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GOP 'Flat-Out' Lying About Health Care

Republicans trying to scare US out of discussion

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 7, 2009 9:17 AM CDT

(Newser) – When it comes to health care reform, Republicans have become “political terrorists,” trying to scare Americans in an effort to block consensus, writes Steven Pearlstein for the Washington Post. “There is no credible way to look at what has been proposed and conclude that these will result in a government takeover of the health-care system,” Pearlstein writes. That’s a “flat-out lie.”

“Under any plan likely to emerge from Congress,” private insurance and private doctors will keep taking care of “the vast majority of Americans who are not old or poor.” All told, taxpayers would see only a “one-time increase equal to less than 1% of a national income that grows at an average rate of 2.5% every year.” Meanwhile, Republicans, supposedly fiscal guardians, are knocking almost every idea to rein in health spending.

In this June 17, 2009 photo, Mike Enzi, the ranking Republican on the Senate's health committee, sits amongst copies of the health care reform bill and its amendments before a markup.
In this June 17, 2009 photo, Mike Enzi, the ranking Republican on the Senate's health committee, sits amongst copies of the health care reform bill and its amendments before a markup.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, FILE)
House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio speaks about health care, Thursday, July 23, 2009, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington.
House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio speaks about health care, Thursday, July 23, 2009, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington.   (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 24 comments
cochiserocks
Aug 8, 2009 10:02 AM CDT
Amazing thing about health. When you have it - it's not something you every think about - but when you get ill - all of a sudden the issue comes into real solid focus. I wonder how many sick/in pain Americans who have no insurance would poll as being happy with the health system?
DaytonAve.
Aug 8, 2009 8:29 AM CDT
I dont get why everyone is so scared of socialized medicine. I can understand why people are worried about the government being more involved with health care but I would rather have socialized health care than trust the scum bag insurance companies.
Rembrandt_Q_Einstein
Aug 8, 2009 7:17 AM CDT
Have you read it? Can you even read? IF I TYPE IN ALL CAPS WILL YOU UNDERSTAND!!!! ZOMG! NAZZIS!!

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