Posted on 09/10/2009 6:17:45 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
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
Sarah is the conservative standard bearer at this point. Period.
Good response, but no “snippets”
In today’s age you need to call these people out with forceful language like “Death panels” or “You Lie” to get the attention and outrage of the MSM.
Sarah don’t back down.
Sarah, Rush, Glenn Beck, and Michelle Malkin are about the only serious opposition to the Democrats right now. Where the hell is the GOP?
Missing in action, mccain and graham will disavow her statement and demand an apology to the POS president.
Very good viewpoint
“Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men.” - General George S. Patton, Jr
Let's make it so!
“Where the hell is the GOP?”
Hiding to avoid conflict, is one possibility, or in conference with Mitt and Rudy to draft a statement slamming Palin (subtly, and nicely, though).
I would toss Levin in there too, and that’s about it. Where the hell is the GOP? They don’t represent us anymore. And soon, hopefully, we’ll run these imposters out of town.
Zero's talking about you, Sarah.
Herein lies a big problem for 0bama...I don't think I am in the minority here and I cannot see how a new, gigantic government healthcare bureaucracy is going to help me or my wife.
In fact, I know it will ultimately hurt us. Why would the company I work for continue to pay for private health insurance when they can opt for a public option for free?
This fact alone scares the living sh!t out of me especially when you start reading the accounts from other breast cancer survivors in countries like Canada and the UK.
So you can continue to "re-calibrate" your rhetoric on health care Mr. Obama but the fact remains...if 80 - 90% of the populous are happy with the health care they currently receive, why is there a need to completely tear that down and replace it with something less?
Will you be in office when people's Mothers, Wives, and Daughters begin dying prematurely because they can't receive the needed PET, CAT or MRI scans they need to combat their disease?
Will you take responsibility when the mortality rate for breast cancer reaches the level of Canada where it is 16% higher than it is here in the US?
You are playing with people's lives you jackass. This is more than just another political feather in your cap.
If you continue down this path and our worst fears become true, you will ultimately have to deal with people like myself and many others...so be prepared.
“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.”
Sounds like she wants a cat fight...the only problem is she’s inviting a mouse to the cat fight and the little mouse knows it will be eaten alive...
I think I saw them at the retirement home with the Whigs.
Rudy was on Fox & Friends this morning and had negative comments on Obama’s speech, but I doubt he’s ready to take a strong leadership role in opposing Obama’s plan.
Sarah nails it again!!!
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