GOP Calling ObamaCare 'Government Takeover' of Health Care Is Biggest Lie of Year, Touts ABC's 'Nightline'
ABC's "Nightline" touted a PolitiFact story Thursday that rated the five biggest lies of 2010 in politics. The number one lie? Republicans calling the health care bill a "government takeover of health care."
When asked why the claim received the status of biggest lie of the year, PolitiFact.com editor Bill Adair answered that it was "so pervasive" and "just not true."
"It was so pervasive. It was said by the Republican leadership, by Republicans running for Congress, said by Republicans running for governor. And it's just not true. This is a plan that uses the private health insurance system to expand health care coverage."
While the bill does not constitute a single-payer health care system, the 2,200 pages of legislation nonetheless contain countless new rules and regulations enforced by the Department of Health and Human Services, among other federal institutions.
Also, the bill includes a mandate for individuals to buy health insurance, under threat of penalty. This is claimed by many to be an unprecedented expansion of the federal government's influence into the decision-making of Americans and their personal lives.
The claim was voted on not only by editors of PolitiFact, but also by the public. ABC's Jake Tapper reported that almost 4,000 readers voted. Tapper himself labeled the claim as "a lie repeated far and wide and again and again."
Clips played of notable GOP congressmen Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) calling the bill a "government takeover," as well as party chairman Michael Steele and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) saying the same.
"Congratulations to the lie of the year for its speed and effectiveness," concluded Jake Tapper. "Way to deceive the public."
A transcript of the segment, which aired on December 17 at 12:00 a.m. EDT, is as follows:
TERRY MORAN, ABC News "Nightline" co-anchor: Well how can you tell when a politician is lying? When his lips are moving, says the cynic. That's a gross exaggeration and a bad old joke, but if you take the time to look back over a year's worth of prevarication out of Washington, or "mis-speaking" as it's often known here, you might start to wonder.
(...)
(Begin Video)
JAKE TAPPER, ABC News White House correspondent: This year's winner was not only selected by the editors of PolitiFact. It was also the people's choice. Almost 4,000 readers voted.
(Live)
TAPPER: And here to tell us the lie of the year is the editor of PolitiFact, Bill Adair. Bill? And the winner is?
BILL ADAIR, editor, PolitiFact: The claim that the Democratic health care bill is a government takeover of health care.
TAPPER: A lie repeated far and wide and again and again.
(Video Clip)
MICHAEL STEELE, GOP chairman: This is a government takeover of our health care system.
Rep. MIKE PENCE (R-Ind.): It's a government takeover –
Rep. JOHN BOEHNER (R-Ohio): This is a government takeover –
PENCE: Government takeover!
UNIDENTIFIED: Government takeover –
Sen. JOHN MCCAIN (R-Ariz.): Massive government takeover –
(End Video Clip)
TAPPER: And why is this the biggest lie of the year, as opposed to all those other lies?
ADAIR: It was so pervasive. It was said by the Republican leadership, by Republicans running for Congress, said by Republicans running for governor. And it's just not true. This is a plan that uses the private health insurance system to expand health care coverage.
(Begin Video)
TAPPER: Mark Twain once said a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes. Congratulations to the lie of the year for its speed and effectiveness. Way to deceive the public.
(Live)
MORAN: Well that'll start a debate.
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Comments
yeah
Submitted by forest on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 12:51pm.
"If you like your insurance, you can keep your insurance."
"If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor."
Great response, forest
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 1:27pm.
Short and sweet!
And how many businesses and unions have been granted 'exemptions' to compliance in 2011? Last week it was over 200, and I'm sure the list it growing. Even AARp, who openly and actively ensorsed Obama-care, has gotten an exemption.
nominations?
Submitted by forest on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 1:05pm.
"And so there was a lot of, shall we say, Astroturf, as opposed to grassroots.""'They were shouting, sort of harassing,' Lewis said. 'But, it's OK, I've faced this before. It reminded me of the '60s. It was a lot of downright hate and anger and people being downright mean.' A colleague who was accompanying Lewis said people in the crowd responded by saying 'kil the bill, then the n-word'"
How about NB take nominations and have a vote? There are too many lies to cover in the 2 weeks left in the year, but we could give it a shot.How about the Lie of the last 3 Years?
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 1:32pm.
"We are going to change the way Washington does business?" -- Barack H. Obama
Rules of Order
Submitted by IrateNate on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 3:30pm.
I'll second that.
I nominate
Submitted by Model850 on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 1:46pm.
Most transparent White House in history.
I am starting to think that Pelosi's statement---
Submitted by matthewdean on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 1:52pm.
about "draining the swamp" was actually meant as a threat rather than a promise.
MD
She drained it ,all right..
Submitted by Chris Norman on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 10:43pm.
She drained it ,all right.. Of Democrats....
This is now officially on the MSM talking points list this week.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 1:51pm.
First the New York Times, then Politifact and now ABC are parroting each other that the government takeover of health care is the Republican lie of the year.
Your slip is showing Guys.
Same Group
Submitted by Demonhunter on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 2:51pm.
Isn't this the same group that claimed Sarah Palin's "Death Panels" was the lie of the year last year?
If so, will we have to wait less than a year for some liberal like Paul Krugman to admit this was true as well?
"PolitiFact is a project of the St. Petersburg Times"
Submitted by IgnatzJFahrquar on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 3:42pm.
There you go ... that is all you need to know. That Liberal rag has been spewing cr@p for a long time now. I guess if it's named PolitiFACT it must be true!!!
Cleveland's bumwad, The Plain Dealer (hardly) has been reprinting this garbage and has caused me to dump my remaining Sunday home delivery.
I've always cut Jake some slack because he seemed to be a little more level headed than most of the MSM hacks. I guess the electroshock and brainwashing finally kicked in. Jake, you are a skid mark in the underwear of Society ... just like the rest of your ilk.
Unfortunately, even one of our own, Noel Sheppard, was
Submitted by Rush Fan on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 10:30pm.
citing Politifact as a source of fact-checking in some of his posts, such as HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.
Using a liberal (bias) "fact checking" organization as a source when they occasionally come down on our side is not a good policy. It then becomes difficult to disown or criticize them when they revert to their normal left leanings, as in the case of the "Biggest Lie."
Who gives a shit what
Submitted by Barack_must_go..... on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 6:05pm.
Who gives a shit what PolitiFag-ed, a division of the left wing rag, St. Petersburg Times has to say about anything anyway.
The Obama Socialist Regime's healthcare law signed into existence without the signature of one Republican speaks volumes to the true intention of this scam ( lie ) perpetrated on the the American people by this president.
Now that we are starting to see more clearly just what is going on, it is even more certain this existing bill is the preamble to the real socialist takeover of 1/6th of our economy by force.
Secratary Sebilius threatening any and all insurance carriers that attempt to inform ( warn ) their customers as to the true nature, omissions, costs and rationing coming under the Obama regimes master plan were threatened ( stifled ) with removal from participating in what was supposedly a public sector operation....which it clearly and unequivically is not.
Then there are all of the Ass Clown's donors, buddies, future contributers which have received opt out permission from the White House, without any outside imput, discussion or disclosure to the real American people.
Obama is attempting to destroy America from within our very own White House.His entire administration is a lie. His back tracking of the past week, giving in to Republicans and meeting with top business leaders after calling them all criminals before and during the election bears this truth out.
The Republicans and the real American people must stop this un-American con artist from carrying out one more of his intended schemes to destroy our country over the next two years.
No matter how much he smiles or attempts to make amends he must be shunned as the pariah he truely is wherever he goes throughout this country. This must continue until his time in office is finished.Our very lives depend on it.
Barack_Must_Go.....
Excuse Me?
Submitted by DaMama on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 6:20pm.
Obama Care is the biggest lie ever forced on this country. Once this horrific piece of garbage passed, my insurance rates went up 27% and we had to drop our healthcare. We had to find a cheaper insurance that has less coverage, I pay more for generic prescriptions, and my co-pay went up. Forcing people to have to buy insurance is not only unethical, it is immoral and illegal. Forcing people to have to purchase anything is WRONG, especially when it is the government doing the forcing.
This is not only wrong, it is bad for every person in America. People who swallowed this kool-aid are ignorant fools. Just ask everyone in Congress who has opted out of ObamaCare for their own insurance coverage.
I think history will reveal
Submitted by Chris Norman on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 10:51pm.
I think history will reveal that Obama, himself, was the political lie of the century. Everything the media said about him was a lie, fraud, sham, exaggeration, and cover-up. His whole campaign was a con game designed to swindle the suckers. And the swindle continues daily...
Amen.
Submitted by HockeyKid on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 10:44am.
When the truth is out, I have no doubt that much will be revealed about BHO that will cause the vast majority of people worldwide to shake their heads in wonder at how he ever got elected.
There will, of course, be those who refuse to believe truth even when it slaps them in the face like a dead mackerel. See supporters of Marion Barry in DC for a prime example.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
double post
Submitted by Rush Fan on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 11:14pm.
double post
ABC has just gone from
Submitted by Cowboy on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 12:49am.
ABC has just gone from irrelevant to... well... irrelevant
Lie of the millenium: and I paraphrase.........
Submitted by RedNeckinaBlueState on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 12:37pm.
"There's nothing wrong with FannieMae and FreddieMac."
Bawney Fwank
I'd say a bigger lie is the Dem's official name for Obamacare
Submitted by Phryj1 on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 4:16pm.
"Affordable Care Act". We're already seeing premiums go up. There's no price cap on premiums, so there's nothing to stop them from skyrocketing if the mandate goes into effect. There's also nothing stopping care providers from charging as much as they want. Same thing for pharmaceutical companies. A.C.A. is just a license to fleece the public, and it's absolutely guaranteed to make care LESS affordable. The Dems even admit it was always about "providing coverage" -by forcing everyone to purchase it- and it doesn't do anything that will make medical care less expensive.
Of course, they started perpetrating this particular lie in 2009, so maybe it doesn't count. but I'd say it's a big enough -and harmful enough- lie that it should get the biggest lie award every single year it's in effect
Progressives seem to be completely averse to facts and logic. Apparently, reality has a conservative bias.