Former GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin on the campaign trail (AP)
Former GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin repeated her charge that the Obama health care plan will result in the rationing of health care for the elderly and chronically ill by "death panels". This statement reiterates the same charge that she made in an explosive Facebook post in August that set off a firestorm of media criticism.
Writing in a Wall Street Journal editorial on Tuesday, Palin recounts Obama's request that Congress establish the Independent Medicare Advisory Council, which she characterizes as "an unelected, largely unaccountable group of experts charged with containing Medicare costs." Palin quotes the President in explaining that the Council will operate outside of "normal political channels" in cutting the health care costs associated with patients that are elderly and chronically ill.
Palin reiterates:
Given such statements, is it any wonder that many of the sick and elderly are concerned that the Democrats' proposals will ultimately lead to rationing of their health care by—dare I say it—death panels? Establishment voices dismissed that phrase, but it rang true for many Americans.
Palin praises the efforts of the health care protesters that caused such consternation for the President and members of Congress over the August congressional break, and credits these efforts with a likely rejection of the President's advisory council proposal. She goes on to criticize the Democratic health care initiative as "government overreaching" that typifies their actions.
Palin's editorial statements reiterate a charge that she first made in a post on her Facebook page on August 7th. That post unleashed a torrent of media criticism and scrutiny, much of it negative. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) characterized her statement as "nuts", and Sen. Arlen Specter (?-PA) called it a "vicious, malicious, untrue rumor."
(Reader note: Despite media criticism of Palin, her statements accurately reflect the opinions of millions of voters.)
President Obama was also forced to confront Palin's accusations. In his health care address to the Joint Session of Congress on Wednesday, the President said, "Such a charge would be laughable if it weren't so cynical and irresponsible. It is a lie, plain and simple."
A Google search on "palin 'death panel' lie" returns 78,800 hits.
As an alternative to the President's health care plan, Palin calls for reforms that are "market-oriented, patient-centered, and result-driven." She specifically cites Cato Institute recommendations, which puts her in agreement with many other GOP politicians and much of the conservative punditry. She also lambasts the President's plan for its cost and its increase of the federal deficit.
Palin ends her editorial in typical fashion, with a blast at her political opposition:
Democrats have never seriously considered such ideas, instead rushing through their own controversial proposals. After all, they don't need Republicans to sign on: Democrats control the House, the Senate and the presidency. But if passed, the Democrats' proposals will significantly alter a large sector of our economy. They will not improve our health care. They will not save us money. And, despite what the president says, they will not "provide more stability and security to every American."
More Palin news
Palin endorses Obama's Afghanistan plan
http://www.examiner.com/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m9d9-Palin-endorses-Obamas-Afghanistan-plan
Sen. Hutchison resigns Senate seat, Palin campaigns for opponent
http://www.examiner.com/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m7d30-Sen-Hutchison-resigns-Senate-seat-Palin-campaigns-for-opponent
Palin ethics probe finds abuse of power, Palin hitting back hard
http://www.examiner.com/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m7d22-Palin-ethics-probe-finds-abuse-of-power-Palin-hitting-back-hard
The media myth of Palin's rambling resignation speech
http://www.examiner.com/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m7d20-The-media-myth-of-Palins-rambling-resignation-speech
Palin resignation could signal RNC nightmare
http://www.examiner.com/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m7d3-Palin-resignation-could-signal-RNC-nightmare
Palin Letterman controversy timeline
http://www.examiner.com/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m6d19-Palin-Letterman-controversy-timeline
GOP's critics will be unrelenting
http://www.examiner.com/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m6d17-GOPs-critics-will-be-unrelenting
== Outlinks ==
Obama and the Bureaucratization of Health Care
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203440104574400581157986024.html
Sen. Johnny Isakson: Palin’s ‘Death Panel’ Talk Is ‘Nuts’
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/11/sen-johnny-isakson-nuts/
Obama Health Care Speech: FULL VIDEO, TEXT
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/09/obama-health-care-speech_n_281265.html
Sarah Palin: Statement on the Current Health Care Debate
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=113851103434
Protesters disrupt town-hall healthcare talks
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE5765QH20090808
The Cato Institute on Health Care Reform
http://healthcare.cato.org/
Comments
I read Sarah Palin's post from facebook last night and she brilliantly conveys what so many American's believe. I am tired of hearing the lies, mainly from the press--who not only repeat the administration's lies, but make up some of their own. Sarah is NOT irresponsible as the president asserts, but quite brave to take on such a goliath.
I am shocked to find so many of the American public to be taken by retoric and swayed! Educate yourselves to Obama's healthcare plan and decide for yourselves! Sarah Palin is out of line with her acusations of (Death Squad) panels etc...!!! Can you imagine if she became President! Such misleading irresponsible behavior!I bet she has a pin-up of Dick Cheney above her bed!!!
Luckily Americans voted for the right President/Vice President. I agree with Concerned American - we all should educate ourselves so that you will know who is telling lies - you should not leave it up to anyone to tell you who is right or wrong. There are many nonpartisan groups who research statements made by politicians - check those out -- maybe Sarah could learn a few things! You could really tell who was wanting to work together for the common goal - with 80% in common why can't they get together to help the common american.
I find it hard to believe that anyone who reads the healthcare plan that the President is proposing cannot see who is out of line. For those of you with your head in the sand, just because Obama says those panels are not death squads does not make it so. I do not want a panel of experts deciding if my mother or father is too old to receive lifesaving treatment. That is a decision to be made by one's personal physician and the family.
Quite frankly, some of you who now defend this, could find yourself refused care someday. I hope that we never have to say "I told you so".
The editorial may have Sarah's name, but it certainly couldn't have been written by her. After her two years as a"reformist" governor in Alaska, she is now to providing us guidance on reforming health care. Someone who took six years to get a four year bachelor's degree from multiple third tier schools is probably not someone who should be leading anything. It's amazing how far ambition, lipstick, and self-righteous ignorance will get you in this country.
Craig--Palin is a politician and is fair game for criticism. However, I quickly tire of the unfair bashing she receives from small-minded critics.
First, if Palin didn't write that editorial, then she doesn't deliver her own speeches, either. Her speaking style and alliteration are *obvious* in that editorial.
Second, with your comments about her education, I assume that you either a) did not go to college or b) are nothing more than a basher. Many of my classmates switched colleges a lot, and the main reason they did so was: *they were homesick*. People such as you have a lot of nerve criticizing Palin's political policy positions based on a college career that is decades in the past.
What I find really rich is that Palin appears to be fair game for nastiness, but *heaven forefend* that anyone should mention Bill Ayres or Tony Rezko. That makes one a racist, don't you know.
George Copeland
National RNC Examiner
www.copelandweb.com
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