But seriously, folks: Obama death panels?

[babylonsister]

http://www.salon.com/opinion/walsh/politics/2009/08/08/...

But seriously, folks: Obama death panels?
Joan Walsh


I've been writing about "town hells" and anti-health care reform hysterics, as well as the crazy Birthers, for a few weeks. Every few days, I think: Maybe we're giving these fringe folks the oxygen they need; maybe we should ignore them. But it all got even loonier today, and it can't be ignored.

Alex Koppelman wrote about it immediately: Sarah Palin (or her handlers) posted a message on Facebook decrying the "death panels" she says – wrongly, bizarrely, viciously -- Obama's health care reform will establish. She also claimed such panels might well have ended the life of her son Trig, born with Down's Syndrome.

Where to start? It would be funny if it weren't so sad, and if Palin wasn't a contender for the Republican nomination in 2012 (trust me, she is too unhinged to prevail, but she'll get a lot of attention.) Palin's entire statement is so ignorant, so bollixed rhetorically and morally, it hurts to read it. The next time any Republican apologist tries to claim the "town hell" turnouts are spontaneous, let's remind them: OK, sure, it's spontaneous alright; spontaneous combustion super-ignited by the most stupid and divisive lies we've seen in a long time.

But looking at history, maybe it's not that long a time since we've seen this level of fact-free right-wing hysteria. The 2008 Democratic primary was painful to me because even as some liberals were trashing the Clintons and their "baggage," it should have been clear to anyone with a memory that Obama would face the same insanity they did – accusations they murdered Vince Foster, trafficked in drugs, and then, of course, the sexual witch hunt known as impeachment. It was clear Democrats should take the character assassination the Clintons suffered, and multiply it by at least 10 for Obama, given his race. It was all fairly predictable; and it can all be fought -- and will be fought -- but even now, a lot of Democrats appear dull and flat-footed and unprepared for the GOP hate spewing from so many sewers.

I'm especially disappointed in the media. Sure, I sit and watch the stalwarts of the MSNBC lineup rant about it all, but I see too little sober, straightforward mainstream media reporting about how completely inaccurate, ideological and dangerous the GOP assault on health care reform is. The Washington Post's Steven Pearlstein's excellent and fair assessment of Republican lies about Obama's plan was a crucial exception. (It was headlined "Republicans Propagating Falsehoods in Attacks on Health-Care Reform," which makes me wonder who among Pearlstein's editors decided a 22-character euphemism for "lying" was the way to go. But I quibble, and I shouldn't.)

snip//

The decline of newspapers and big TV networks is sad, too, but they need to look for a way to reinvent themselves, to stop circling the drain economically and ethically. Wouldn't it be great if more of them would take a wild risk, and tell the truth consistently? But I don't see many trying – and if they can't do it now, when the truth is clear and the lies are flying – I can't see how they ever will.

[Dennis Donovan]

1. We have a new nickname for Sarah - "Death-Panel" Palin!

Even the dumbest moderates will recognize crazy talk when they hear it!

[BlooInBloo]

2. It'll be interesting to see if there is in fact a limit to people's ability to make shit up...

without getting called on it.

[billyoc]

3. We could make it fun, like a game show!

[Berry Cool]

4. I have news for Joan Walsh.

How much more reporting do Ed, Keith and Rachel have to do on these numbskulls to keep her happy? They are doing what they can every damn night to expose these people--yet she still blames the MSM for not doing enough. Why are she and Glenn Greenwald working harder against these people than for them?

[FatDave]

5. They are not MSM though.

They're cable news, and they do provide the news with a leftward slant. Technically, they're news commentary programs. Nothing wrong with that, it's needed to respond to Fox, but it is what it is.

The problem is with the supposedly objective evening news on the big 3 networks. This is where most Americans still get their news. And if they can't do a quick fact-check to disprove the ridiculous lies? I mean, that a health insurance reform bill is Obama's final solution and the government will choose who lives and dies? That's fucking ridiculous. And nobody on the major networks will stop and say it's ridiculous? This is a problem.

[Blue_In_AK]

6. She's not talking about pundits on cable,

she's talking about the nightly network news and mainstream newspapers.

[Hippo_Tron]

7. All I want to know is, where do I sign up to be on a death panel?

[DesertRat]

8. I was going to post the same thing

Imagine the power of being on that panel!

[Hippo_Tron]

9. I really wish somebody would ask Palin that question

[Vinca]

10. I'm starting to like Palin's death panel idea.

Leave the old people and the "challenged" alone, though. Let's go straight for the stupid people. Round 'em up and send 'em off.

[Cha]

11. Contact for the three non cable mediawhore outlets

"The decline of newspapers and big TV networks is sad, too, but they need to look for a way to reinvent themselves, to stop circling the drain economically and ethically. Wouldn't it be great if more of them would take a wild risk, and tell the truth consistently? But I don't see many trying – and if they can't do it now, when the truth is clear and the lies are flying – I can't see how they ever will."


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