Obama Speaks On Health Care
By: Import User
Updated: August 14, 2009
The White House today launched a new effort to debunk what Team Obama calls deliberate distortions by conservatives trying to derail the Democrats' health care initiatives.
Backers of reform say they're worried that, in the war of words, reform could be the loser.
Even on his trip to Mexico, President Obama was asked Monday about the health care battle.
Back in Washington, DC, the White House put up a new website to debunk what it calls distortions about the Democrats' health care proposals.
"The notion that the government will interfere with what you have, it really is laughable," says Dr. Kavita Patel, White House Health Care Advisor.
But there's nothing funny to Democratic lawmakers about how their town hall meetings are being disrupted, like Senator Tom Harkin's in Iowa.
One man yelled at Harkin "This is not health reform, this is control. Control over our lives!"
The White House is fighting back against claims that Democrats favor euthanasia.
The White House web site fires back that patients would, for the first time, get free counseling about end of life decisions like organ donation.
"There's absolutely nothing mandatory about this," says Melody Barnes, Senior White House Advisor.
Backers of reform worry the war of words could kill reform.
"I'm afraid that the public may be misled, particularly seniors, and I'm also afraid that this may get in the way of doing something that's urgently needed," said John Rother, Executive Vice President of A.A.R.P.
President Obama claims he's not worried.
"More sensible and reasoned arguments will emerge and we're gonna get, we're gonna get this passed."
