Fox's Henneberg falsely claimed Democrats in White House "want government-run health-care programs"
SUMMARY: On Special Report, Molly Henneberg reported that "Democrats control the White House and Congress, and they want government-run health-care programs." In fact, the White House health-care Web page states: "On health care reform, the American people are too often offered two extremes -- government-run health care with higher taxes or letting the insurance companies operate without rules. President Obama and Vice President Biden believe both of these extremes are wrong."
During the March 3 edition of Fox News' Special Report, correspondent Molly Henneberg reported on the opposition President Obama's health-care reform plan faces from the nonprofit organization Conservatives for Patients' Rights and stated: "Democrats control the White House and Congress, and they want government-run health-care programs. Republicans may need groups like Conservatives for Patients' Rights -- and their ads -- to encourage public support for free-market solutions." In fact, the Democrats who "control the White House" have not proposed "government-run health-care programs." Indeed, according to the White House health-care Web page: "On health care reform, the American people are too often offered two extremes -- government-run health care with higher taxes or letting the insurance companies operate without rules. President Obama and Vice President Biden believe both of these extremes are wrong."
The White House website further states:
The Obama-Biden plan provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, builds on the existing health care system, and uses existing providers, doctors, and plans. Under the Obama-Biden plan, patients will be able to make health care decisions with their doctors, instead of being blocked by insurance company bureaucrats.
Under the plan, if you like your current health insurance, nothing changes, except your costs will go down by as much as $2,500 per year. If you don't have health insurance, you will have a choice of new, affordable health insurance options.
Further, one of the "eight principles" for the health-care reform plan put forward in Obama's budget outline is "Guarantee Choice," about which the outline states: "The plan should provide Americans a choice of health plans and physicians. They should have the option of keeping their employer-based health plan."
As Media Matters for America has documented, during the 2008 presidential campaign, the media frequently advanced former Republican presidential candidate John McCain's repeated accusation that Obama supported "government-run health care." In fact, as PolitiFact.com noted at the time, "Obama's plan keeps the free-market health care system intact, particularly employer-based insurance. It is not a goverment-run [sic] program and is very different from the health care systems run by the government in some European countries." Indeed, Obama's plan as described during the campaign would allow individuals to keep their private health insurance if they so choose, while establishing "a National Health Insurance Exchange with a range of private insurance options as well as a new public plan based on benefits available to members of Congress that will allow individuals and small businesses to buy affordable health coverage."
Host Bret Baier introduced Henneberg's report by stating that Conservatives for Patients' Rights is launching "a multimillion-dollar advertising offensive." The report included a video clip of the group's chairman, Richard Scott, saying, "What ultimately happens is, the government always runs out of money, because they offer too much, and they offer -- and so they always run out of money, so then they end up having to ration." Henneberg reported that Scott "started the Solantic urgent care centers in Florida," but did not note that according to a July 26, 1997, Los Angeles Times article, Scott resigned from his former position as chairman of Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. "amid a massive federal investigation into the Medicare billing, physician recruiting and home-care practices of" Columbia/HCA, "the nation's largest for-profit health care company." According to a December 18, 2002, Justice Department press release describing a tentative settlement with HCA to resolve civil litigation, "When added to the prior civil and criminal settlements reached in 2000, this settlement would bring the government's total recoveries from HCA to approximately $1.7 billion."
From the March 3 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Bret Baier:
BAIER: Republicans and others opposed to President Obama's health-care reform ideas are hoping to duplicate the campaign that derailed the last serious attempt at universal coverage 16 years ago. Correspondent Molly Henneberg reports the first step is a multimillion-dollar advertising offensive.
[begin video clip]
HENNEBERG: Rick Scott, chairman of Conservatives for Patients' Rights, wants Americans to pay careful attention to what President Obama plans to do to the nation's health-care system and insist on four outcomes.
SCOTT [narrating ad]: Choice: that means choosing your own doctor. Competition: disclose prices and performance up front. Accountability: to give you the same tax breaks for insurance that employers get. And personal responsibility: reward healthy choices.
HENNEBERG: Scott says the ad campaign is meant to ensure that the government doesn't, quote, "take over the system." President Obama has offered few specifics for reforming health care, although in his budget, he proposes increasing taxes on the wealthy to raise $634 billion to get the process started.
OBAMA: It includes a historic commitment to comprehensive health-care reform -- a down payment on the principle that we must have quality, affordable health care for every American.
HENNEBERG: Scott, who started the Solantic urgent care centers in Florida, says when government gets involved, it leads to higher prices and restricted access.
SCOTT: What ultimately happens is, the government always runs out of money, because they offer too much, and they offer -- and so they always run out of money, so then they end up having to ration.
[begin clip of "Harry and Louise" ad]
LOUISE: Having choices we don't like is no choice at all.
HARRY: They choose.
LOUISE: We lose.
[end clip]
HENNEBERG: Health-care ads have worked in the past. Remember the "Harry and Louise" commercials in 1993 from the Health Insurance Association? They helped tank then-first lady Hillary Clinton's attempt to overhaul health care. The White House clearly would like to avoid that public relations debacle this time.
But this is going to be a battle. Democrats control the White House and Congress, and they want government-run health-care programs. Republicans may need groups like Conservatives for Patients' Rights -- and their ads -- to encourage public support for free-market solutions. In Washington, Molly Henneberg, Fox News.
[end video clip]
It's quite simple, really. These Talking Head Republicants are paid to like the current system by people who are making lots and lots of money on the current system. Any meaningful Healthcare reform will derail the gravy train that these corporations have been riding on for decades.
It is therefore incumbent upon the professional liars to frighten their drooling audience with visions of Soviet Style Government Run Socialized Communist Medicine.
It's also interesting that they prefer the term "Socialized Medicine" as opposed to "Socialized Healthcare". I wonder why? Does it poll more negatively among their base? Does the word "medicine" evoke some primal childhood fear of foul tasting cough syrup?
it will be interesting to see what happens with sebelius's nomination hearing, given that she has a good reputation.
The up-side to all this is the publicity the GOP is getting, letting the general public see and hear what they really stand for: a status quo that rewards the greedy and smarmy, while ignoring everybody else. Great letter in the New York Times today concerning the term "socialism".
I wish someone would remind Rush Limbaugh's working class listeners what he once said about healthcare...that it's a luxury, like a beach house. Not everyone can afford it. Essentially, Limbaugh was saying that if you are a loser who can't afford health care it's your own fault for being poor...and that's just too damn bad.
I'm with you, Dog...I wish the Repubs would keep talking and let the public see what they're really all about. I've got mine...screw everybody else.
Dick Morris has a pretty original spin on health care. I saw him on the tube a few nights ago with his theory that proponents of universal health care are hateful ageists.
Not getting it? It's a supply and demand thing. There are only a finite number of doctors and nurses. If more non-old people are insured, medical professionals will have less time to care for the elderly, resulting in senior citizens dying off like crazy.
I know, it's pretty wild, but it put that thoughtful look on Hannity's face, the one where he puts his pen into his chin and tries to look like there's a couple of brain cells firing inside his anvil-like skull.
So how do they explain all those successful health care plans from eurpoean countries? In fact, why are the right fretting about losing our "eurpoean heritage" with one breath and then denouncing european success in the other breath?
Hateful ageists? I know I've heard that somewhere before.
well i hope your not referring to billo and his comments about helen thomas.
Wouldn't the free market just create more doctors? I didn't think vacuums were allowed to exist in our system.
Bizarre.
Nope, Brab, there are only X number of doctors. There have always been that number, and there always will be.Don't start getting into "big picture" complicated thoughts, or trying to "look into the future", anticipating actions and reactions.
I was talking about Dick Morris and Sean Hannity, and their audience. Don't get any more abstract in your thinking than a hamster, and you'll be fine.
Don't get any more abstract in your thinking than a hamster, and you'll be fine.
What's with the hamster hating? It would take five Hannity brains to match the brain power of a single hamster stoned on Oxycontin.
Dammit, I already had to apologize to gorillas this morning.
I'm sorry, hamsters.
Morris' comments were, no doubt, intended to frighten aging baby boomers.
well he could do his "talking butt pirate" gag and that would really scare people. not the hookers that he pyas/has paid for though
I am enjoying the imagery of the Repugs handing a shovel to Rush and letting him dig the hole deeper and deeper.
The Kool Aid doesn't make others delusional, it just makes them appear that way to you. But I understand that's tough to see, what with all of the Kool Aid drinking.
BTW, the point here is that it's not run by the Government. But pointing out that MissDeePoint Missed the point is like pointing out that the earth is turning on its axis.
and me pointing out that you are more rabidly crazed than a wolverine with teritiary syphillis is like pointing out that gravitional forces pull you to the earth.. everything that is, except your brain , which has to have a density approaching that of a hard vacuum. Do you ever say anything tht isn't an insult out of the Jackass play book for liberals? oh, sorry. that requires thinking and research instead of braying with the herd.
You're really cute when you're hysterical.
How rational. I'm impressed. You're really making your point.
Oh, there's a new twist. It's not socialized but the government will run it. Even if that were true, so? That tired old addage that business is more streamlined and efficient than government has been proven wrong on so many levels that you have no point to make anymore.
And once you take the profit motive out of the equation, won't health care (even with so-called government mis-management) cost less?
Okay Tovarich.. Say Do Svidania to your life as you know it. My husband has a cousin in Poland who grew up in the Communist era. his coment is that Leftiests always love Communism until they have to learn to live without toilet paper... happy wiping. Failed system.. yeah..right ..sure.. 2 years of Dems running oth houses in congress and we crash, but it's allllllllllllllllllllll Bush's failt, capitalism's failt and blame America First while you're at. Tell me what the Obamniks are gonna do when they run out of other people's money?
OK Axis Sally, keep saying hail Rush as you watch liberals liberate this country from the mess y'all created. It's gonna be fun watching the market recover from bush's mess thanks to obama's stimulus package, and it's gonna be sweet victory watching you humble yourself as you get immediate access to affordable health care thanks again to Obama. If Bush had half a brain in his head we wouldn't have seen a constant deterioration of the stock market since 2002 (yes, that's right, years before Dems controlled both houses - by a slim margin, BTW). I don't blame america first, I blame right wing zealots first. Amazing that 23% of the country's population can still screw everything they have access to up.
Much of this economic downturn stems from the housing crisis, which started long before Dems came into power (barely, with Senate at 49, 49, and 2 independents). And Bush squandered the Clinton surplus.
and so where is the supposed "lie" in saying that Dem's want gov't run health care? if you can deny you ALL are supporting here then you really got the wildwood weed batch of kool-aid this time. Hypocrites, crying wolf ..big bad republicans and Fox news.. yeah.. right. MMFA's continuing attempt at smear, mis-representation, agenda driven radicalism and self righteousness fromthe cesspool.. great job again folks!
Were you taught about complete sentences in school, assuming you went to one?
Whatever. You market fundies have had your chance to let the market bring decent affordable healthcare to every man, woman and child; instead you have only managed to reap huge profits while strangling out health care competitors in every market across the country, leaving the middle class to choose between medical coverage or a roof over their head.
Bring on a publicly sponsored competitor and let these pirates test their free market ideology. They won't go there. These arguments they trot out are all about preserving their virtual monopolies on the health insurance market.
Profit over people. Typical disgusting Republican dogma.
Isn't Medicare administered by the govenment? I believe it has the lowest admin costs of any existing plan. My parents/grandparents are all on Medicare and they see whatever doc they wish and don't have an issue with it. Except when Bush screwed with the prescrption drug portion GIVING billions to the pharmaceuticals.
Don't you CONS realize you pay more tax dollars to take care of those on Medicaid who have to use the ER for the sniffles than if they actually had a decent preventive care program? You talk about wasting tax dollars, but when the proof is given to you, you sing "La, la, la, la" and don't want to hear it. Why are you CONS beholden to BIG INS to determine the health care we get or don't get?
There is a difference between goverment-RUN and government-FINANCED. The 'Pubs hate this however, becuase once an effective system is in place, their penny-pinching ways will lead them to want to undersut it, leading to fewer services and increased voter disgust with their nonsense. They can't win this one. Free market pincipals do not belong in the health care debate. Every other country in the world, plus those americans who actually understand all sides of microeconomic, free market principles beyond just their status as [misrepresented] right-wing talking point understand this.
Yeah..look at how well those GSE's did being run by dems in congress, liberal sychphants, and ACORN. yup.. sure..
Huh? Incoherence is not a good form of argument.
They were imitating the private sector.
Miss Deelusional. Please explain how all those people in all those countries that already have public medicine are on the wrong path.Are they just stoopid or delusional?I live in Canada and while it is not a perfect system it sure beats the hell of begging an insurance company to cover the cost for medical help.I challenge you to find a good reason not to have a healthy country. Your fear is unfounded.The cost for everyone including you will go down and everyone is covered. Show some compassion and some sense.For a very well off country you sure have some pathetic stats on child morality rates among other problems.Stop being a first world nation with third world health care.If you love your country you would want the best for everyone not just the ones that can afford it. MG
that should be mortality rate. I am sure your children are moral
actually with the dems in charge I suspect the morality rate will continue to fall...
That's probably a true statement. All those republicans out of work, one can only imagine what they're doing right now.
further than it has in the last 8 years? i think your "morality rate" would fall regardless of who is office.
and mark "cystitis".... those countries with socialized medicine have reduced health care to the mediocre and preventative. Get really sick and see how long you wait to get help.
Having reached the age where friends and family are having some serious problems with their health, I have yet to see any of them wait anymore than I would expect for services.The idea that market driven health care will get someone who cannot afford said market driven health care faster boggles the mind.It is pretty scary to think that anyone would think that they would not want their fellow citizens to have the best care that anyone can afford.From what I understand insurance companies have whole divisions devoted to denying coverage to those who faithfully paid them not to deny them coverage.I cannot imagine the fear of finding out you have a serious problem and having to call your provider and see if they will cover you.I am covered no matter what.With universal coverage there is no pre existing condition clause. In fact there is no no.
Sorry about making fun of your screen name. That was rude and uncalled for.Take care MG
It doesn't matter anyway. If you don't want the gov't to be your insurer go to a private insurer or pay the expenses yourself when you need care.
Amen.