Community | August 25, 2009 | 40 comments

"Death panels" were so last week; the "death book" is the new conservative fad

source: http://mediamatters.org/research/200908240141

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WakeUpPeople

http://mediamatters.org/research/200908240141

They had a good run with "death panels", now they've moved on to "death books". Next will be "death chambers" and soon to follow "super-evil-vampire death doctors". Be afraid... and gullible.
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Following several days in which Fox News promoted the smear that an educational booklet on end-of-life decisions used by the Veterans Health Administration is a "death book," Fox News host Megyn Kelly and Fox News contributor Jonah Goldberg used a discussion about the booklet to revive the falsehood that Democratic health care reform legislation would institute "death panels." Kelly also falsely claimed that the booklet encourages veterans to "hurry up and die" and that VHA officials are "required" to refer patients to it.

KELLY: Well, just as the White House says that people's fear about so-called "death panels" is baseless, critics now claim the administration is actually pressuring certain disabled veterans to, quote, "hurry up and die" -- that's the accusation. Asking physicians at the nation's VA hospitals to refer to our nation's veterans to a pamphlet called "Your Life, Your Choices."

Title sounds innocuous enough. However, inside, this booklet asks veterans to decide whether their lives are worth living if they are, for example, in a wheelchair, in a nursing home, or if they have become, quote, "a financial burden to their families."

[...]

GOLDBERG: And I think, you know, the problem here is the defense that [Assistant Veterans Affairs Secretary Tammy] Duckworth offers, saying, "Oh, well, this wasn't put forward by the Obama administration." She's sort of saying this sort of burbled up from the bureaucracy, which no one really disputes. That is not all that helpful. Because one of the points that critics of Obama's plan make is that this -- once you get the structure for it, it'll be on autopilot, and the bureaucracies will naturally tend towards exactly this kind of thing and death panels may, in fact, be not too far off on the horizon because of the very nature of how socialized medicine and rationing works. [America's Newsroom, 8/24/09]
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40 comments // "Death panels" were so last week; the "death book" is the new conservative fad

  • Conniepae
    • 0
      Conniepae  

    • J_Jammer,You are correct, but which came first? The comedy, or the politics? It's time for politicians and pundits to stop giving comedians such sad material, which on face value is a joke, but deep down sad.

      Last night the Rachael Maddow show had a Senator on, who spoke of what the actual book is. It 'IS' not a death book and the comments being used by the Republicans are out of context. You may say, both sides use things out of context? But that doesn't make it right on either side. Somewhere there is truth. True facts, not spin, or distortion lead to truth. It's time for people to be held accountable when they lie, spin, or distort. No one should be afforded the luxury of lying, without accountability and shame!

      How many vets have PTSD? How many will be mislead into thinking a 'death book' is being written for them?

    • 3 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  
    • Conniepae:

      Did he show what they took out of context and show the entire context to make it clear that it was not about what they said?

      I don't like when people state that something is wrong without showing the context.

    • 3 years ago
  • Conniepae
    • 0
      Conniepae  
    • Conniepae:

      Yes they did. The video explains the distortion. They address the issue quite well. Follow the link to watch the video.

      Sorry, there is a commercial prior to the video. Hang on video starts after the commercial.

    • 3 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • Conniepae
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  
    • Conniepae:

      I watch her sometimes...but her facial expressions bother me.

      I like neutral people when I watch TV for news...if they show which side they are on they start to become obnoxious and I can't watch them.

      And Rachel has a sweet mocking tone that she does that is unnerving.

      I'll watch the clip, though.

    • 3 years ago
  • Conniepae
    • 0
      Conniepae  
    • Conniepae:

      Thanks, I knew you would. You and I don't always agree, but I do think you are not as closed minded as many Republicans who come to current just post disparaging remarks.

    • 3 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  
    • Conniepae:

      I think that he did not spend enough time explaining it and far too much time stating what was wrong with the people that were spreading the 'lie'. And he wasn't clear about what it said.

      It is so frustrating. There shouldn't be a need to concentrate until my ears bleed. I should be able to get it without having to focus that much energy. Why is it so freakin' hard for people to explain this bill ? Why is it that they feel the need to be funny about those that are not getting it?

      It is because if they make you laugh and explain less of what it is about you'll remember the funny and forget that they didn't even bother, let alone care, to explain what they believe to be a good idea in the first place.

      They shouldn't let people speak about it if they are going to attack people....it totally derails the reason they are speaking about it.

    • 3 years ago
  • Conniepae
    • 0
      Conniepae  
    • Conniepae:

      I think the people who distorted it in the first place, (calling it a death book) should be outed for their distortion. Call it an attack, so be it, they should be held accountable. Sad, when people think explaining the distortion is an attack. People should not have to defend, standing up against a fabrication by the right. If the right would not spin such distortion, people wouldn't need to (attack) them.

      Why can't we get honest debate? Why do people feel the need to lie and mislead ordinary Americans with bullshit? If they can't do it with the truth, they should shut up, not make shit up!

    • 3 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  
    • Conniepae:

      But how can you be so sure that anyone is actually telling you the truth?

      That's why I want to see the exact location they are getting it from and what it actually says. I don't care about opinions on this...let me see the wording.

      Because both sides make it out to either be AWESOME bill or a terrible bill. There's no middle ground anywhere for logic and reason to rest.

    • 3 years ago
  • Conniepae
    • 0
      Conniepae  
    • Conniepae:

      I agree with one thing, truth has become a casualty of politics and news in America. There should not be 'truth according to party'. The truth should be true, not half true. Until we stop affording politicians and media the luxury of lies, we will never know what is really true. People are too willing to accept half truth if it fits their views.

      I want the truth and nothing but the truth, personally. Until accountability is brought back, I fear we will not get back to truth in politics, or news. People who lie, should be held accountable and shamed for doing it. Facts don't really go either way, neither does the truth. Half truth should not count as whole truth! Sad, sad, sad!

    • 3 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  
    • Conniepae:

      I think what we need with this bill is an example of how health care will be ran...like a movie showing how it should work and what problems will be eliminated . Right before each scene show the section that is about to be discussed.

      This will be a legally binding video---meaning if health care does not run close to the video when it is passed...the government will be held accountable for not living up to their promises.

    • 3 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  

    • Why don't people spend their time explaining what is in it instead of mocking what people think it says.

      Everyone thinks they are funny and then nothing gets done and no one gets anywhere and then the comedians come back to mock that.

      Why thank you for helping people understand.....so Human of you.

    • 3 years ago
  • DeliaTheArtist
  • Marilynn_Murray
    • 0
      Marilynn_Murray  

    • I just heard Rush Limbaugh say Obama wants forced circumcisions. This is meant to arouse fear in the poor under endowed white guys. A black guy is wanting to lop off some of their little pee pees. So we will know who isn't packing by who complains about this bull.

    • 3 years ago
  • nanac
    • 0
      nanac  

    • i can't believe that a media outlet would be associated with this sort of nonsense...Fox network is deliberately permitting their commentators to spread lies and propaganda for political gain...This network have no regard for the truth...It is a very sad day in America when a so called news organization set out to misinform its viewers...

    • 3 years ago
  • wayseeker
    • 0
      wayseeker  

    • Me too chasingame. It also bothers the hell out of me that there are people out there who actually listen to Lambaugh, Hannity, Savage, and O'Rilley. Fox News is a box full of shit.

    • 3 years ago
  • 13rande
    • 0
      13rande  

    • The next book in the series, "Harry Potter and the Death Book." Doesn't seem to be as creative as the other books but I'll thumb through it.

    • 3 years ago
  • div
    • 0
      div  

    • I might be more interested in some kind of death internet meme, personally. Those are way more socially pervasive.

    • 3 years ago
  • ajiacoysancocho
  • Steeleheart
    • 0
      Steeleheart  

    • To say that Fox News is all bullshit only makes it obvious that you really have no regard for the truth, only that you live in your own intellectually ignorant small minded world filled with sadly huge amounts of hate. I feel so sorry for you. Pull your head out of the pile of poo your living in and do your research for yourself. If Fox is all lies point out where they lie, but if you depend on main stream media outlets to get your information from, your a narrow minded foolish bigot. Never believe anyone but yourself, if you doubt it prove it wrong. I don't think you can based in fact and not rhetoric.

    • 3 years ago
  • noxidereus
    • 0
      noxidereus  
    • Steeleheart:

      Fox news is all bullshit. Read the friggen "death book" yourself. There's your proof. If you are such a Fox News lover then let's see your proof that they are right about the nature of this. The facts and the truth are right there for you to prove you and Fox wrong.

    • 3 years ago
  • chasingame
    • 0
      chasingame  
    • Steeleheart:

      From one "narrow minded foolish bigot" to another. You don't need to tell me to pull my head out of anything and do research because I do plenty. And turning around and telling me to point out to you where they lie just shows me that you don't do your own research. As for your point about main stream media... I do not watch much main stream media. I get most of my news of the web. Anyways, maybe you can explain something to me. How on Earth can you watch Fox and believe a word they say?

    • 3 years ago
  • chasingame
    • 0
      chasingame  

    • You know I am actually getting sick of pointing out that Fox News is all bullshit! Why on Earth do we actually have to tell people this? I just can't believe that there are Americans that are so frickin stupid that they believe this crap. It's unreal. IDIOTS!

    • 3 years ago
  • csmonut
    • 0
      csmonut  

    • It is rather pathetic when the REAL info is out there and people are just too stupid to seek it.
      Instead...they listen to Michael Savage or Fat Limbaugh or one of the other so-called patriotic Americans.
      AARRRGGGHHH!!!!!

    • 3 years ago
  • wayseeker
  • lifestudentno83
    • 0
      lifestudentno83  

    • The right wing just keeps spinning...
      No wonder the bald eagle is no longer flying straight.

      I think they should stop scaring old people and start telling the truth... That these "death panels" and "death books" are a bunch of crap. That they really just want people to stop the Democrats from being effective leaders, and that they want them to look bad so they can win majority in 2012.

      I would respect them more if they just spoke the truth about their intentions, and their base would still blindly follow because most of them are sheep anyway.

    • 3 years ago
  • noxidereus
    • 0
      noxidereus  

    • Anyone who reads the actual text (follow the link to the story) and still believes or feigns belief in this ridiculously idiotic "death book" crap is either really gullible (believes the republican/health-insurance-industry talking points despite obvious contrary evidence), really stupid (doesn't understand how words are put together to form sentences that convey information), or they are part of the effort to crush reform. It's meaningless propaganda, and like Jedi mind tricks, they only work on the weak-minded.

    • 3 years ago
  • samthesixth
  • WakeUpPeople
    • 0
      WakeUpPeople  
    • samthesixth:

      OMG.... My head is going to explode!

      End of life counseling is when you WILLINGLY go to your doctor to set up advance directives. Basically, you sit down and answer questions about how you want to be treated in the event that you are hospitalized and unable to communicate with your doctors. The govt has recommended this for over 30 years, and only now is the right wing deciding to call it "death panels". The only provision in the current bill that deals with "end of life counseling" is the part that says if you CHOOSE to talk to your doctor about advance directives, the govt will reimburse the costs for the visit. THE END.

    • 3 years ago
  • noxidereus
  • iammine
    • 0
      iammine  
    • samthesixth:

      Holy Crap! Would you not want someone to sit down with you prior to the time that it is too late to get your input and find out what your end of life wishes are? And to have that covered by insurance? No one is talking about forcing people into anything! Just a conference to get what your wishes are down on paper and make sure you are clear on what your options are!

      STOP FALLING FOR RIGHT WING PROPAGANDA!!!!

      They're just bitter they couldnt get off their asses and make the kind of change Obama and his administration are trying to make.

    • 3 years ago
  • Marilynn_Murray
  • mgerlach22
    • 0
      mgerlach22  
    • samthesixth:

      wakeuppeople...

      It's so nice to see you use the term "advanced directives." What's hilarious about that is you and all your liberal cronies on this site bashed Sarah Palin with numerous posts and comments about her support for advanced directives, claiming she was for "death panels" before she was against them...when actually she was for advanced directives. I'm glad you somehow learned the difference. What's unsettling, is now you're taking her idea and running with it, as if it was your own.

      Hypocrites.

    • 3 years ago
  • lifestudentno83
  • current89
  • lifestudentno83
  • DeliaTheArtist
  • lifestudentno83

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