to receive at the end of your life -- which may include the choice to reject extraordinary measures of life support, or the choice to embrace them….the bill would not make these sessions mandatory.”
Likewise, Politfact suggests that this interpretation was "Pants-on-Fire" untrue.
Palin refers in her statement to Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., who in a speech on the floor of the House, Palin said, described the "Orwellian thinking of the president’s health care advisor, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, the brother of the White House chief of staff. ... I commend her for being a voice for the most precious members of our society, our children and our seniors."
Bachmann's speech was based on an op-ed article in the New York Post, titled “Deadly Doctors,” by the former lieutenant governor of New York, Betsy McCaughey, that took a number of leaps of fact when discussing the academic writings of Ezekiel J. Emanuel, health-policy adviser at the White House’s Office of Management and Budget and a member of Federal Council on Comparative Effectiveness Research.
We vetted the factuality of McCaughey's op-ed HERE.
The Heritage Foundation's Thomas Sowell wrote a column, "Utopia Versus Freedom," in which he warned readers to "not be surprised when life-and-death decisions about you or your family are taken out of your hands — and out of the hands of your doctor — and transferred to bureaucrats in Washington."
In another column, "Care Versus Control," he went further, asking, "Are decisions made by doctors who have treated the same patient for years to be over-ruled by bureaucrats sitting in front of computer screens in Washington, following guidelines drawn up with the idea of 'bringing down the cost of medical care'? The idea is even more absurd than the idea that you can add millions of people to a government medical care plan without increasing the costs. It is also more dangerous."
Having looked at other countries' health care plans for his book, "Applied Economics," Sowell wrote that "the actual consequences of government-controlled medical care is not a pretty picture, however inspiring the rhetoric that accompanies it. ... Many people do not understand that it is not just a question of whether government bureaucrats will agree to pay for particular medical treatments. The same government-control mindset that decides what should and should not be paid for can also decide that the medical technology or pharmaceutical drugs that they control should not be for sale to those who are willing to pay their own money."
Sowell's are more reasonable arguments, though they don't exactly emphasize that health care insurance company bureaucrats already are making such decisions. In any case, nowhere does he raise the specter of an Obama "death panel."
The White House had no comment.
-jpt
August 7, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (1056)
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joe wilson and sarah palin need to come up with a better plan to help the president and democratic with this health care reform bill.not with outburst and lies with the death panel!republican here is your opportunity to help with this problem! thank you
Posted by: will robinson | Sep 10, 2009 12:22:09 PM
That article was written at "kick off". But no excuses,(or possibly explanations), because when "you got the ball, you ran with it". End of discussion, hope that a sensible debate will be facilitated by media and not the above mentioned
Posted by: John van Hooff | Sep 1, 2009 10:49:02 PM
I think I'm more concerned with the other part of the bill, wherein the law will make it ok for social workers to just enter your home, under the guise of helping to educate you about raising your kids. But, don't worry, they're only being paid to do it in the poorer neighborhoods and those neighborhoods wherein abuse has already been identified. So, if your neighbor down the street had a run in with them, your bootie could get caught up in it, because they might just make a visit to your door, uninvited. Of course, you could always refuse their services...but, have you ever refused entry into your home by a social worker? Might as well call in the PD and court systems when soon as you do. That's a part, due to the wording, that could, literally and legally, put a lot of kids into child protective service's custody. Whereas, previously, they needed a reason, legally, to come to your home, if that bill passes (even though it's a voluntary program, kind of like taxes,) they are legally required to go to your home and offer the services. Isn't that nice of them? Can you imagine what would happen if you were working on your home at the time they showed up, and it wasn't up to what they considered par? You know, maybe you were putting in a new floor, or something like that? How about if your son, little Johnny, came to the door all dirty, because he was out playing in the back yard, with his friends. Boy, could that be twisted around, eh? And, as quick as social workers are to jump, can you imagine not having one bill of right put in place (such as amendment 4) to prevent this? It would make it legal for them to take your kids, just because they visited you at the wrong time. Isn't that cool? lol What other pretty little secrets are hidden in this bill?
Posted by: Angel | Aug 28, 2009 6:46:47 PM
There is a fictional book out there called The Death Bond Conspiracy, which tells an unbelievable story of the murder elderly Americans as a means of saving Social Security, fewer recipients-fewer payouts. Is there more to death panels than health care?
Posted by: PA | Aug 22, 2009 7:58:23 AM
William Robinson,
I believe Sarah's son's name is Trig.
Posted by: hilouie | Aug 21, 2009 2:52:56 PM
Nothing wrong with a public health system per se, Canada's isn't perfect but it's better than no health care at all, losing your home because of medical bills, or beinig dropped mid-treatment. There have been a lot of lies and stories told about our system, by media accounts Canadians are dropping like flies for lack of care...not true! Where the President is erring I believe is trying to do too much all at once. He is an idealist, something many of us aspire to be, now he is in a position to do something positive for the millions of Americans without healthcare. All I can say is don't react to the media reports and self-interested bullies, check the bill yourself and then let Obama what you don't support. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
By the way, one major component any health care system should have is preventative and lifestyle education, and also teach people that they have to take responsibility for how they treat their bodies. You can't abuse it for 40 or 50 years and then expect someone else to make you well and pay for it. Expand phys-ed in schools so kids become athletic naturally and prefer to stay that way and for pete's sake, put out your cigarette, put down the beer, turn off the tv and go for a walk!
Posted by: BWhite from Canada | Aug 21, 2009 12:42:03 PM
Pink, the majority of American people are not socialist, It is an Americans duty to protect our Constitution and Obama and his weasel democratic congress is threatning that. Remember they started this.
Posted by: domino | Aug 18, 2009 6:35:33 PM
PALIN ! DO YOU HAVE A NAME FOR YOUR DOWN SYNDROME SON ? WE ALL KNOW THE CHILD BY THE NAME DOWN SYNDROME BABY WHAT IS THIS ! WHAT A MESS THIS IS CALLING YOUR SON DOWN SYNDROME ALL THE TIME AND NOT BY IS GOD GIVING NAME DING DONG
Posted by: WILLIAM ROBINSON | Aug 18, 2009 1:14:27 PM
Money is the root of all evil. Get rid of this and most issues would be solved. Human greed trumps anything good that can come along. But I acknowledge that greed is an innate part of human nature and we must learn to work with it effectively. Would studying the healthcare system of another nation for example "Sweden"? be an admission that the USA is NOT indeed the greatest nation on earth and that we can learn from another country? Would it be so horrible to not be the "Best". What is the "Best" anyway? How do we define being the “Best”? I would say being the best we can be is a nation of healthy, educated folks who are not hungry with a lower rate of crime. Utopian and unrealistic one might think? Not so much. Look at Scandinavia. Leaders who proclaim their country to be the greatest on earth are dangerous. Adolf Hitler thought Aryans and Germans were the "Master Race". Do we ever want to mirror any of those habits? Hopefully not. Let’s admit we are not the supreme beings on this planet and adopt the attitude, “Maybe we ought to look at the way it is done over there – it appears to work and the folks are happy.” Sounds as if Pres. Obama wants everyone to start reducing the greed and looking out for their neighbor. Not such a bad goal really. These are basic principles of most religions; Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Ming and yes...Islam.
Posted by: Pink Panther | Aug 18, 2009 9:59:22 AM
In 1994 Bill Clinton who is supporting Obamas agenada for healthcare reform sent a Presidential panel around different areas in our country to gather info about human radiation expierments and other crimes against humanity well he gathered it and did nothing to help the victims of the atrocities that were commited he left them high and dry. Don't believe his rallying for Obamas agenda.
Posted by: domino | Aug 17, 2009 11:47:22 AM
And who wrote the healthreform bill? APOLLO, Who is APOLLO? Read your history people, Obama's plan is right out of Saul Ulinsky's book. APOLLO, SEIU, ACORN, look at the background of his CZARS, not nice people, read and educate yourself if you don't want to believe the news. It is in black and white.
Posted by: Nancy | Aug 16, 2009 7:12:37 PM
This isnt a left wing right wing thing. It goes beyond taxes. This is about the government deciding who lives and who dies, which will ultimately be the outcome of any sort of nationalized/socialized system. Reform is needed, but having nothing changed would be better than having this mistake voted in. When was the last time you saw something listed as free that didnt have a little disclaimer that said "while supplies last"? Do you really think the rich will be the ones paying for this? They are the ones, both rich libbies and rich conservos, that pay the politicians. This will be passed down to the middle class. The middle class has just enough money to pay the bills, but not enough to really make a difference if they dont like whats happening.
Posted by: Whatever99 | Aug 16, 2009 6:19:11 PM
for the person saying that it's christianity to provide for others or share the wealth...Jesus said"TEACH A MAN TO FISH AND HE WILL EAT FOR A LIFETIME..FEED HIM AND HE EATS TODAY" so we need to teach these people how to work to make their own way in this country.
Posted by: kim trask | Aug 15, 2009 4:28:43 PM
FOLK ARE WORRY ABOUT THE COST OF THE NEW HEALTH CARE REFORM !THE REPUBLICAN AND CEO ARE USEING FEAR TACTICE TO STOP THIS BILL FROM PASS!THE HIGHEST PAID POLITICAL IS THE CEO !THE REPUBLICAN MAKING FOLK SKEPTICISM ABOUT THIS HEALTH CARE BILL PEOPLE OUT THERE DON'T LET THE REPUBLICAN POLITICAL FOOL YOU ON THIS BILL !THE HIGHEST CEO JUST WANT TO KEEP THERE MONY COMING IN $$$$$$$$$
Posted by: WILLIAM ROBINSON | Aug 15, 2009 1:53:09 PM
THERE ARE MANY OF RICH PEOPLE OUT THERE THATS DON'T WON;T THIS NEW HEALTH CARE BILL TO PASS BECAUSES THE RICH WILL BE PAYING MORE TAXES !IT ABOUT TIME FOR THE RICH PEOPLE TAXES TO GO UP ! BEING POOR OR MIDDLE CLASS WE BEEN PAYING TAXES FOR YEARS ! SO YES I AM FOR THIS NEW HEALTH CARE REFORM THE AMERICANS I KNOW AND LOVE WILL LIKE THIS BILL TO PASS T00.
Posted by: WILLIAM ROBINSON | Aug 15, 2009 12:59:43 PM
flora, The majority of Americans are not going down the path of the Obama's healthcare agenda of socialism. Americans that are opposed to his healthcare plan are not being mean we are protesting for you too wheather or not you can see that. It is an American's duty to protect our country against another form of goverment being rooted.
Posted by: domino | Aug 15, 2009 9:38:34 AM
I applaud President Obama for wanting to try to fix the health care problems.If we americans would begin to eat right,educate the public about the foods that we should eat,there would not be so many health issues. Most of what we eat and drink are contaminated and government needs to do something about that.
To him who is given much, much is required, and how did most of you get what you do have? Proably, from others in need now. There will soon come a time when you won't be able to buy or sell. I am poor, but if it takes a little more from my pay check to help someone else in need, I am willing to do so. You are crying "Socialism", but it is really called christianity. It is now time to practice what you have been preaching for years.
Let's work with our President and not trying to fight against what he promised to do before election, to fix health care.
If this country was founded on christian principles then let us try to initiate a system of health care that will meet the needs all of people. You were Not born to live forever and there is an appointed time to die.
Let us show other countries how charitable and live up to our christian faith.
Posted by: flora nicholson | Aug 15, 2009 8:27:15 AM
What a mess! If this is true, God Help us.
I have heard NOTHING GOOD ABOUT OBAMA'S HEALTHCARE PLAN.
Also, SARAH PALIN has a reputation to clean up.
I think both Obama and Palin have their own agenda and don't care who or what dies for them to get what they want. If the political rumors are true, they both will be running for office in 2012.
Suffice it to say, neither should be trusted.
Posted by: Teri | Aug 14, 2009 7:28:28 PM
Israel supports Obama because it is ungodly if people doesn't want to help other people
Help sick , poor and older people
Posted by: Daniel | Aug 14, 2009 4:05:30 PM
I can remember when a small contractor I worked for could afford to buy blue cross and shield with major med for me and my family.What changed, the government demanded non profit hospitals to take in whoever walked through the door.then we got medicare taht drove up prices and frivolous law suits that drove up doctors malpractice insurance.every problem we have is caused by to much government regs and intervention and you want them to fix the problem, They are the problem.
Posted by: P lericos | Aug 14, 2009 11:32:35 AM
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