Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


28

White House Shuts Online Rumor Tip Box

Program to collect health-care hearsay slammed over privacy

Share

(Newser) – The White House is closing its e-tip box for bogus health care rumors amid concerns over what the administration might do with such messages, Politico reports. On Aug. 4, a White House blog told readers: “If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.” But opponents raised privacy issues, saying the White House was “collecting names."

“All we're asking people to do is if they're confused about what health care reform is going to mean to them, we're happy to help clear that up for you. Nobody is keeping anybody's names,” said Obama’s press secretary. But a GOP senator called it an “Obama monitoring program” and called on the White House to end it.  Now, an email to that address receives a response referring users to whitehouse.gov/realitycheck.

President Barack Obama speaks at the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention in Phoenix, Monday, Aug. 17, 2009.
President Barack Obama speaks at the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention in Phoenix, Monday, Aug. 17, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, questions Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 15, 2009. Cornyn raised concerns about the e-tip program.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, questions Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 15, 2009. Cornyn raised concerns about the e-tip program.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

I can only imagine the level of justifiable outrage had your predecessor asked Americans to forward emails critical of his policies to the White House. - Sen. John Cornyn, in letter to president

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
28 comments
VIEWING:
 
Timinator2K
Aug 17, 09 2:44 PM CDT
"Rumor Tip Box?" Report Obama Enemies Here Box, more like. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-1
IN RESPONSE:
AnnieChrist
Aug 17, 09 3:09 PM CDT
You don't have to report Obama's enemies, they are the ones showing up at public forums with guns, they're the ones claiming Obama will kill your grandmother. I can see why the right wing is concerned, but it has nothing to do with privacy, or compilation of an enemies list. The program was designed to expose and refute lies, and if a republican can't lie, they are rendered mute.
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
IN RESPONSE:
doingtherightthing
Aug 17, 09 3:22 PM CDT
Obama is back peddling as fast as he can. His numbers are dropping faster than monkeyboy can drop his pants to take a pee........just think those patriots are the grey hairs standing up for there rights.......good for them........Obamacare is going down!
Vote up! Vote down!
-1
IN RESPONSE:
BackAgain
Aug 17, 09 3:34 PM CDT
Heil the Obamanator. Hey Pelosi I am over here in my spider hole. LOL Left.
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
Jayster999
Aug 18, 09 12:42 AM CDT
Obama should scare the hell out of anyone with a brain. People freaked (and rightfully so) when Bush gave the okay to do random wire taps, and now comes Obama with his "dissenters list." Look, even if you LOVE this jerk, you have to admit that his wanting to keep tabs on those who disagree with him smacks of Orwellianism. Regardless of party politics, we need to stick together when the government moves toward totalitarianism.
Vote up! Vote down!
+4

View all 28 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

195 Stories

NO DIMON IN THIS ROUGH

Bloggers on JPMorgan Chase CEO Replacing Geithner: Nah

Jamie Dimon not in tune with Obama, too invested in big banks

Nov 23, 09 10:00 PM CST
(Newser) - A report today that JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has the inside track to replace Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary is getting mostly guffaws online, with even the conservative Wall Street Journal admitting that Dimon’s way too much an insider for the job just now. Indeed, chuckles Daniel Indiviglio... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Wall Street • consumer protection • rumor • JPMorgan Chase • Obama administration • Treasury secretary • financial crisis • Jamie Dimon • President Obama • Timothy Geithner • Obama Cabinet • big banks

NATE SILVER & CO.

Senators See Upcoming Vote on Obama—Not Health

Eye constituents' votes in 2008, not polls on health care

Nov 19, 09 10:18 AM CST
(Newser) - The upcoming Senate debate on health care reform, like the House vote before it, will be more a referendum on President Obama than a reflection of constituents’ concerns, Andrew Gelman, Nate Silver, and Daniel Lee write. What happened in the House is clear: 31 of 39 Democrats who voted no... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • Senate • House of Representatives • voters • health care reform • Obama administration • President Obama • Blanche Lincoln • constituents

Wanted: Economist to Trash Health Bill

Foes look for an
expert to prove that Obamacare kills jobs

Nov 16, 09 9:01 AM CST
(Newser) - Pro-business groups opposed to the president's health care reform are raising funds to hire a "respected economist" to study the impact of the reform—and find that it is a threat to jobs and the economy. In an email obtained by the Washington Post , a top official at the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
health care • health care reform • bias • President Obama • US Chamber of Commerce

195 Stories


Politics  •  Technology 
TwitterFollow @NewserPolitics on Twitter

 
email • John Cornyn • health care reform • rumor • President Obama

from our news partners