Barack Obama today on a telephone lecture (it was not a teleconference):
Obama urged the listeners to reject misinformation about his plans, noting, “There are some folks out there who are, frankly, bearing false witness.”
He referred to some assertions as “ludicrous,” and cited as an example rumors that the government is planning to set up “death panels” to determine the fate of the nation’s elderly.
“That is just an extraordinary lie,” he said, adding that it was based on a provision in the House legislation that would allow Medicare to reimburse someone who voluntarily sought counseling on how to set up a living will for the end of life.
“It gives an option that people who can afford fancy lawyers already experience,” the Harvard-trained lawyer said.
Yes, that is an extraordinary lie:
It is very difficult to imagine the country making those decisions just through the normal political channels. And that’s part of why you have to have some independent group that can give you guidance.
—President Barack Obama in a New York Times interview on how costly medical decisions should be made.
And:
President Obama suggested at a town hall event Wednesday night that one way to shave medical costs is to stop expensive and ultimately futile procedures performed on people who are about to die and don’t stand to gain from the extra care.
In a nationally televised event at the White House, Obama said families need better information so they don’t unthinkingly approve “additional tests or additional drugs that the evidence shows is not necessarily going to improve care.”
He added: “Maybe you’re better off not having the surgery, but taking the painkiller.”
Only it is not the ones pointing Obama’s own words out who are conflating unrelated things together – or lying.
It’s extraordinary, alright. Nice that he admitted it.
The guy who described his relationship with Bill Ayers as ‘just a guy from the neighborhood’ now wants to lecture about others bearing false witness?
At some point, Gaius, you have to realize that a pathological liar is absolutely shameless. We’ve discussed ad nauseum his flaws. Obama figures that if he’s brazen enough we won’t believe our lyin’ eyes and ears.
If the polticos in DC werent all “spin doctors” then we the public we be able to tell the truth from a lie. Given the past 60 years of politicians telling us “their story” and distorting the facts do they actually think getting any message from the government is going to be a clear one? Finally an instance where the years of telling the story the way I want you to hear it is biting them in the backside.
What Obama apparently believes is that whatever he says automatically becomes reality in the minds of his audience – even a bald faced lie. He has some justification for this belief as he spent the entire campaign lying through his teeth and it got him elected. Enough people apparently WERE mesmerized simply by the sound of his voice to the point that they were willing to suspend any questioning or rational thought and blinly vote for a proven liar. We are just fortunate that the trancelike oblivion he seems to be able to cast over people is starting to wear thin.
Death Panels exist. They are embedded in HR3200 in two ways. 1) When States received the scheduled mandates to implement their provisions of the bill, a Death Panel would be formed involving the United States in Oregon and Washington; and 2) Now and if HR3200 becomes law, anyone with Medicare or Medicaid is allowed entry into a Hospice to die of a terminal condition. If the patient wants Limited Euthanasia that is legal in Oregon and Washington, they fill out a form. The Doctor has to confirm death is within 6 months. The State Death Panel convenes to review the DWD request by the Patient, and if granted, the Doctor prescribes the “Drug” for a quick Death. It’s in State Law. Oregon records show the numbers of patients exercising the “Death With Dignity” option to them, and Medicare/Medicaid is one of the types of insurance indicated. Other is Private or Uninsured.
It is inconceivable that the United States won’t be on a State “Death Panel”. Suicide or Attempted Suicide is a Crime in other States. Oregon and Washington appear to be the only two I could find.
Sarah Palin was more correct than anyone imagined. “Death Panel” is not in HR3200, but so what? They use “Death Panels” in Oregon and Washington to review and approve Death for terminal patients. The United States is paying for some of the costs already (with or without HR3200).