Topic: Newsmax
A Sept. 10 Newsmax article by Rick Pedraza uncriticially repeats Karl Rove's assertion that President Obama made "glaring misstatements and distortions" during his speech to Congress on health care. In fact, Rove made several misstatements and distortions, which Pedraza failed to point out.
Pedraza writes:
“Obama said people are concerned with setting up death panels to kill off senior citizens, but that’s not what they’re concerned about,” Rove told Fox News. “They’re concerned about the proposal that basically says we’re going to incentivize doctors to sit down with [a patient] and go over end-of-life decisions.”
In fact, as Media Matters has detailed, numerous conservative figures falsely suggested that Obama's health reforms would lead to denial of care for elderly.
Pedraza writes:
Rove doesn’t believe the president when he promises the American people that no one will force anyone to give up their coverage.
“The fact of the matter is the proposal –– which was designed in the House of Representatives –– says if you’re a business you can either continue to provide health care to your employees or you can pay a fine equal to 8.5 percent of your payroll costs. Those companies now are paying for healthcare coverage in excess of 8.5 percent. So, they pay the fine, dump the coverage, and you’re in the government program.”
In fact, the Congressional Budget Office found that the House draft will would cover 2 million more Americans through employer based policies in 2019 than are covered now.
Pedraza writes:
Rove disagrees with Obama when he says his plan will not add to the deficit, but notes the Congressional Budget Office has determined it will add to the deficit in the first 10 years.
But Obama didn't say "his plan will not add to the deficit" -- he said he would not sign a bill that added to the deficit.
