Grassley Endorses "Death Panel" Rumor: "You Have Every Right To Fear"

[Are_grits_groceries]

One of the three Republican senators working on a bipartisan health care bill perpetuated a particularly outrageous untruth about the legislation on Wednesday.

Appearing at a town hall in his home state of Iowa, Sen. Chuck Grassley told a crowd of more than 300 that they were correct to fear that the government would "pull the plug on grandma."

"There is some fear because in the House bill, there is counseling for end-of-life," Grassley said. "And from that standpoint, you have every right to fear. You shouldn't have counseling at the end of life. You ought to have counseling 20 years before you're going to die. You ought to plan these things out. And I don't have any problem with things like living wills. But they ought to be done within the family. We should not have a government program that determines if you're going to pull the plug on grandma."

Video clip at site.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/12/grassley-endorses-death-p_n_257677.html

Why are ANY DEMs talking to this loon?? Nobody has to have this counseling.

Grassley just took up permanent residence in Wingnuttia.

[kirby]

1. Medicare starts at 65...

So allowing reimbursement for counseling to discuss a living will might be 20 years before you are going to die.
The truth is, just about everyone should have this counselling, and all insurance should cover it regardless of age.

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Good Thing The WH Is Controlling The Debate

Otherwise we'd be in real trouble.

:sarcasm:

Seriously, Obama and the 'Battlin Congressional Dems need to forcefully state, en masse, that lies are lies. What's going on is just way too fucked up.

[Mz Pip]

3. So as far as Grassley is concerned

if you haven't got your end of life shit together 20 years before you die you shouldn't even bother? :wtf:

Maybe you "ought" to plan this stuff out ahead of time but how many people really think about dying when they are in their 40s?

This type of information should be available whenever you want it, whether you are in your 40s or in your 90s.

[kirby]

4. That is a great idea...

He should put an amendment to the bill that requires a living will exactly 20 years before you die.

[kirby]

5. McCaskill - I'm sure Grassley didnt mean it that way!!!

WTF!

[Beaverhausen]

11. Did she say that? Really? God, she is so infuriating

Which side is she on, anyway?

[kirby]

12. Yep, she said it on Hardball...

After seeing/hearing the clip of Grassley saying it himself.

[TheKentuckian]

6. You know, fuck 'em. Take it out of the bill and screw the old people

that need this help. When they die off we can add it back. All the whole conversation is getting on my last nerve. This is for their dumbasses and was put in by a Republican, I'm increasingly believing, just for this purpose despite the assurances that he feels this is important. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. If not then he should be the point man on chilling this shit out and getting the Seniors back on the bus.

[MidwestTransplant]

7. This is the second absolute lie he has endorsed. He should be totally cut out of negotiations.

[Inspired]

8. I was at this town hall meeting.

It was held outside in the direct sun in 95 degree temps. I wasn't dressed for the outdoors. Shit, when they announce a town hall meeting in a frickin' library, don't you kind of expect it to be inside?

So, here I am sweat rolling down my back, in heels, surrounded by stinking right wing farmers sweating more than I am. Ugh. It was miserable. I don't associate with people like this. There is no reasoning with them. They are racists and they are ignorant. You couldn't have paid me to spend one more minute with them so I left fairly early on.

I left before I heard this comment but I'm sure he got a lot of applause when he said this. These people are idiots to the extreme.

Oh, but the best part was when Grassley said he didn't want the government involved in our health care. Then he went on to say he was all about us having choices. So, does that mean that our Senator Grassley is now pro-choice? :shrug: Yeah, right.

[amb123]

9. I used to think he was one of the "sane" Republicans

As of today, HE BLEW IT! And now I know that there is no such thing as "sane" Republicans!

:argh:

[BlueIdaho]

10. Anyone see any reason to continue negotiations

with congressional republicans on health care reform?