Calling Them Out on Their Lies
President Obama made a point of this promise in his speech to the Congress and it looks like it starts now:
Last week, when the President addressed the Joint Session of Congress in a speech on health reform, he referred to some of the untruths – okay, lies – that have been spread about the plan and sent a clear message to those who seek to undermine his agenda and his presidency with these tactics: “We will call you out.” So consider this one of those calls.
Over the past several weeks, we’ve seen with increasing frequency and volume issues raised around the use of “czars” by this Administration. Although some Members have asked serious questions around the makeup of the White House staff, the bulk of the noise you hear began first with partisan commentators, suggesting that this is somehow a new and sinister development that threatens our democracy. This is, of course, ridiculous. Just to be clear, the job title “czar” doesn’t exist in the Obama Administration. Many of the officials cited by conservative commentators have been confirmed by the Senate. Many hold policy jobs that have existed in previous Administrations. And some hold jobs that involved coordinating the work of agencies on President Obama’s key policy priorities: health insurance reform, energy and green jobs, and building a new foundation for long-lasting economic growth
But of course, it’s really the hypocrisy here that is noteworthy. Just earlier today, Darrell Issa, a Republican from California and one of the leaders in calling for an investigation into the Obama Administration’s use of “czars”, had to admit to Fox News that he had never raised any objections to the Bush Administration’s use of “czars”. Many of these members who now decry the practice have called on Presidents in the past to appoint “czars” to coordinate activities within the government to address immediate challenges. What is clear is that all of this energy going into these attacks could be used to have a constructive conversation about bringing this country together to address our challenges moving forward – and it doesn’t take a “czar” to bring that about! Just some folks willing to act in good faith.
Read the whole thing from the White House blog — it is nicely done, names names and does a good job of calling out the stupidity of this entire argument. I hope that they keep this up and make sure that lots of folks flood the airwaves pushing back on this point.
First, I agree there is an air of stupidity in how the argument is being made. When agenda-laden people/groups make the argument and do so with the spittle-flying, wild-eyed posturing, along with filling it with exaggerations and falsehoods, well, the argument is moot.
HOWEVER, and in fairness to the inquiry, on Wednesday, Sen Feingold made an official inquiry about “Czar” appointees. This, though, was far more professional, of course.
Nearly 45,000 people die in the United States each year — one every 12 minutes — in large part because they lack health insurance and can not get good care, Harvard Medical School researchers found in an analysis released on Thursday.
“We’re losing more Americans every day because of inaction … than drunk driving and homicide combined,” Dr. David Himmelstein, a co-author of the study and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard, said in an interview with Reuters.
Overall, researchers said American adults age 64 and younger who lack health insurance have a 40 percent higher risk of death than those who have coverage.
No, the death rate for both groups is the same, anonie — 100%. Everyone dies. 🙂
Rhymey thinks people dying from lack of healthcare is funny.
Yaeh. And they think they have the moral high ground. Of course that has always been a farce. Nothing moral about republcian ideology.
President Obama told the truth when he said illegals wouldn’t be covered by the bill… cause no one will be illegal anymore:
“Even though I do not believe we can extend coverage to those who are here illegally, I also don’t simply believe we can simply ignore the fact that our immigration system is broken,” Mr. Obama said Wednesday evening in a speech to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. “That’s why I strongly support making sure folks who are here legally have access to affordable, quality health insurance under this plan, just like everybody else.
Mr. Obama added, “If anything, this debate underscores the necessity of passing comprehensive immigration reform and resolving the issue of 12 million undocumented people living and working in this country once and for all.”
RWR — talking points not out yet today? All you can do on this is word-smith?
Isn’t this post more about the ‘czar’ argument than it is about healthcare? 🙄
I thought the talking points were that “czars” are awful and horrible and it means Obama is some kind of commie. Apparently underappreciated genius Rep. Mike Pence held up a copy of the Constitution today and said the he didn’t see the word “czar” in it. 🙄
I love how Republicans keep pushing this one even though they know that advisors are not actually “czars.” That’s just a nickname given to various advisor positions in the executive branch. Indeed, Karl Rove was called the “Domestic Policy Czar.”
Personally, I think the use of the word “czar” to describe a policy advisor is as dumb as adding -gate to every scandal.
The republicans had control of the White House and Congress from 2000-2006. Here are the facts:
2000-2002 Senate 50-50 House 221-211 R
2002-2004 Senate 50-48 R House 222-209 R
2004-2006 Senate 51-48 R House 225-207 R
Yet, no fence was built, no illegals were deported, no taxes from illegals was collected, no legislation was forwarded, no limitations on health care or education was proposed by the republicants. It was not until 2005, when the states began taking matters into their own hands that President Bush moved on immigration reform to undermine states rights. Hmmm. Ouch. Yeah. TO UNDERMINE STATES RIGHTS BITCHES!
As a side note, Bush and the republicans in Congress allowed open borders during a time of “war” for SIX years.
Now you want to talk about illegals? Gimme a break. You didn’t do squat and as usual it is left to the dems to clean up after your sorry asses.
I see the talking points have been distributed here:
DNC Promises ‘Rain of Hellfire’
yahoo.com ^ | September 18, 2009 | Mike Allen
The increasingly aggressive Democratic National Committee on Friday launched a new “Call ’Em Out” website targeting prominent Republicans for statements they have made about President Barack Obama’s health reform plans. “Help debunk the outrageous lies and misinformation about health reform,” the site says. DNC spokesman Hari Sevugan said: “The message to opponents of change who would lie or misrepresent the truth should be clear. We are going to respond forcefully and consistently with the facts, and you will no longer be able to peddle your lies with impunity. Through tools like ‘Call ‘Em Out,’ you will be met with a…
This is great, a new ad from the DNC.
The whole czar thing is just another ridiculous Republican “We can’t compete on policy, so we’ll distract with a sideshow” thing. Just because the media is too lazy to use a bureaucrat’s long, boring title and call them a “Czar”, it doesn’t imbue them with magical, evil power. And if any of these Beckites had any awareness or honesty, they’d know the majority of these czars either have been Senate confirmed or hold positions created long before Obama, many by Reagan and the Bushes.
The DNC ad is very clever — pointing out more of the hypocritical manufactured outrage over this thing.
I looked at Smitty’s link for Feingold’s letter and Senator Feingold asks a bunch of serious questions: 1) The job descriptions of these people and 2) why they were not subject to Senate confirmation (the ones that didn’t go through the process). Those questions strike me as serious and interested in governing instead of the McCarthyite crap being pushed by Beck and his gullible followers.
Agreed, Cass; hence, my adding, This, though, was far more professional, of course.
The vibe I got from reading it was more of a “Bring everything out in the open, expose the facts instead of innuendo, and show that there is nothing sinister going on so we can put this to rest.” Who knows, maybe Feingold is turning all Joe McCarthy on us (he is from Wisconsin, after all), but I don’t think so. I think it’s less of “I think there might be something fishy” and more “Since there’s nothing wrong here, let’s just prove it”. Just my feeling.
Or even why do you need all of this management — as in oversight! What a shocker. Which is a completely suitable question to ask, rather than all of that Commie scare crapola.
ps. Didn’t mean to imply that Smitty was misreading the Feingold letter — just that this was the kind of questioning that you might expect the White House to be asked.
Absolutely, Cassandra. It is completely appropriate for the different branches to keep an eye on each other — that’s kinda the way it was set up. But the way to do it is through the rational finding of facts, not paranoid, factually-challenged fearmongering. Unfortunately, that seems to be the only way the GOP knows how to operate anymore.
Again, you’re right Cass: just that this was the kind of questioning that you might expect….
I simply can’t do hysterics, ever. I don’t care if the questioner is dead-on accurate, or outer-space wrong; if it’s handled and delivered in a professional, constructive manner, then have at it. I completely understand that those not in the know will always have questions, from the simple to the outrageous. Just deliver it where you show genuine interest in receiving an answer, regardless if the answer is one that supports you or goes against you. It’s a very simple expectation that an unfortunate few number of people can actually grasp.
Unfortunately, that seems to be the only way the GOP knows how to operate anymore.
Total ego-trip moment here, but I believe what I say and apply it to others who think like I do: your comment is exactly why I disapprovingly shake my head that nary a whimper can be heard when people (like me) walk away from the party, yet to them nothing seemingly has changed.
The sad footnote to this is that in the end, I think it all may be futile. Even if there is a good investigation, everything is aired out and explained, and all is deemed good to any rational observer, this still won’t stop the conspiricy theories. They are not feed on, or stopped by, facts. The same people driving this will still believe there is something sinister going on behind closed doors. Maybe Beck will start calling them Fuhrers or Duces or something, and we’ll start all over.
But don’t get me wrong, unfortunately I think this has gotten big enough that it needs to be addressed.
“same people driving this will still believe there is something sinister going on behind closed doors.”
Scott~ already heard it today on the radio, listening to a “brief” really brief excerpt of Rush’s show and yes, it dealt with the fact that “THEY” know, THEY really know what Barack’s true agenda is and it’s not for the good of the country… I wonder if that’s what happens when you do drugs for so long and reality starts escaping him
The real test, Smitty, will be what do the mainstream GOP officials do when they find out there is nothing fishy going on (and yes, I am assuming that is the case). Do they say, “OK, fine, we’re done with it, but we’ll be watching”, or do they say, “Well that’s what you say, but still….” Your ex-Party still hasn’t completely driven over the cliff yet. They can start pulling themselves back any time. All it will take is a few well-placed leadership types who want their party back.
This is weird. I feel like I’m consoling a buddy who just broke up with his girlfriend. “C’mon Smitty, they didn’t deserve you anyway. They’ll come crawling back someday. There’s plenty of other Parties out there. I hear the Libertarians are pretty easy if you’re looking for a rebound (I kid). Do you like trees?”
All it will take is a few well-placed leadership types who want their party back.
They will have to administer some serious FIGURATIVE beatdowns to do so. There is much…I’d call it severe…complacency at many high-levels of party administration (there are exceptions, as I consider a friend or two) that see all this going on and think it’s wonderful for the process. It’s unbelievable how that thinking is yielding that it is all OK. If there are brave souls there who will yank it back, I wish them luck, because they are going to be very lonely for a while.
I feel like I’m consoling a buddy who just broke up with his girlfriend.
OK, now you made me realize that I am creeping myself out.
“Help debunk the outrageous lies and misinformation about health reform,”
Obama’s doing plenty of lying and peddling of misinformation in hopes of getting support for his healthcare reform.
OK, now you made me realize that I am creeping myself out.
You’re welcome. I think. 🙂