White House Confronts False Claims About Health Care Reform

Aug. 16, 2009 — -- It is evident the White House is trying to regain hold of its messaging on health care, as we saw President Obama barn-storming the country this week hosting several campaign-style town halls.

With the continued chatter regarding former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's discerning claims on her Facebook page that Obama's health care reform proposals would promote "death panels" for end-of-life counseling, the fallout this week has proved the health care debate has gotten out of control.

Now, the White House is fighting back its critics and recent false claims that have surfaced. It recently introduced a new Web site to debunk the myths and misinformation that have floated around lately regarding the Obama administration's health care reform proposals.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Obama's top Cabinet official in charge of health reform, appeared this morning on ABC's "This Week With George Stephanopoulos" to clear up the falsities surrounding current health care proposals.

In regards to recent claims made by Palin and other conservatives, Sebelius said it's "horrific" twisting of facts to say that "death panels" would be part of Obama's proposed health care overhaul.

"I think it's really horrific that some opponents of the health reform bill have used painful personal moments to scare people about what is in the bill," Sebelius told guest-host Jake Tapper on "This Week."

Sebelius criticized opponents of the Democrats' plans for health reform for using scare tactics to try to derail an overhaul saying, "Nothing could be farther from the truth.

"If anything, [senior citizens] should welcome the fact that doctors would have a payment provided to sit down with family members if they choose and have a discussion," she said.

Sebelius noted that the end-of-life provision would "probably be off the table" in final health care reform legislation.

It is likely that come this fall, Congress will push a more modest legislation on health care reform, such as legislation currently being debated in the Senate, settling for what some are aiming for as a "half a loaf," or lowering expectations on what is actually achievable in passing health care reform.