Truth, Not Lies: A Post by Conservative Girl with a Voice

Just when the liberal left thinks they've seen the last of Sarah Palin, she comes out of the woodwork and shows them that she isn't going anywhere. I appeared on #1 Alaska Radio Talk Show Host Eddie Burke's show yesterday to discuss recent statements made by Alaska Sentator Lisa Murkowski. Murkowski recently refuted the death panel claims made by Sarah at a town hall meeting, yet later said it was the term "death panels" that she actually disagreed with, not the actual meaning end-of-life provision that at on time was in the house's version of the health care bill. Sounds like she's playing the fence, huh? That's exactly what I think, but I'm not holding my breath for a response from Senator Murkowski regarding what she REALLY believes and if she has actually read the bill. Sarah was a busy, busy lady yesterday because just before I went on the air with Eddie, I got notified via Facebook that Sarah submitted written testimony to the New York State Senate, which is conducting hearings this week regarding elderly care and the end-of-life provisions that were discussed in the health care bill. Not only did she submit written testimony, but she also wrote an op-ed in the "Wall Street Journal" as a response to President Obama's recent op-ed published in "The New York Times." Not only is Sarah's op-ed eye awakening, but it is totally accurate and forthcoming. When Sarah speaks, or writes for that matter, people listen. Even if they don't agree with her, they take notice. In the hours leading up to the president's speech tonight in front of a joint session of congress, the media were talking about Sarah. I remember the last time this happened: When Sarah was announced as the Republican Party's vice presidential nominee the day after Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.




In her most recent op-ed, Sarah hits Obama's health care plan hard writing:

"Democrats have never seriously considered such ideas, instead rushing through their own controversial proposals. After all, they don't need Republicans to sign on: Democrats control the House, the Senate and the presidency. But if passed, the Democrats' proposals will significantly alter a large sector of our economy. They will not improve our health care. They will not save us money. And, despite what the president says, they will not 'provide more stability and security to every American.'"

The proposals Sarah writes of are the other options being discussed to counter the Obama Administration's health care plans. Remember the other day when the president said no one has come forward with any other ideas regarding how to reform the health care system, not true. Once again our president is too busy talking and not listening to the real ideas that will bring reform. Sarah cites some examples of the reform that many members of the house and senate have brought to the table:

"Instead of poll-driven 'solutions,' let's talk about real health-care reform: market-oriented, patient-centered, and result-driven. As the Cato Institute's Michael Cannon and others have argued, such policies include giving all individuals the same tax benefits received by those who get coverage through their employers; providing Medicare recipients with vouchers that allow them to purchase their own coverage; reforming tort laws to potentially save billions each year in wasteful spending; and changing costly state regulations to allow people to buy insurance across state lines. Rather than another top-down government plan, let's give Americans control over their own health care."

Now, I don't now about you, but the above sure looks like health care ideas to me. Instead of working with the other side, Obama is too busy wanting to push through his agenda and once again, taking the "It's my way or the highway" approach. It is time that President Obama lives up to the promises he spoke of when he took office. He preached of openness and transparency. He promised us that, as president, gone were the days of the "politics as usual," yet none of the above seems to be happening. Thank goodness we can always count on Sarah for speaking out and showing us what is really happening in our country.



There is another issue that has been bothering me in regards to the whole health care debate and that is the AARP and the way in this organization is educating its members on health care reform. As a young conservative, I enjoy reading various news papers, books as well as newsletters. As I do every month, I read this month's edition of AARP monthly bulletin that is sent to its members. When my grandfather gave me this month's edition, the cover immediately had me outraged. The main headline reads: "The Hype, The Lies, The Facts: How to tune out the fear-mongering and misinformation and make sense of the health care reform debate." I don't know about you, but I immediately knew that what I was about to read would be a left-wing attack machine against those concerned men and women who are speaking out against the reforms the Obama Administration is attempting to rush through the house and senate. The absurdity does not end there. When you open up the magazine, readers are bombarded with propaganda regarding the health care debate. While the AARP says it has not endorsed any health care proposal, there is no denying which way this organization is leaning. This is apparent on the very first page in which writer Jim Toedtman writes, regarding the health debate: "...we've seen a free-for-all of careless exaggeration, retooled social issues, partisan posturing and the revival of a time-worn 'socialized medicine' shibboleth that didn't work 50 years ago and is out of date today." I'd hate to inform the AARP, but we are on the dangerous road toward socialism that began under President Bush when we started bailing out the banks. The beginning of government control didn't stop there as we now have government control in the auto industry and mounting government control in our lives leading up to the government now wanting to control our health care decisions. As I read the AARP article, there was no doubt in my mind that the AARP is not only "in the tank" for the Obama Administration, but they are pushing for their agenda to be put into the bill.



In giving the so-called facts about the health care debate, they cite sources like www.Factcheck.org, (which claims to be an independent organization, yet it has been noted by many that this organization has liberal leanings) to Kathleen Hall Jamieson who is director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. It is important to note that, according to "The Weekly Standard," the Annenberg Foundation co-sponsors Fact Check and if this is not enough, Obama once served as a co-chair of the Chicago Annenberg Project and before he was elected president, he requested a 3.5 million dollar earmark for the Annenberg foundation. Do these sources sound objective to you? Not only are these sources not objective, but the entire article goes to extreme lengths to make those who are speaking out against the democrats look like crazies. Here is a sample example of this classification in the form of a quote from Annenberg's Jamieson:

"Extremists and people who are so locked into their own ideology that they'll distort anything have been out there forever.... But they haven't had a way to reach out to as many people as efficiently as they have now."

Jamieson seems to be saying that those who are practicing their First- Amendment right to speak out are fringe groups, using this issue to further their anti-government cause. This couldn't be further from the truth. The vast majority of individuals speaking out are hard-working Americans, like myself, who are concerned with having the government in control of their health-care decisions. The whole health care debate is a moral, ethical issue, not a party issue. Instead of allowing the Republican Party to be included in the whole debate, Obama continues to shut them out of the entire conversation unless the Republicans go along with his policies.




The AARP has the nerve to incite the notion that the, what they describe as, "violent interruptions" could affect the outcome of what happens with the final outcome of health- care reform. What is the AARP's target demographic, the elderly, to make of these allegations? Instead of giving both sides of the issue fairly and honestly, the AARP illustrates the slippery slope, which is its close relationship with the Obama Administration and the Obama Administration's close relationships with organizations such as the AARP and the NEA (among others) who are supposed to be independent groups; instead, we see these groups pushing the president's agenda, while saying they are objective agencies. It seems as if the Obama Administration has become the administration of "If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." This era of special interests is a scary, yet very real problem that needs to be stopped, but I'm not holding my breath that the president and these organizations will cease their cozy relationships anytime soon.




The article not only targets those who are speaking out against the president's health care reform plans, but it gives five so-called myths that the AARP believes are false. The following are the five questions, posed as myths they say are false:

1) Will the government take over health care so we end up with socialized medicine?

(The AARP says no, which is untrue because once the government takes control, especially if there is a government option, the private insurance companies will be put out of business since they will no longer be able to compete with the government-run option. In turn, this will lead to full government control of the health care system.)

2) Will private insurance be outlawed or wither on the vine?

(The AARP says no, which is untrue. Once those who are uninsured or want the government option choose the government option, companies with employer insurance could eventually opt out to reduce cost and choose the government option thus putting private insurance companies out of business.)

3) Will the government encourage euthanasia to save costs?

(The AARP says no, but in listening to Sarah as well as countless others, we know the end-of-life provision is total non-fiction.)

4) Will Medicare be eliminated or gutted to pay for reform?

(The AARP says no, which is untrue. It is a fact that Medicare funding will be cut in the bill, to the tune of $500 billion.)


5) Will the government ration care?

(The AARP says no, which is untrue. Once the government takes over, they decide what care is really necessary-remember at the town hall when Obama told that women whose mother needed a pacemaker that maybe pain medicine could be an option instead of having the pacemaker surgery?- If you want another example, look at what is happening in Canada. Individuals are having to wait years for operations, and some are even being denied care if they need a special treatment or operation. This is why so many cross the border of Canada into the United States just so they can receive the needed care.)




The problem with these myths is that they are not myths at all. The AARP is falsly reporting, in an attempt to sway all its readers to supporting the Obama Administration's plan. I believe the AARP has not endorsed the democrat's plan because the AARP wants its suggestions to be put into the bill before they endorse anything. Some of the things they are arguing for include lower drug costs and strengthened Medicare, protection of health care choices, the end of discrimination by insurance companies and guaranteed stable, affordable coverage. Watch and see... as soon as these goodies are inserted into the bill, the AARP will come out in full support to the point in which many will forget this organization was ever undecided on whom to throw their support against. If this article is any suggestion as to where the AARP stands, it is clear this organization is in full support of the president's plan and wants its goodies before publicly supporting any bill. It is no wonder that many senior citizens are confused on what to believe in this debate. Here we have an organization that is set on preaching the propaganda and miss information to so many. As Sarah wrote in her op-ed: "Each of us knows that we have an obligation to care for the old, the young and the sick. We stand strongest when we stand with the weakest among us." It is so important that we stand with the young and old, the weak and strong in order for the right health care reform to be put into place. Instead of penalizing the elderly, we should be giving them the best care possible. Sarah is so correct in arguing that there was "death panel" language in the bill. So many say she is crazy for insinuating such language, but what they forget to point out is that this language was taken out of the bill. If she and so many others were so wrong in their beliefs, why did the house work so rapidly to remove the language? The msm are so quick to attack Sarah for her so-called crazy assumptions that they have forgotten to report the truth. That is why it is so important to stay informed. I urge you to talk with your family members so that they know the facts because sometimes we are the best source when it comes to reporting the truth. While we know the AARP will continue to push for its agenda, let us push forward with the truth. Remember, you have more power than you think, so continue to educate yourselves and your families because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Let's make the government listen to us because after all, the health care reform they are pushing down our throats is for us, not them. I end this post with the following question: If the Obama Administration's health care plan is so great, why aren't they going to be under the same health care plan they are so urgently pushing for? I already know the answer, and I'm sure you do too: The plan being pushed through is not a true measure of reform, but a true measure of failure and the end of our health care system, currently the best in the world, as we know it.


(Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you enjoyed it, make sure to click Sarah's picture on the left-hand side of the screen, so my blog receives credit for the Top 100 Sarah Palin Blog rankings-Thanks)


(I'm a Conservative Girl with a Voice!!! Visit my blog and become a follower: http://conservativegirlwithavoice.blogspot.com. I'm on Twitter too @rachellefriberg.)