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AmSpecBlog
"You can’t just make stuff up"
That's what candidate Obama declared last fall. But President Obama, even as he accuses others of spreading myths and "scare tactics" about health care legislation has himself been loose with the facts. During Tuesday's town hall meeting in New Hampshire, Obama lied by denying he has expressed support for a single-payer health care system.
During the same town hall meeting, Obama said:
All I'm saying is let's take the example of something like diabetes, one of --- a disease that's skyrocketing, partly because of obesity, partly because it's not treated as effectively as it could be. Right now if we paid a family -- if a family care physician works with his or her patient to help them lose weight, modify diet, monitors whether they're taking their medications in a timely fashion, they might get reimbursed a pittance. But if that same diabetic ends up getting their foot amputated, that's $30,000, $40,000, $50,000 -- immediately the surgeon is reimbursed. Well, why not make sure that we're also reimbursing the care that prevents the amputation, right? That will save us money.
Last night, the American College of Surgeons fired back:
Yesterday during a town hall meeting, President Obama got his facts completely wrong. He stated that a surgeon gets paid $50,000 for a leg amputation when, in fact, Medicare pays a surgeon between $740 and $1,140 for a leg amputation. This payment also includes the evaluation of the patient on the day of the operation plus patient follow-up care that is provided for 90 days after the operation. Private insurers pay some variation of the Medicare reimbursement for this service.
The full statement here.
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Missy| 8.13.09 @ 12:55PM
Obama doesn't just tell lies in public, he tells WHOPPERS! He also lied about the AARP endorsement, which was quickly knocked down by the group's president.
Why lie when they're so easily (and embarrassingly) debunked? I don't get it. He looks devious and incompetent at the same time: Not a winning presidential strategy.
I thought Obama was supposed to be so brilliant; everyone said so. Everyone lied.
Missy| 8.13.09 @ 1:00PM
I am sick and tired of Obama attacking doctors and making them look like money grubbers, too.
Who the hell does he think he is; King Obama?
BFree| 8.13.09 @ 1:26PM
Obama told the TRUTH in a fashion about keeping your current healthcare insurance and physicians. He told the truth much like one of my teenagers tells me a 'portion' of an event but leaves out other vital information.
AKA lies.
Yes, you can keep your current healthcare insurance. However you will PAY a fine-penalty-taxes whatever buzz word they prefer because of the CHOICE you make.
Yes, you can keep your physician. However your physician will have limitations as to what types of care options he/she can suggest. As well as what is covered by your insurance, and how much the physician can charge for proceedures. So your Doctor is then limited.
If your employer pays a portion of your healthcare premiums, they too will be fined-taxed etc for either not including a public option for your choices, OR for you deciding to go with a different insurer.
Andrew B| 8.13.09 @ 1:36PM
I am diabetic, and so I suppose I should thank President Obama for protecting me from the greed-crazed hordes of doctors who want to lop off my feet for fun and profit. Amazing that, after 6 years with this diagnosis, nobody in the health care field has tried to snip off my extremities to fund a new deck or a big screen TV.
I find the President's comments especially galling, as I seem to recall that his wife made a big, fat wad of cash by working for a hospital. What did she have to amputate to make all that money, aside from her personal integrity?
Richard Baker| 8.13.09 @ 1:39PM
Tell you what. The physicians and nurses should not go to work for ONE day. Then the Kenyan can provide health care for the country. The insurance companies should not be open for ONE business day. Again, let the Kenyan run the whole thing himself. Let's see, who'd do a better job?
Dixie Pixie| 8.13.09 @ 5:22PM
Obama does not tell lies in his own eyes.
Obama is a walking paratype of delusional liberalism.
Obama lives in a fog of liberal miasma and has no wish to leave it.
Why should he leave the Washington bubble, life is good at his level.
He has not have any contact with the reality most people live with and has no wish to.
He made it to the top of the political world by saying the normal liberal lines.
Why stop now.
jacksmith| 8.13.09 @ 8:00PM
Throw The Healthcare Obstructionist Out!
More than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 76% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (85% of democrats, 71% of independents, and 60% republicans). Basically everyone.
We have the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed world. And the most costly. Costing over twice as much as every other county. Conservative estimates are that over 120,000 of you dies each year in America from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don't die from. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Insured and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. This is what being 37th in quality of healthcare means.
I know that many of you are angry and frustrated that REPUBLICANS! In congress are dragging their feet and trying to block TRUE healthcare reform. What republicans want is just a taxpayer bailout of the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry, and the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry. A trillion dollar taxpayer funded private health insurance bailout is all you really get, without a robust government-run public option available on day one. Co-OP's ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION. They are a fraud being pushed by the GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry that is KILLING YOU!
YOU CANT HAVE AN INSURANCE MANDATE WITHOUT A ROBUST PUBLIC OPTION. MANDATING PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTH INSURANCE AS YOUR ONLY CHOICE WOULD BE A DISASTER. AND UNETHICAL, CORRUPT, AND MORALLY REPUGNANT. AND PROBABLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS WELL.
These industries have been slaughtering you and your loved ones like cattle for decades for profit. Including members of congress and their families. These REPUBLICANS are FOOLS!
Republicans and their traitorous allies have been trying to make it look like it's President Obama's fault for the delays, and foot dragging. But I think you all know better than that. President Obama inherited one of the worst government catastrophes in American history from these REPUBLICANS! And President Obama has done a brilliant job of turning things around, and working his heart out for all of us.
But Republicans think you are just a bunch of stupid, idiot, cash cows with short memories. Just like they did under the Bush administration when they helped Bush and Cheney rape America and the rest of the World.
But you don't have to put up with that. And this is what you can do. The Republicans below will be up for reelection on November 2, 2010. Just a little over 13 months from now. And many of you will be able to vote early. So pick some names and tell their voters that their representatives (by name) are obstructing TRUE healthcare reform. And are sellouts to the insurance and medical lobbyist.
Ask them to contact their representatives and tell them that they are going to work to throw them out of office on November 2, 2010, if not before by impeachment, or recall elections. Doing this will give you something more to do to make things better in America. And it will make you feel better too.
There are many resources on the internet that can help you find people to call and contact. For example, many social networking sites can be searched by state, city, or University. Be inventive and creative. I can think of many ways to do this. But be nice. These are your neighbors. And most will want to help.
I know there are a few democrats that have been trying to obstruct TRUE healthcare reform too. But the main problem is the Bush Republicans. Removing them is the best thing tactically to do. On the other hand. If you can easily replace a democrat obstructionist with a supportive democrat, DO IT!
You have been AMAZING!!! people. Don't loose heart. You knew it wasn't going to be easy saving the World. :-)
God Bless You
jacksmith — Working Class
I REST MY CASE (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)
Republican Senators up for re-election in 2010.
* Richard Shelby of Alabama
* Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
* John McCain of Arizona
* Mel Martinez of Florida
* Johnny Isakson of Georgia
* Mike Crapo of Idaho
* Chuck Grassley of Iowa
* Sam Brownback of Kansas
* Jim Bunning of Kentucky
* David Vitter of Louisiana
* Kit Bond of Missouri
* Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
* Richard Burr of North Carolina
* George Voinovich of Ohio
* Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
* Jim DeMint of South Carolina
* John Thune of South Dakota
* Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas
* Bob Bennett of Utah
Tina| 8.13.09 @ 9:03PM
Yes, people, don't 'loose' heart. Not only is Jack a filthy liar, he's also stupid.
Richard Baker| 8.13.09 @ 9:03PM
jacksmith:
You absolutely have to stop listening to the UN. They are not your friends, or don't you know that? Propaganda from tyrants is hardly "fit for consumption", hmmmm? If the US is so bad, why don't you go to the #1 on the UN list and be happy? My Freedom and Liberty are NOT negotiable by you or the UN. Keeping MY powder dry.
Tina| 8.13.09 @ 9:07PM
You don't need republicans to pass this obomination, moron--it's your own chickens**t democrats who are afraid to jump on board. 2010 is coming up fast, they should be afraid.
Nice try, though.
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