Goler reverses meaning of Obama quote to falsely suggest he supports European-style health care
SUMMARY: Fox News' Wendell Goler cropped a comment by President Obama and took it out of context to falsely suggest that he supports creating a health care system "like the European countries." In fact, Obama was paraphrasing the town hall question he had been asked before explaining why he opposed such a system.
During the April 24 edition of Fox News' Special Report, White House correspondent Wendell Goler cropped a comment by President Obama and took it out of context -- effectively reversing the statement's meaning -- to falsely suggest that Obama supports creating a health care system "like the European countries." Goler claimed that Obama "doesn't want to do it halfway" on health care, and then aired a clip from a March 26 online town hall event of Obama saying, "If you're going to fix it, why not do a universal health care system like the European countries?" Following the clip, Goler reported: "His critics worry universal health care would mean government-run health care." In fact, Obama actually said, "Now, the question is, if you're going to fix it, why not do a universal health care system like the European countries?" [emphasis added] In doing so, Obama was paraphrasing the town hall question he had been asked -- "Why can we not have a universal health care system, like many European countries, where people are treated based on needs rather than financial resources?" -- before explaining why he opposed such a system.
During the March 26 "Open for Questions" town hall event, Jared Bernstein, chief economic adviser to Vice President Joe Biden, read Obama the following question submitted online by "Richard in California": "Why can we not have a universal health care system, like many European countries, where people are treated based on needs rather than financial resources?" After explaining of health care reform, "the reason that I think it is so important is that the high costs of health care are a huge drag on our economy," Obama paraphrased the question he had been asked, saying "Now, the question is, if you're going to fix it, why not do a universal health care system like the European countries?" before responding that America's current employer-based system "works for a lot of Americans. And so I don't think the best way to fix our health care system is to suddenly completely scrap what everybody is accustomed to and the vast majority of people already have. Rather, what I think we should do is to build on the system that we have and fill some of these gaps."
From the transcript of the town hall meeting:
DR. BERNSTEIN: After the last recession ended in 2001, the unemployment rate went up for another 19 months before it started coming back down.
This next question -- an area close to your heart -- health care reform. From Richard in California: "Why can we not have a universal health care system, like many European countries, where people are treated based on needs rather than financial resources?"
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, I was in this room last month in what we called a health care forum. And we brought all the members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats who were interested in this issue; we brought together various constituency groups, insurance companies, drug companies, you name it. And my message to them was: Now is the time to reform the health care system -- not four years from now, not eight years from now, not 20 years from now. Now.
And the reason -- (laughter) -- the reason that I think it is so important is that the high costs of health care are a huge drag on our economy. It's a drag on our families. I can't tell you how many personal stories that I hear about people who are working, maybe have two parents working and yet still don't have health care. And the decisions that they have to make -- excruciating decisions about whether or not somebody goes to a doctor -- it makes them less productive, it makes them less mobile in terms of being able to take new jobs or start a new business because they're worried about hanging on to their health care. So it's a drag on families.
[...]
Now, the question is, if you're going to fix it, why not do a universal health care system like the European countries? I actually want a universal health care system; that is our goal. I think we should be able to provide health insurance to every American that they can afford and that provides them high quality.
So I think we can accomplish it. Now, whether we do it exactly the way European countries do or Canada does is a different question, because there are a variety of ways to get to universal health care coverage.
A lot of people think that in order to get universal health care, it means that you have to have what's called a single-payer system of some sort. And so Canada is the classic example: Basically, everybody pays a lot of taxes into the health care system, but if you're a Canadian, you're automatically covered. And so you go in -- England has a similar -- a variation on this same type of system. You go in and you just say, "I'm sick," and somebody treats you, and that's it.
The problem is, is that we have what's called a legacy, a set of institutions that aren't that easily transformed. Let me just see a show of hands: How many people here have health insurance through your employer? Okay, so the majority of Americans, sort of -- partly for historical accident. I won't go into -- FDR had imposed wage controls during war time in World War II. People were -- companies were trying to figure out how to attract workers. And they said, well, maybe we'll provide health care as a benefit.
And so what evolved in America was an employer-based system. It may not be the best system if we were designing it from scratch. But that's what everybody is accustomed to. That's what everybody is used to. It works for a lot of Americans. And so I don't think the best way to fix our health care system is to suddenly completely scrap what everybody is accustomed to and the vast majority of people already have. Rather, what I think we should do is to build on the system that we have and fill some of these gaps.
As Media Matters for America has documented, numerous media figures and outlets have falsely claimed Obama has proposed "nationalized" health care -- something Obama has not proposed either as a candidate or as president.
From the April 24 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Bret Baier:
GOLER: Recently, the president has recognized the country is suffering from sticker shock.
OBAMA [video clip]: We also have a deficit -- a confidence gap when it comes to the American people, and we've got to earn their trust.
GOLER: And earn it while he tackles some of the country's most expensive problems, like health care reform. Without it, aides say, the cost of Medicare can't be controlled and the budget won't balance. Still, Mr. Obama doesn't want to do it halfway.
OBAMA [video clip]: If you're going to fix it, why not do a universal health care system like the European countries?
GOLER: His critics worry universal health care would mean government health care. Meanwhile, a new Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll indicates Americans are evenly split over whether they think the president has expanded the government, but more would prefer a smaller government that delivers fewer services. At the White House, Wendell Goler, Fox News.
I believe that, but also can understand why Obama is saying what he says. We've had this one system forever, people know it. Think of it another way: the Ipod and bluetooth are both really cool and powerful tools, but how many old people are taking a shine to it?
Also they must consider everything they do as to how the "loyal opposition" will react. The bigger the move they make, the easier it is for the noise machine to make a case against it and at the same time drive down the Democrats' poll numbers.
I heard an interview with a banker with a lot of experience consulting to countries with large systemic banking problems all over the world. He said there was no question that outright nationalization of the big banks here was the way to go from a pure economics point of view. The problem's the political unpalatability of nationalization here. The GOP continues to further screw the country up even while out of power.
I'm 55 years old and I think podcasts are great.I think wikis are great. I thing blogs are great.
I've taken a spit and polish, 500 Watt shine to all the new media technology.
Screw you and you ignorant characterization of your betters, ya young punk.
I understand precisely what is happening in media and why.
I am definitely not scared of HTML, XML, RSS, MySQL, LAMP the meltdown of the economic model on which old media is based, the concept of ownership of the fruits of our labor.
I agree.
Yes. The European system works. Ours doesn't.
Funny you say that for where I live, in the Northwest, americans flock across the border to Canada to get the drugs so expensive here. When i use the word ' drugs ' I am not refering to getting stoned but i mean prescription drugs.
I lived in British Columbia as a landed Immigrant many years ago and actually had my 2nd heart surgery there. I left the hospital owing $34.00 at discharge for 34 days and surgical expenses I had while in the hospital,. I am a Registered Nurse and have worked and had medical care in many states. The quality of care I got in BC was indestringuishable to any in any of the other 3 places I had heart surgery. It is indeed a myth that governemtn supported health care is second class. It really depends on how the legislation is written. But in Canada, no one has to worry about not getting care because of their financial situation. What a relief. Becaus eof that, people get care early when the medical problem first surfaces so it is muhc cheaper to treat. In the US, I have paid or myh insurance paid well over a million dollars for my cvare and it was a sad thing to note that others without insurance went without medical care. As a nurse, I was always aware of how often folks got early discharges due to lack of funds. Often, the returned to the hospital again and again with worsening problems. A Canadian or Euro0p-ean medical care system looks mighty good to me.
How in the WORLD could Goler be so dishonest? He couldnt have mistaken Obamas meaning. I dont see how this could have been a mistake. It was a deliberate attempt to mislead those watching the show as to Obamas health care approach. For THIS the man ought to be fired. Then again it is Fox. Lying is just what they do.
Then again it is Fox. Lying is just what they do.
The article has a quote referencing "...a new Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll..." How can we trust anything they have a hand in?
Off topic: Last week you said Kerry's loss to Bush was partly due to his coming off as lecturing/elitist. I see your point now. It makes Obamas' margin more understandable to me.
And can be bought, cheap
Again? I only wish that the attacks on Obama for "trying to establish a European-style system" were the result of Obama trying to establish a European-style system.
I also wish that, as long as he's going to accused of doing it, Obama decided to just go ahead and do it. The right wing is going to scream, why not give them something to scream ABOUT?
I agree. Any public option he proposes will be attacked as "European style" so he might as well go the European route.
Sounds logical to me too. Maybe the reluctance stems from fear that the GOP may be able turn their noise machine up so high that they'd put their excellent poll numbers in jeopardy. I hope that isn't it.
"I also wish that, as long as he's going to accused of doing it, Obama decided to just go ahead and do it. The right wing is going to scream, why not give them something to scream ABOUT?"
This is exactly what was on my mind when I wrote this open letter to President Obama on the not so likely chance that someone from his inner circle that maybe, just maybe comes in here and happens to see it... I wrote this last week on Apr 20th in another thread....
Dear President Obama,
I realize that you are not a liberal, you are a centrist in many respects and do lean middle left and middle right on several varying issues, but I am writing this as an open letter on the hopes that maybe, just maybe, someone within your immediate staff might get wind of this letter from me, a humble citizen, to you, the president of these Unites States.
No doubt you have heard this before, how many times, i dare not guess, but I'm presuming that you have heard that perhaps the right-wing conservative corporate owned media is going to lie, distort, and make up everything about you and your policies. Just as they did to varying degrees of effect against President Bill Clinton.
Where Pres. Clinton went wrong and where you can be correct, is that since it is obvious that the right-wing is going to attack you no matter what you do or say, unless it is exactly how George Bush did things, which even then, they (the right-wing attack machine) occasionally found a reason here and there to jump on Bush's butt.
Perhaps you never had any intention of leading as a lefty, progressive, or a liberal (as FDR did for the most part), with that in mind I think you should consider how that 'machine' worked overtime to destroy Bill Clinton, even though he jumped through fire to try and make them happy (NAFTA, WTO), much as your doing today,they still went after him with a venom that was as nasty as it was disgusting.
I would ask you, almost demand that you to start leading like a progressive liberal and give the right-wing something to really hate you for. because no matter what you do, it will make no difference, short of becoming a mirror image of Reagan or Bush overnight, the right-wing is going to charge after you, relentlessly.
So why not give Fox News and Rush Limbaugh types a New Deal full of reasons to hate you, because, sadly, they do. There just is no appeasing the right-wing, so why bother trying anymore? You have done a commendable job in holding your hand out but they keep swinging the knife in your direction. At this point, why not?
Damn, I was hoping he said that.
Oh no, do you realize what this topic is going to unleash on this site?
Remember the quacky "studies" during the campaign, designating Obama as The Most Liberal Senator ( as is every Democratic candidate designated immediately upon nomination)?
I'm looking forward to confused wingnuts trying to sort out why it's wrong for Fox to lie, when several posters here would like to see a European type health care system.
It's scary when you can start to anticipate their next brain freeze-up.
"I'm looking forward to confused wingnuts trying to sort out why it's wrong for Fox to lie,"
Your correct that it is wrong for FoxNoise to lie.... sadly... it seems that it is LEGAL for them to do so...
Somewhere... the founding fathers are all collectively crying in their lager...
There is a way to approach this in an intelligent way. Like engineers. We should first focus on what the requirements a new system should have. Examine where our current system is in regards to our new requirements. Assess the costs of the proposed changes vs. the savings.
Asian countries have done this and many spend less than half what we do right now proportionally on healthcare. The asian systems aren't perfect, but their approach assures them that no matter what the problems, they can improve.
Why can't we be like that?
(Coined: Objective Satire.) - (C) Ronin Kannushi. Attn: Free to share, not to buy.
I am not a fool, but I play one in real life. Mr. Goler is trying to move up. From steet puppet, to house puppet. You know, like the voices of folly, that have their own show?
Insurance companies hold the clamp, on the health care system, via lobblyist. The insurance industry is working hard to keep you. We Care. Right, sure, absolutely not!
Dream on, SUCKERS! Are we going to wait, bebate and negociate, while they chortle with glee. Ask your elected official, they will lie to you? Be careful, they may want to lie with you. "Don't tell my spouse, it's our little secret." I support us being vocal, asking questions, and Voting.
It is the trap, we fall into, when we look and do not see.
Lupus is a nasty disease. I wonder if she has had any so-called "alternative" treatments there? Are European docs more accepting of proven herbal medicines, acupuncture, and so forth?
Question: What would a single payer health care system in America mean to the hundreds of thousands of employess of private insurance companies? Would the govt. try to switch them over being their employee? Maybe that problem is part of the reason Obama's plan keeps these companies intact.
That's why these companies need to become non-profits, if we're going to continue on with private insurance.
When British Columbia nationalized the automobile insurance industry, all of the private employees were offered jobs. The new Insurance Corporation of British Columbia was much more efficient, with only 7% of premium dollars spent on overhead compared to more than 25% under the private system. Licence plates were distributed when insurance was purchased. Premium discrimination for age and sex was immediately eliminated. Soon the company was financing the re-engineering and rebuilding of high-accident-rate intersections!
But watch out. Eventually the right-wing gets back into power, and they always cut staff and reduce services. This is happening with Canadian healthcare right now. Conservatives cut funding, wait times lengthen. Canadians can have whatever level of service they want to pay for, because the system is so much more efficient than the private system we have here. There is no billing department, no collections department, no department to dream up ways to deny service. No advertising.
I agree with Obama that it will be a long tough road to get to a single-payer system. That's why it's so important that this year's reform must include a well-designed public option plan, something that can't be starved of funds if Republicans somehow ever get back in charge.
You're joking, right?
27 cents of every healthcare dollar goes to overhead, and of than over 60% goes toward profits. By comparison, about 1.5 cents of every healthcare dollar goes to malpractice - which the Rs always decry as the root cause of health care cost increases. In short, health care (sic) insurance (sic) profits are 9 times larger than malpractice costs.
Fox News--what else would one expect?
Journalistic integrity by reporting the complete story ?
Isn't there laws against this kind of thing? They are cutting and splicing clips to make things up. There has got to be a way to stop this out of a major network.
Well his career is shot.
He can take a job selling shoes. He has no place reporting anymore.
I can't trust the man. Once a traitor, always a traitor.
Who knows what words he could twist and push in to Limbaugh's mouth?
Oh my god, this website makes the "Onion" look like serious news. Just a bunch of creepy, bitter, unhappy weirdos sitting around talking about how they want the Government, and their beloved little Boy President to take them under his wing because he's so smart and he knows what's best for everyone! The hell he does! The reason we're all paying exorbitant Insurance rates is BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT MEDDLING!!! The regulation and paperwork required is already over the top and Doctors are being driven out of business because they can't afford the malpractice Insurance required of them because of sleaze balls like John Edwards. If media matters so much, stop listening to that freak, Keith Olbermann and the one with the set of balls, Rachael Maddow who apparently haven't been informed that George Bush has gone back to Texas. Get some help!
Actually, almost nothing you said was true or even close to reality.
Just a couple of rejoiners. Malpractice insurance and malpractice claims actually have very little to to do with the price of insurance. It's a rightwing myth that exorbitant suits are a big problem. Doctors are not being driven out of business.
I saw an ethicist on a TV show recently, and his point was that all crime is in the past, but that doesn't stop us from investigating and punishing criminals, but somehow, we're supposed to ignore what Bush did because he's gone back to Texas?
And how is it that we're the bitter, unhappy weirdos, but you're the one who wasn't able to address the subject of the MMfA posting at all and you simply whined like a bitter, unhappy weirdo?