After all the rhetoric is put aside, one principle ran through President Obama’s speech tonight: that increased government involvement in health care can solve its problems.
Many Americans fundamentally disagree with this idea. We know from long experience that the creation of a massive new bureaucracy will not provide us with “more stability and security,” but just the opposite. It’s hard to believe the President when he says that this time he and his team of bureaucrats have finally figured out how to do things right if only we’ll take them at their word.
Our objections to the Democrats’ health care proposals are not mere “bickering” or “games.” They are not an attempt to “score short term political points.” And it’s hard to listen to the President lecture us not to use “scare tactics” when in the next breath he says that “more will die” if his proposals do not pass.
In his speech the President directly responded to concerns I’ve raised about unelected bureaucrats being given power to make decisions affecting life or death health care matters. He called these concerns “bogus,” “irresponsible,” and “a lie” — so much for civility. After all the name-calling, though, what he did not do is respond to the arguments we’ve made, arguments even some of his own supporters have agreed have merit.
In fact, after promising to “make sure that no government bureaucrat …. gets between you and the health care you need,” the President repeated his call for an Independent Medicare Advisory Council — an unelected, largely unaccountable group of bureaucrats charged with containing Medicare costs. He did not disavow his own statement that such a group, working outside of “normal political channels,” should guide decisions regarding that “huge driver of cost … the chronically ill and those toward the end of their lives….” He did not disavow the statements of his health care advisor, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, and continuing to pay his salary with taxpayer dollars proves a commitment to his beliefs. The President can keep making unsupported assertions, but until he directly responds to the arguments I’ve made, I’m going to call him out too.
It was heartening to hear the President finally recognize that tort reform is an important part of any solution. But this concession shouldn’t lead us to take our eye off the ball: the Democrats’ proposals will not reduce costs, and they will not deliver better health care. It’s this kind of “healthy skepticism of government” that truly reflects a “concern and regard for the plight of others.” We can’t wait to hear the details on that; we look forward to working with you on tort reform.
Finally, President Obama delivered an offhand applause line tonight about the cost of the War on Terror. As we approach the anniversary of the September 11th attacks and honor those who died that day and those who have died since in the War on Terror, in order to secure our freedoms, we need to remember their sacrifices and not demonize them as having had too high a price tag.
Remember, Mr. President, elected officials work for the people. Forcing a conclusion in order to claim a “victory” is not healthy for our country. We hear you say government isn’t always the answer; now hear us — that’s what we’ve been saying all along.
- Sarah Palin
I love the way she respectfully, but absolutely shamed Obama and called him out on his lies!! GREAT WORK SARAH!! She isn't afraid of a challenge by all the talking heads in the Media of Mass Deception who have continually tried to destroy her influence in the political discussion going on in America today.
I loved the way that she respectfully, but absolutely shamed Obama and called him on his lies!! GREAT WORK SARAH!! I pray that she continues to bring her lovely and logical far reaching voice across our nation through this Facebook account! For us ordinary, patriotic Americans who despise the carnage that Obama has unleashed upon our beloved country - she continues to be a breath of fresh air against all the corruption going on in Washington D.C.!
Sarah Palin knows that the Lamestream Media newspapers would only distort her essays, so rather than risking such distortion, she signs her name at the bottom of her Facebook articles and Americans know that what is being said is in her own words.
THANKS SARAH! You are a bright, intelligent and savvy lady! America needs your voice to stand up for We The People!
At 7:54 a.m. PT, 11,358 people on Facebook have already checked that they like the essay. There are already 2,638 comments! I plan to check back this evening to see how many more people have checked that they liked the article and how many more comments have been added.
Of course, 2,638 comments would take a long time to go through, but I am including some of the best that I have read so far:
Lynnette Fellin - YeaH!!You covered it all in a totally resonable tone with the common sense of a true lover of our country. I fear Obama doesn't love our country at all and trust nothing he says. He talks and then supports and does something different. He thinks we are all blind or stupid. Talk, Talk, Talk-only words!
I value truth!! Thank you, Sarah, for being a voice for us.
Susan Blackwell Endres - Please continue being involved in all this. We need to have real people, honest people, people that have shown they truly care about others, speaking for us. Those that voted Obama into office hopefully are beginning to see how inadequate a job he is doing as President. He should just be a talk show host, as he is very good with the charisma and BS.
Sue Morgan - Amen Sarah! Let's get people like you who want to serve the people in office!
Beverly Brown - If you can control the masses by their healthcare, then you have control over everything, and this is totally about Power, Power, Power. Sure seems like Socialism to me. But what do I know. I am just an uneducated citizen who believes in America, freedom, and our constitutional rights. The man scares me.
Wayne Johnson - THANK YOU Sarah Palin!!! We must continue to watch what he does and not what he says.
Paul Just Paul - another 53 government agencies to set up the new healthcare plan? give me a break! Only in washington does negative deficit numbers turn into a positive for the deficit.
Ernie Vater - Just watched Obama address nurses at yet ANOTHER a press conf this morning .... here are some quotes
Nothing will change if you like what you have - this is of course HUGE lie #1 - he's a clever little guy. We will place a limit on what you have to pay out of pocket - lie #2 - Last I checked taxes also come out of my Pocket Barry. A non for profit public option will just be one option and you won't be forced to choose it - lie # 3 - are we really this stupid as a country?...
Scott Sparkman - Stay a thorn in their sides and call them out when they lie (that'll be a full time job). Keep speaking out for the ordinary American that feels like we have no voice in Washington.
Thank you Sarah!
Lynn Adams - Excellent rebuttle, Sarah! I was struck last night by one line, "If you misrepresent the plan, we will call you out." I immediately wrote to BO at whitehouse.gov to say that this was a provoking threat that was unbecoming of a president. It's Chicago thug-style politics.
Thank you, Sarah for rising above his 'muscle' by responding to the arguments on the table.
Brenda Nelson McBroom - Sarah, you are a beacon of hope to those of us who believe in the human spirit to accomplish things in their own lives!!
Austin Eli - what about the 10 billion stuffed in the bill that's going to the union? my favorite line was " i will not add one dime to the deficit" uhmmm...how?
Edward McCarren - Facts that can be used to counter the Obamabots: http://solitaryconspiracy.com/2009/09/10/health-care-a-few-facts-and-numbers/
Michelle White - The idea of government run health care is an old one...as President Obama stated in his speech....this reform has been attempted for years. There's a reason it has NOT passed! The people do not want the government in charge of health care................Shocker!
Bill Bissenas - Gov. Palin, you have called the President out by exposing the hypocrisy of his speech. Thank you for your concise and correct analysis.
Deborah Vest Spalding - The Senator [Congressman] from SC called it .... "a lie".....yea! Someone finally spoke up, for the world to see, they don't trust Obama.
Gwendolyn Shadwick - Same old message. No new ideas or details. And then the plug for the Government Option at the end of the speech. Sarah keep giving them hell! Obama has been caught in his own made up stories and lies over and over. He is not to be trusted with anything. We have to all stand together and vote in new government leaders, before these dems destroy our country and the Constitution of the United States!
Kimberly Chitwood - "Forcing a conclusion in order to claim a “victory” is not healthy for our country. We hear you say government isn’t always the answer; now hear us -- that’s what we’ve been saying all along."
Couldn't have said it better!!
Elections in 2010...I do believe "change" we can believe in is coming!
Bert Spivy - Agree completely, more US federal government involvment will stifle and curtail the great quality of health care the USA is famous for. There is NO WAY fixing Medicare inefficiencies can possibly pay for health of all the uninsured without degrading Medicare, or else they would have fixed those inefficiencies long ago. "Not One Dime" added to the deficit for health care changes can only mean"we the people" WILL be paying again...From a vet, Thanks Mrs. Palin.
Elisa Reyes - I applaud the Rep. from South Carolina who yelled out the President lies when he says that illegal "aliens" will not be covered under the proposed plan. No one in our government should be immune from criticism. I detest his lecturing the American people. I detest these elected representatives who refuse to act/vote as the constituents wish them ...