Righty Pundits Cooked Up 'Death Panels'

False rumor tracks back months, to same old conservative voices

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 14, 2009 10:29 AM CDT

(Newser) – The stubborn false rumor that President Obama is planning to encourage euthanasia, or ration health care through “death panels,” may sound like the stuff of anonymous e-mail campaigns, but it actually came from comparatively mainstream conservative media outlets, the New York Times reports. The first whispers came way back on Nov. 23, when a Washington Times editorial warned that the new administration would try something reminiscent of Hitler’s Aktion T4 euthanasia program.

When Democrats included money for family planning in the stimulus, the American Spectator declared that “euthanasia is another shovel ready job.” Betsy McCaughey, who wrote an infamous piece decrying health care reform in 1994, soon joined in with a New York Post editorial. From there, pundits like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh took the baton and ran with it, usually citing those three articles.

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Republican Sen. Charles Grassley speaks to voters during a town hall meeting, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009 in Adel, Iowa. (AP Photo/Steve Pope)

In this May 5, 2009 file photo, newscaster Glenn Beck attends the Time 100 Gala, a celebration of TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)

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Sometimes for the common good, you just have to say, ‘Hey, Grandpa, you’ve had a good life.' - Glenn Beck

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 27 comments

Shannonals

Aug 15, 2009 6:18 AM CDT

Did you even read the article Paul123 or simply pick out the parts you liked best?

foodchain11

Aug 15, 2009 4:30 AM CDT

Wow, you have just confirmed there is an alternate universe! As a proud boomer, I can tell you that the vast majority don't think anything like you. Secondly, you really should look in the mirror as to what group is being robocontrolled. Hint--it's you, timinator, citrix, mrs k, etc. Rush-how true-ditto heads. Ditto kind of says it all!!

paul123

Aug 15, 2009 3:40 AM CDT

The DNC has no good proposal either. Taking a bad situation and making it worse is not a solution

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New York Times (Source Grid »)

Politics • Health

Rush Limbaugh • euthanasia • Adolf Hitler • Glenn Beck • health care reform • Obama administration • President Obama • conservative media • Betsy McCaughey

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Righty Pundits Cooked Up 'Death Panels'