Sen. Johnny Isakson
A Republican Senator says Barack Obama is wrong in crediting him with end-of-life counseling that would include so-called “death panels” in proposed health care legislation.
Obama gave the hat tip to Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson last Tuesday at a Portsmouth, NH townhall meeting to show his health care reform proposals have bi-partisan support.
“The irony is that actually one of the chief sponsors of this bill originally was a Republican — then House member, now senator, named Johnny Isakson, from Georgia — who very sensibly thought this is something that would expand people’s options,” Obama told the audience.
Not so fast, says Sen. Isakson.
“This is what happens when the president and members of Congress don’t read the bills,” Isakson said in a press statement following Obama’s townhall appearance Tuesday. “The White House and others are merely attempting to deflect attention from the intense negativity caused by their unpopular policies.”
Isakson has been an advocate for end-of-life treatments and living wills. In 2007, Isakson helped spearhead a failed attempt to provide Medicare coverage for end-of-life planning consultations as part of physical examinations. In July, during Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearings on the Senate version of the health care bill, Isakson added an amendment that says that anyone who p
articipates in the long-term care benefit provided in the bill may use that benefit to obtain assistance in formulating his or her own living will and durable power of attorney.
However, Isakson strongly opposes the current drafts of the House and Senate bills, adding that he had no say in writing the House version.
“My Senate amendment simply puts health care choices back in the hands of the individual and allows them to consider, if they so choose, a living will or durable power of attorney,” Isakson said. “The House provision is merely another ill-advised attempt at more government mandates, more government intrusion and more government involvement in what should be an individual choice.”
The difference between the House and Senate Bills on the issue lies in patient choice. The Senate version focuses on allowing patients to decide whether to seek advice on advance directives, when to seek it and with whom. The House bill does not.
At a press meeting Wedenesday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that the differences between Isakson and Obama are minute at best. “He’s offered and co-sponsored other amendments with [W. Virginia Democrat] Senator Rockefeller in dealing with this,” Gibbs said Wednesday. “I think, whether this is uncomfortable or not, I think he and the president agree.”
Typical leftist twisting and turning of the facts. But let’s face it, it’s not like Obama will ever come out and apologize or admit that he had made a mistake.
But you can always trust the left to put a spin on it…
Very good post!
Unfortunately, the problem with the American health care system (such as it is) is that there is TOO MUCH demand (i.e. Americans AND illegals) and NOT ENOUGH supply (helath care professionals). The only short term solution is to LIMIT DEMAND (by such means as a Chinese style “one child” policy and elimination of “extraordinary” medical care for all Americans living past the Biblical three score and ten [70 years of age], and any other means of population reduction). I’m not the only one who realizes this– see http://signsofthelastdays.com/archives/the-radical-population-control-and-eugenics-agenda-of-the-global-elite
for an example. While their tone is negative, we must face that this nation and all others will eventually hit a point where mass starvations will occur world wide. Best to have some cushion against such a tragedy NOW!
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow pointed out tonight how Palin, Gingrich, and Limbaugh all have supported Living Wills which is what end of life counseling with your physician is all about. Republicans are not simply hypocrites anymore. They are downright liars.
Obama needs look no further than his adviser, “Zeke” (Ezekiel) Rahm, Emanuel’s older brother, for a source of concern about “death panels”. Ol’ Zeke is now saying his views have “evolved”, but before he got some political advice to be less candid, his views looked more like Josef Mengele’s than they do those of any mainstream American.
The “death panel” lie is nearly as persistent as the “birth certificate” BS, both of ‘em harder to get rid of than quack grass! End of life directives are endorsed by both left and right and most Americans with any sense already have them. At no point did “the government” have a panel that decided anything-this was counseling for patients and families available as an option once every 5 years. When these types of things are seized upon and shrieked on talk radio day after tedious day—someone is very afraid that their cosy and very profitable status quo is in danger! Another excellent reason to support reform NOW!!!!
I predict that we’ll see an upswing in Judeophobia due to the F.O.’s advisors. Emanuel and his brother, and George Soros, these corrupt vermin will make people blame the Jews for
America’s troubles. These are haters and cold blooded serpents who are as power mad and cruel in their bliefs as the Nazis.