This brief interview by Ezra Klein both explains what's at the root of the "Kill Granny" / "Obama's Death Panel" misinformation that's being spread around and shows just how disingenuous all that activity really is. A key section in the exchange between Klein and Republican Senator Johnny Isakson from Georgia goes as follows:
"How did this become a question of euthanasia?
I have no idea. I understand -- and you have to check this out -- I just had a phone call where someone said Sarah Palin's web site had talked about the House bill having death panels on it where people would be euthanized. How someone could take an end of life directive or a living will as that is nuts. You're putting the authority in the individual rather than the government. I don't know how that got so mixed up.
You're saying that this is not a question of government. It's for individuals.
It empowers you to be able to make decisions at a difficult time rather than having the government making them for you."
You almost have to admire the craftiness of the opponents to health care reform, that they could - once again! - completely turn the data around to serve their purposes. There's something in the bill to pay some of the cost involved with an elderly person arranging their own living will? I know: let's spin it as mandated euthanasia! That'll get folks riled up! If the I.Q. of the average American were just a little higher, I'd have no doubt that all of this stuff would spell the deathknell for the Republican Party in its current incarnation. Unfortunately, there are probably enough uninformed citizens down there for this to actually work. Where are the Obama Community Groups (that helped get him elected) when he needs them now?
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