Obama Admin Fires Back At Right Wing With Detailed Rebuttal Of "Death Book" Claim

The Plum Line:

In a sign of real concern about the right wing's latest lurid health care tale, the Obama administration's veterans agency is hitting back at conservative media with a detailed factual rebuttal of the claim that government is giving veterans a "death book" that urges them to hurry up and die.

The rebuttal includes a detailed fact sheet and a timeline, both of which were sent my way by an administration official and may be sent widely to reporters later this morning.

Read the whole story: The Plum Line

Comments

[mama4obama]

I have just come to believe that elected Republicans are all liars. I know its bad to just make a blanket statement , but it's just the truth.

[Bronxdude]

Republicans aren't interested in offering real solutions and engaging in a civil debate over healthcare reform. The Party of No is spreading vicious lies and resorting to shameful scare tactics to gin up fear to defeat reform. Grassley, Palin and Blunt claim healthcare reform will create government “death panels.” The claim of government sponsored euthanasia is a lie, manufactured by self-serving republicans loyal to the insurance industry. The amendment Palin is referring to was introduced by Johnny Isakson and it allows individuals to control their own health care decisions via the implementation of an optional living will. Every time you walk into the examine room, there are 4 people in the room: you, your doctor, the predatory insurance executive overseeing your healthcare and the sell-out republican protecting the immoral health insurance industry. No American should go broke or have to file bankruptcy because they get sick. The republican debacle surrounding Terri Schiavo was allowed to unfold because there was no living will in force specifying her wishes for life-extending measures under various scenarios. While republicans say they despise government intrusion, they were quick to exploit Ms. Schiavo and meddle in her affairs for political gain. A living will would have prevented the republican led public spectacle that forced Terri Schiavo to endure suffering and disgrace. Everyday, 14,000 Americans lose healthcare coverage, and another 100,000 are denied life altering care due to a preexisting condition, while parasitic health insurers profit.

[Bronxdude]

Real reform means real choice—Private versus Public. There is nothing more American than real, competition-based choice, something republicans despise because the continued monopolization of the health industry ensures their uninhibited access to wealth, which translates into unrestrained political power. Universal healthcare works well in Great Britain, but is opposed by republicans because the Brits have succeeded in removing the constant quest for greed-driven profit from the equation. By using alarmist rhetoric, republicans are attempting to intimidate Americans into remaining loyal to an unsustainable and broken system that is exploitive, abusive, predatory, corrupt and immoral. Contrary to what republican would want you to believe, socialize medicine works exceptionally well in America, as evidenced by Medicare, military medicine and the Veterans Administration. Over 44 million Americans receive their healthcare through Medicare, and the number of Medicare beneficiaries receiving prescription drug coverage is expected to top 28 million this year. Combined, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs provide health care services to more than 17 million beneficiaries. Unlike predatory private insurers, beneficiaries in these systems receive benchmark pricing and patient protection rights because the incentives have been changed from profit to ensuring affordable, quality-based, cost-effective healthcare. Republicans demonize these systems because the incentive for profit has been removed, which means they can’t exploit these systems for political or monetary gain. Even though as an actor Reagan was paid to villainize socialized medicine, 40 years later, Medicare in a glowing success.

[gwashington1776]

BRAVO.....­Send this abeit shorter version to your congressional delegation!!!

[rain33]

wow, what took ya'll so long to fight back? if you don't defeat gops, obama administration is going to be reminded as sissies!

[gconners]

I think President Obama truly wanted to bring the country together after the vile, outrageous GOP attacks against him in the campaign. Obama won in a landslide. He has tried and tried to work with the Republicans but they are determined to undermine him and flatly "hope he fails." Teddy Roosevelt said: "Speak softly but carry a big stick." President Obama, you have spoken softly. Most Americans DON'T want you to fail. Those that do are unpatriotic. It is time to bring out "the big stick." We didn't elect the GOP for The House, The Senate or The White House. We gave power to the Democrats. Please USE it!

[Akat1973]

They have to try 2 inform the sheeple and the elderly,cause the repubs love to scare them all!

[Dolmance]

Why do Democrats bother rebutting the Republican's lies? They're not going to stop. Democrats have the power. They should use it and stop wasting time. They need to pass the legislation they want and if necessary use the Reconciliation Process for everything.

[christopherflynn]

I know that there is at least one intelligent poster out there...Th­ank you Dolmance, for your words of wisdom!!!

[33Greeper]

Fanned and Faved