Don't Forget The Local Connection

Janese Heavin of The Columbia Daily Tribune had a good article yesterday about the "war strategies" employed by conservative opponents of health care reform.  Here's an excerpt: 

Health debate goes awry
‘War strategies’ muddle issues.

Lucille Schriewer is scared: The 76-year-old said she has heard that a proposed health care reform package would let the government send her to an early grave by denying her benefits. After all, she reasoned, Social Security is in trouble. “OK, so if they can refuse to let us have medical attention, we’ll die and that’s one less check the government has to send out,” Schriewer said.

In reality, the health reform bill making its way through Congress says nothing about euthanasia. But a provision that provides end-of-life counseling on a voluntary basis has become a lightning rod for rumors. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin recently fueled the fear by warning seniors they would have to stand before a “death panel” that would deem whether they’re worthy of health care.

Palin certainly deserves the criticism, given her following and support in Republican circle -- but isn't it worth pointing out that Columbia's Congressman, Blaine Luetkemeyer, is fueling the same fire?

Last week's column from Luetkemeyer included this bit of scary misinformation:

Finally, the proposal’s end-of-life provisions could result in government-paid consultations encouraging assisted suicide or other forms of euthanasia.

The same article reports that Luetkemeyer's spokesman claims "they’ve not had specific requests to host health care town halls."  His constituents have clearly demonstrated a desire to speak with their Congressman about the health care reform proposals -- maybe he needs a call from the staff at Americans for Prosperity to make a legitimate request for dialogue?

Image credit: KHQA