I saw a story last night about how Sarah Palin was evil and hypocritical and had advocated for “death panels” as governor of Alaska. Or something. I think there might have been something in there about her killing bunnies and telling little kids the secrets of Santa Claus too. And I had big plans to write a post about it, pointing out the obvious: that it was stupid and inaccurate. But I was sleepy, so I went to bed instead (Sorry, Governor).

Turns out that my post pointing out the obvious wasn’t needed. Governor Palin had things under control. From her statement last night:

Last year, I issued a proclamation for “Healthcare Decisions Day.” [6] The proclamation sought to increase the public’s knowledge about creating living wills and establishing powers of attorney. There was no incentive to choose one option over another. There was certainly no financial incentive for physicians to push anything. In fact, the proclamation explicitly called on medical professionals and lawyers “to volunteer their time and efforts” to provide information to the public.

Comparing the “Healthcare Decisions Day” proclamation to Section 1233 of HR 3200 is ridiculous. The two are like apples and oranges. The attempt to link the two shows how desperate the proponents of nationalized health care are to shift the debate away from the disturbing details of their bill.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=116979483434

And some other folks were ready to point out the stupidity of the story, as well. Allahpundit at Hot Air:

If you think it’s hysterical to call the consultations Obama has in mind “death panels,” fine; the Times evidently does, even though its own archives quote The One talking explicitly about a “very difficult democratic conversation” on reducing health-care expenses by providing “independent” guidance to the sick and elderly. But to equate it with Palin’s proclamation is either idiotic or a deliberate smear.

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/08/14/stupid-critics-go-after-palin-for-encouraging-end-of-life-planning-as-governor/

And from William Jacobson at Legal Insurrection:

Think Progress, the Democratic policy and media-watch group, has come up with an amazing discovery. Sarah Palin was in favor of voluntary, private counseling so that people could put their end-of-life affairs in order, before she was against government bureaucrats getting involved in a mandatory process as part of health care restructuring cost savings efforts.

Nothing inconsistent about Palin’s position. It’s private versus public. It’s one thing for individuals to plan their own lives on their own, but quite different when government enforces mandates and gets involved in such decisions as part of an effort to cut health care costs. Remember, keep your laws off my body, or something like that?

http://legalinsurrection.blogspot.com/2009/08/faux-anti-palin.html

It’s almost like there’s a theme here. I think it might be that equating the governor’s proclamation with Section 1233 of the ObamaCare bill is stupid

http://www.conservatives4palin.com/2009/08/debunking-lefts-latest-talking-point.html

When I was protesting Bush and his war, I was called many nasty names and my life was threatened more than once

So, did anyone ever say you disagreed with Bush just because he was white? I mean, what other reason could there be, right?

So if a doctor has a conversation with someone who is 63 who may be in poor health about end of life options they would not get paid for that conversation? It’s not covered?Why would the conversation be covered with a 65 year old who is in perfect health? What if the 18 year old is terminal this bill would make them pay out of pocket for the consultation?

That is where you choose to drop logic. The republican bill says, you cover TERMINAL patients regardless of age. If that was what this bill said it wouldnt be an issue but people who advocate medical rationing based on age and usefulness are writing this bill and they are advocating this conversation with people strictly because there old(er).

” guided by the dead hands of our founders ”

I would rather be guided by hearts of free men than of party of corruption and misguided ideology.

“I think the constitution was built to permit us to respond to changing times”

I think your right. And in response to the changing times it might be appropriate for you to READ IT.

The country could learn a valuable thing from our founding fathers. Its called Freedom.

Since we Have not seen much of our rather Shy and recluse newly SELECTED President..He just came out of Seclusion..(with his Family)…Got His old Gas Guzzler out of the hanger and flew to Montana..for a Nice town hall Meeting to explain all this to us..

There will be a Public Picnic afterwards that will Include Fresh Veggies from Michelles Victory Garden..

Obama will then set an example for good health by Walking his Dog all the way back to Washington D.C.
while He Meditates on the true Meaning of Life..

And Public service..

Watch for a staged event.

I really hope you’re wrong on this one, tzada. I have a very uneasy feeling. It wouldn’t take much to stage an incident.

This Sunday Fox news, is going to air a very important documentary about Barack Obama, Sunday night at 8:00 PM central / 9 PM Eastern.
The report will go back to Obama’s earlier days, showing even then his close ties to radical Marxist professors, friends, spiritual advisers, etc. It will also reveal detail his ties to Rev. Wright for 20+ yrs. How he was participating with this man, and not for the reasons he states!
The report has uncovered more of Obama’s radical past and we will see things that no one in the media is willing to put out there. It will be a segment to remember.
Mark your calendar and pass this on to everyone you know: Sunday night, 8 PM. CT; 9 PM ET. Democrat or Republican, this report will open your eyes to how YOUR country is being sold down the road to Totalitarian Socialism. If you care about the direction of our country, pass this notice on to everyone you know.

From an email I got today, from a relative.