Louisville Courier Journal Editorial: 'Death Panel' Silliness. I Agree.
‘Death panel' silliness
On its face, the allegation that the House bill on health care reform advocates euthanasia for older or infirm citizens would seem so ridiculous that no one would take it seriously.
Guess again.
Still, the fact that the “death panels” charge was led by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would seem to disqualify it from serious consideration, given her demonstrably weak grasp of facts and her questionable grip on reality.
Ah … guess again.
When Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, one of the most important voices in that august body on health care reform, lent his name and stature to the allegation in a town hall appearance in his home state, it seemed the “death panel” charge had acquired mainstream credibility. Instead, Mr. Grassley destroyed his own credibility with his remarks about the portion of the House bill that reimburses doctors for voluntary end-of-life issues counseling with patients:
“… From that standpoint, you have every right to fear,” he said. “You shouldn't have counseling at the end of life. You ought to have counseling 20 years before you're going to die. You ought to plan these things out. And I don't have any problem with things like living wills. But they ought to be done within the family. We should not have a government program that determines if you're going to pull the plug on grandma.”
The whole point of the part of the bill that is being twisted by Ms. Palin and Mr. Grassley and too many others: It makes the counseling an individual's choice between that person and his or her doctor.
If any of this were funny, and it isn't, the punch line would be that both Ms. Palin and Mr. Grassley have supported “advance directives” in the past. Just not this time, when the demagogue siren called.
We would call what they've been spreading lies. President Obama was more polite in his own town hall meeting, when he said, “I just lost my grandmother last year. I know what it's like to watch somebody you love, who's aging, deteriorate, and have to struggle with that. So the notion that somehow I ran for public office, or members of Congress are in this so that they can go around pulling the plug on grandma? I mean, when you start making arguments like that, that's simply dishonest.”
That's the least of what it is.
On its face, the allegation that the House bill on health care reform advocates euthanasia for older or infirm citizens would seem so ridiculous that no one would take it seriously.
Guess again.
Still, the fact that the “death panels” charge was led by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would seem to disqualify it from serious consideration, given her demonstrably weak grasp of facts and her questionable grip on reality.
Ah … guess again.
When Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, one of the most important voices in that august body on health care reform, lent his name and stature to the allegation in a town hall appearance in his home state, it seemed the “death panel” charge had acquired mainstream credibility. Instead, Mr. Grassley destroyed his own credibility with his remarks about the portion of the House bill that reimburses doctors for voluntary end-of-life issues counseling with patients:
“… From that standpoint, you have every right to fear,” he said. “You shouldn't have counseling at the end of life. You ought to have counseling 20 years before you're going to die. You ought to plan these things out. And I don't have any problem with things like living wills. But they ought to be done within the family. We should not have a government program that determines if you're going to pull the plug on grandma.”
The whole point of the part of the bill that is being twisted by Ms. Palin and Mr. Grassley and too many others: It makes the counseling an individual's choice between that person and his or her doctor.
If any of this were funny, and it isn't, the punch line would be that both Ms. Palin and Mr. Grassley have supported “advance directives” in the past. Just not this time, when the demagogue siren called.
We would call what they've been spreading lies. President Obama was more polite in his own town hall meeting, when he said, “I just lost my grandmother last year. I know what it's like to watch somebody you love, who's aging, deteriorate, and have to struggle with that. So the notion that somehow I ran for public office, or members of Congress are in this so that they can go around pulling the plug on grandma? I mean, when you start making arguments like that, that's simply dishonest.”
That's the least of what it is.
Labels: Keeping them honest, Politics, Public health
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 8:06 AM
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