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   Memo: The way forward on health care reform in 2010.
 A dark legacy of the Vietnam War is creating a whole new set of problems.
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October 31, 2009
THE BIGGEST ZOMBIE LIE OF 'EM ALL.... Looking back over the last six months of debate over health care reform, the right-wing allegations of "death panels" have practically become notorious. No other lie was as insulting or as ridiculous, and those who repeated it deserved to be labeled disreputable hacks. To their credit, House leaders decided to embrace the common-sense idea that has long generated bipartisan support. The NYT reported yesterday, "Undaunted by the August uproar over 'death panels,' House Democrats would authorize Medicare to pay doctors for providing advice to patients on end-of-life care. The new bill says such consultations are 'completely optional.'" You know what comes next. Sean Hannnity told viewers last night, "The death panels are back." Apparently so. On one of Fox News' straight news segments yesterday afternoon, analyst Peter Johnson Jr. interviewed Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and asked, "So with regard to the death panel, nothing much has changed." Cornyn responded that it's "certainly something we'll be focusing on." I don't doubt that. Yesterday was a banner day for Republicans anxious to re-embrace their summertime favorite. Hannity talked it up, of course, as did GOP sites like FoxNews.com and BigGovernment. The claim has been debunked repeatedly, even by news outlets reluctant to draw policy conclusions based on objective facts. That, of course, only matters to those approaching the debate in good faith. The House bill intends to reimburse seniors for voluntary counseling, which means the right's favorite nonsensical talking point is back in play. Lucky us. —Steve Benen 10:10 AM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (9)Comments
As a Texan who has watched "Big John" Cornyn for years, I can attest that the man hasn't had an original or insightful thought since 1978. Posted by: Snarky Bastard on October 31, 2009 at 10:21 AM | PERMALINKThe Repubs are both predictable and a parody of themselves. It must hurt to have to tie oneself into such knots in order to be a member of the Party of No. Posted by: Hannah on October 31, 2009 at 11:06 AM | PERMALINKWell it worked so well for them last time. I'm sure once again they can get ten ot twenty tea baggers riled up about it. Posted by: Saint Zak on October 31, 2009 at 11:22 AM | PERMALINKI'm sure once again they can get ten or twenty tea baggers riled up about it. That would be impressive -- they'd have to rent two vans. Posted by: Snarky Bastard on October 31, 2009 at 12:51 PM | PERMALINKI think they're aware that no normal person will be falling for this at this stage of the game. They're just trying to get the true-blue lunatic base riled up, making calls and sending cash. Posted by: shortstop on October 31, 2009 at 1:01 PM | PERMALINKRight. The most they can do is intensify the dislike that some people already have for the idea. It's impossible to imagine that screaming booga-booga like this will actually change anyone's mind. Posted by: Rathskeller on October 31, 2009 at 1:30 PM | PERMALINKHouse Democrats would authorize Medicare to pay doctors for providing advice to patients on end-of-life care. -- NYTimes What neither Benen nor the NYT seem to appreciate is that Republican approach towards healthcare is consistent It's:"Don't get sick"and, if you do, die quickly" -- remember? If you follow that advice (and die quickly), there'll be very little "end-of-life" care you'll need. That's one thing. The second thing is that all the advice one needs at the end of life is "Pray. Pray harder". And that's preachers' bailiwick, no doctors'. Doctors should stop poaching on priests' prerogatives and stay away from what doesn't concern them, much less get paid for the meddling. Posted by: exlibra on October 31, 2009 at 3:27 PM | PERMALINKI'm curious how these Death Panels will work. Who will be in charge, a Death Panel Czar? Will they be made up of appointed or elected positions? How many panelists will we need to make the live-or-die decisions about the tens of thousands of people in need of health treatments each week? Can anyone apply? What will the salaries of Death Panelists be? Will they be outsourced? Who will oversee the panelists - HHS? Inquiring minds want to know. Posted by: pj in jesusland on November 1, 2009 at 9:40 AM | PERMALINKPost a comment
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