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AP uncritically repeats baseless charge that "Obama would push" U.S. "into a Canada-like [health care] system"

July 18, 2009 3:12 pm ET by Media Matters staff

From the July 18 Associated Press article by Charles Babington:

On the other side, a coalition of health insurance groups is readying TV ads opposing a public option for insurance. Other groups are airing ads suggesting that Obama would push the United States into a Canada-like system that would require long waits for important medical treatments.

Previously:

CNN.com joins Republican fear-mongering about Canadian-style health care

Sen. Sanders says Fox's Sullivan is pushing "bogus argument" regarding Canadian health care system

Fox's Baier falsely suggests Obama has cited Canada as possible health reform model

Tags: Associated Press, Charles Babington

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    • Author by thebewilderness (July 18, 2009 4:53 pm ET)
         
      There is a certain zombie flavor to the corporate media continuing to publish description free judgments on major issues as though they expect people to consider them a credible source.
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    • Author by captfoster2 (July 18, 2009 5:14 pm ET)
      2  
      AP uncritically repeats baseless charge that "Obama would push" U.S. "into a Canada-like [health care] system"

      I personally think that we should emulate the Canadian universal system, with the best parts of the French, Swedish, British, German, and yes America's systems as well.

      People are dying, not from American health care being worse than anyone else's... but because those Americans CAN'T ACCESS ALL THAT GREAT CARE!

      Fear of cost and the likelihood of bankruptcy keeps millions from getting even basic care, let alone extensive care.

      FYI: America is the only industrialized nation on Earth that allows its citizens to declare bankruptcy due to medical bills! Trust me, I know, I did 10 weeks of research on universal health-care for college.
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      • Author by mari2jj2970 (July 18, 2009 10:56 pm ET)
           
        Very true!!!!!!! I had my third heart sutgery there. I am an RN ahd had years of Acute Care and Recovery Room experience before going to Canada, Having had 6 heart surgeries I can tell you that I got superior care in Canada, never waited one day for that care and had very adequate pre paid insurance provided by British Columbia at that time. All of America would be wonderfully blessed to hagve that high quality of health care. I do wish people wouls stop believing politically motivated talking points and check out the facts.
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        • Author by mari2jj2970 (July 18, 2009 10:58 pm ET)
             
          Ooopa, 4 heart surgeries. All done very well. Some with huge bills to pay on for years and then, the one in Canada, paid in full on the day I left the hospital.
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      • Author by Peter Waikoloa (July 19, 2009 3:21 pm ET)
           
        What's wrong with the Canadian system? We have more people uninsured in this country than all of Canada. To answer Dr Phil's questions, "How's that working for you?" It's not. As seen in Sicko, the insurance companies employ thousands to find errors in people's histories to deny and cancel their policies.

        It's working there and Canada seems to be in much better shape than we are now.
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    • Author by mybrotherskeeper (July 18, 2009 7:43 pm ET)
         
      Really? This is what you fault Babbington for? I don't see why. He is reporting what the ads say. I might have faulted him for his incomplete reporting on the costs of reform. For example, nowhere did he mention the potentially significant savings President Obama has already won from various constituencies. Nor was he very complete about the bill that has emerged from the House. And he did not provide a single quote or any evidence to back up his claim that Democrats were "stunned" by the CBO estimates. (Weren't those estimates lower than previous ones?) So I do agree that, overall, he seemed to be pushing a line, rather than strictly reporting.
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    • Author by Harl Delos (July 18, 2009 8:59 pm ET)
         
      The fact that AP is running this story suggests that there's something newsworthy about the facts. They don't write stories when ads run that ask people to not litter, or to car-pool.

      Babington didn't say that the ads are exposing Obama's nefarious plot to kill people by denying them medical treatment any more than he said that the ads are malicious lies. You've got your opinion about the ads, and I'm pretty sure it's similar to mine, but Babington is trying his best to simply present the facts, such as they are.

      In other words, he's writing for the front page, not the editorial page. The truth is both necessary and sufficient for the average adult to reach the right conclusion. You don't need to bat people over the head.

      Mr. Babington is showing respect for the reader's intelligence. We need more of that, not less.



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    • Author by seeryer (July 18, 2009 9:11 pm ET)
         
      Seems like Babbington is describing the ads being run on the right. I know one of them has a Candian saying "if I relied on my government for my healthcare I would be dead". I think it is propaganda but Babbington wont describe it that way.
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      • Author by mari2jj2970 (July 18, 2009 11:01 pm ET)
           
        Check my post above about heart surgery I had in British Columbia, Canada. Great experience and the bill was totally paid the day I left the hospital
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