President Barack Obama created “a very tender moment,” as he addressed the American Medical Association in Chicago, and “was right on target at reaching out to the heart of most physicians” ABC's Dr. Tim Johnson beamed on Monday's World News in reaction to fill-in anchor George Stephanopoulos paraphrasing how Obama told the doctors “our health care system should let them be healers, again, instead of bean counters.”
Johnson is a long-time advocate for a major expansion of the government's role in health care. On the March 1 World News, Johnson complained: “We spend more than twice as much per person on health care in this country as the average of all other industrialized countries, yet we’re the only one that doesn’t have universal coverage. That’s a national shame.” A few days later, Johnson participated in Obama’s health care forum, then expressed awe: “I was blown away by President Obama’s grasp of the subject, how he connected the dots, how he answered the questions without any script.” More in the MRC BiasAlert by Rich Noyes, “ABC Picks Universal Health Care Fan for Obama Health Care Special.”
The exchange on the Monday, June 15 World News on ABC:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Tim, one of the places where the President really got applause today from the doctors is when he said that our health care system should let them be healers, again, instead of bean counters and he keeps tying that to these studies that show the highest cost areas in the country are where doctors act like businessmen, not caregivers.TIM JOHNSON: It was a very tender moment. I have to say, George, the vast majority of physicians I know, and have worked with over the years, would much rather be healers than bean counters, or as he put it, paper pushers. And so I think he struck a raw nerve with those words and he got an extended ovation during those words and I think he was right on target at reaching out to the heart of most physicians.
STEPHANOPOULOS: We'll see if it brings them around.
Stephanopoulos proceeded to plug ABC's Wednesday, June 24 prime time special with Obama at the White House, moderated by Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer with participation by Dr. Tim Johnson, “Questions for the President: Prescription for America.”
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
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I think Tim Johnson is a sad reflection
June 15, 2009 - 20:11 ET by jondelwicheon my profession. He IS a weenie. That said, I couldnt believe both ABC and the AOL banner showed the messiah getting (deservedly) booed on his condescending! statements on tort reform.
Talk about a guy yapping out of both sides of his month, Obama seems even worse than Clinton......
Laughing in your face
June 15, 2009 - 20:23 ET by 10ksnookerNow that's tender.
"President Barack Obama
June 15, 2009 - 20:38 ET by Chris Norman"President Barack Obama created “a very tender moment,”
I just couldn't read any further. Did he take them all on a "date night" to New York?
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
So it was the paper pushing...
June 15, 2009 - 20:53 ET by jdripperThat got Johnson to give up his practice? That was it? Johnson knows full well to get his fix with air time he has to kiss the messiah's rear end.
Jack
"If at age 20 you are a conservative then you have no heart. If at age 30 you are a liberal then you have no brains." Sir Winston Churchill
He doesn't want them to be
June 15, 2009 - 21:16 ET by motherbeltHe doesn't want them to be bean counters????
Who is it that wants to do "cost-effective treatment" studies?
Give me a flippin' break!!
Tender moment? Yeah, I'm sure they were all choked up and misty-eyed!
Dr. Tim Johnson must be bucking for media slot.He'd fit right in; maybe Chrissie Matthews can bring him on as the go-to guy for socialized medicine.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
so why all the booing loser?
June 15, 2009 - 21:14 ET by triggerso why all the booing loser?
They only asked Tim
June 15, 2009 - 23:24 ET by fitzfongThey only asked Tim Johnson to make the appearance at the last minute because Dr. Nick Riviera wasn't available.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
Doctors will be slaves under Obamacare.
June 15, 2009 - 23:41 ET by TailgunnerAs soon as Obama undersells all private healthcare insurance out of business, and the 'public option' becomes the only option, then the gloves will come off.
Obama will raise rates on the so-called 'rich', the middle class, and slash compensation for doctors.
Obama will also slash drug prices, forcing drug companies to cut R&D funding for cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer's and heart disease research.
After that, he'll start rationing care and writing people off who he thinks aren't 'worth the cost of treating them.
Obamacare will be the closest thing in this country to Naziism.
NOLO PUGNARE ME OCCIDERE
What Obama giveth with one hand he taketh away with both hands.
Yep...Exactly
June 15, 2009 - 23:55 ET by bigtimerYep...Exactly right.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
POTUS BOOED BY AMA!
June 16, 2009 - 05:52 ET by NortoBUT I REPEAT MYSELF.
Let me get this straight,
June 16, 2009 - 06:00 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsLet me get this straight, America has the best health care in the world, so much so that people from other nations come here to solve complex problems, and Obama wants to 'fix' that.
Sheesh.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Further Dr. Tim Johnson
June 16, 2009 - 07:44 ET by nadadhimmiFurther Dr. Tim Johnson tender, fantasy moments,,, "And as I looked into Barak's soft, deep, rootbeer brown eyes, and listened to his deep, smooth, soothing voice say, "yes we can", my heart raced and I realized my true destiny in life. I bent over, and offered myself to the savior, to be his disciple for all eternity. My soul soared as he approached me with his raging..................Well, you now the rest and now understand the motivation behind Dr. Tim Johnson.
I wonder
June 16, 2009 - 08:18 ET by sdanif he would have recieved the "ovation" if he had made the statements about tort reform first. Was it just me or did he look seriously ticked off he recieved boo's?
Another statement in that speech that makes me cringe is "the federal government has to step up it's efforts to advance tha cause of healthy living." Frankly I have visions of the food police showing up to inspect my fridge for unhealthy food or having an assigned trainer to each citizen to make sure your exercising.
Earth to Dr. Tim Johnson...
June 16, 2009 - 09:30 ET by Mary Louise TurnerOh, puh-leaze! It's been five long months already and I've had it up to my ears with the "Ears" worship! As for Dr. Tim Johnson...you didn't hear the other docs booing Ears, did you?!
I just sent a note to the Ahh.Bama.Channel. news department...
June 16, 2009 - 10:12 ET by JTPand told them That I am finished with them. This is a disgrace to allow a "news" channel to promote an agenda regardless of which way they want to swing a debate. They do not belong in a debate in the first place. They should report what the debate is about. This is beyond belief.
"Live for yourself...there's no one else more worth living for.
Begging hands and bleeding hearts will only cry out for more"- Rush--Anthem