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Palin repeats 'death panel' charge against Obama
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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."
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http://www.examiner.com/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m9d9-Palin-endorses-Obamas-Afghanistan-plan
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== 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/
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