The White House is striking back at recent revelations about what presidential candidate Barack Obama stated during the campaign concerning his desire to create a universal healthcare system in America and eliminate private health insurance.
On Monday, the Drudge Report linked to a video created by our friends at Naked Emperor News -- first reported by NewsBusters Sunday -- that contained clips of Obama making statements about healthcare that quite contradict what he's currently telling the American people as he pushes for radical reform (embedded right).
To counter what was in this video, the White House created one of its own as reported by Politico Tuesday (embedded below the fold):
The White House response features Linda Douglass, formerly an ABC News correspondent and now a White House official, showing Drudge's homepage on the screen of her office computer.
Dan Pfeiffer, the White House deputy communications director, said: "We intend to use a lot of the grassroots viral Internet techniques from the campaign to beat back the campaign of misstatements and outright falsehoods about the president's efforts to reform health insurance."
The video begins: "Hi. I'm Linda Douglass. I'm the communications director for the White House Office of Health Reform, and one of my jobs is to keep track of all the disinformation that's out there about health-insurance reform. And there are a lot of very deceiving headlines out there right now, such as this one - take a look at this one. This one says, ‘Uncovered Video: Obama Explains How His Health Care Plan Will Eliminate PRIVATE Insurance.'
"Well, nothing can be farther from the truth. You know the people who always try to SCARE people whenever you try to bring them health-insurance reform are at it again. And they're taking sentences and phrases out of context, and they're cobbling them together to leave a VERY false impression. The truth is that the president has been talking to the American people a LOT about health-insurance reform and what is at stake for them.
"So what happens is that because he's talking to the American people so much, there are people out there with a computer and a lot of free time, and they take a phrase here and there - they simply cherry-pick and put it together, and make it sound like he's saying something that he didn't really say."
Cherry-pick, Linda? Make it sound like Obama's saying something that he didn't really say?
Well, in our piece published Sunday, we included a more complete transcript of what candidate Obama told folks at SEIU's New Leadership Health Care Forum on March 24, 2007:
As I indicated before, I think that we're going to have to have some system where people can buy into a larger pool. Right now their pool typically is the employer, but there are other ways of doing it. I would like to -- I would hope that we could set up a system that allows those who can go through their employer to access a federal system or a state pool of some sort. But I don't think we're going to be able to eliminate employer coverage immediately. There's going to be potentially some transition process. I can envision a decade out or 15 years out or 20 years out where we've got a much more portable system. Employers still have the option of providing coverage, but many people may find that they get better coverage, or at least coverage that gives them more for health care dollars than they spend outside of their employer. And I think we've got to facilitate that and let individuals make that choice to transition out of employer coverage.
Furthermore, we provided our readers links to the complete video of what candidate Obama said that day and the complete transcript.
By contrast, Douglass DIDN'T address what Obama said that day. Instead, she shared with viewers clips of what he's saying NOW!
Clearly, the White House -- and, sadly, the Obama-loving media -- don't want Americans to know what candidate Obama said about this issue.
That leaves the new media to carry the water for so-called journalists who have abdicated their solemn responsibility to report the truth in order to advance their agenda.
In the end, it appears the White House doesn't appreciate its lack of control over this medium.
Too bad!
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Comments Policy
This one must have stung the
August 4, 2009 - 08:55 ET by d1carterThis one must have stung the White House. What kind of propaganda would we be hearing if not for the internet?
Democrat = Coward (too often)
August 4, 2009 - 08:57 ET by BKeyserWhy won't they just come out and say, "Ultimately, we want a single-payer system. It's not practical to terminate everyone's health insurance, then reinstate it through a mandated government-run plan; that would lead to chaos- but over time, we can make this transition through the public-plan option. This is what we believe will be best for Americans, our economy, and health-care as a whole."
Period. End of statement. They have the votes. They can get it passed. If they do truly believe its best for the country, then they should have the courage of their convictions and say so. I'd respect that much more than the SOP of hoodwinking and outright lies.
OBAMA DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TRUTH IS.
August 4, 2009 - 08:57 ET by needleObama is one big fat liar. His whole campaign was nothing but a tapestry of lies. And now fascist Obama is also attacking freedom of speech and press.
Obama cannot complain about anybody’s lack of truth, because OBAMA SIMPLY DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TRUTH IS.
- Relying upon the State Run Media for your information is like relying upon an embezzler to manage your portfolio.
No He Isn't
August 4, 2009 - 09:39 ET by JustAl. . . fat, that is.
Not that big either ...
August 4, 2009 - 10:02 ET by legacyrepublicanbecause it takes a "big" man to admit you are wrong ( about rev. wright ).
Needle...Obama, as a sincere
August 4, 2009 - 10:29 ET by celatorNeedle...Obama, as a sincere student of Alinsky, learned (and taught) long ago that lying in order to advance the socialist revolution in the US is not only permitted, but mandated. He follows that rule every day.
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
Smooth Transition
August 4, 2009 - 09:02 ET by CaringwhiteguyWhat a wonderfully smooth transition Linda Douglass has made from news reporter to White House communications operative!
What's that? Same job, different desk? Never mind. :-)
Linda Douglass
August 4, 2009 - 09:03 ET by P.J. GladnickLinda Douglass: Don't believe your lying eyes and ears. Believe our alternate universe reinterpretation of what Obama actually said.
Your Lyin' Eyes
August 4, 2009 - 09:29 ET by BlondeI had the exact same thought as I watched this clip on Fox earlier.
I'd really like to stand right in front of this person (or any other of the talking point Obamabots in the media), and ask "Do I really look that stupid?" because that's the inference from all of this "your lyin' eyes bs" coming out of the White House...they really must think we're stupid. The arrogance is astounding.
No, Barry didn't say that, and he certainly didn't bow to the Saudi, the economy is well on the way to spectacular recovery, our enemies respect us, and the unicorn just trotted past my back window. All hail Obama.
Que'lle crap.
I hope he fails, too.
it is amazing the arrogance of these folks-
August 4, 2009 - 09:05 ET by JIMMY1660i said that, but that's not what i meant.you took me out of context.Plain and simple, BHO and his band of progressives want to control the masses.once its determined you are too old for care you are shuttled into a government home to die. Like the old mental institutions. Warehouse the infirm and load them up with drugs to make us controllable. next will be the handicapped, and mentally challenged.
BHO- THE PROGRESSIVE PIRATE
Familiar weak excuses
August 4, 2009 - 10:15 ET by SeftonYou know the people who always try to SCARE people . . . are at it again. And they're taking sentences and phrases out of context, and they're cobbling them
together to leave a VERY false impression.
Looks like the same b.s. cover line we heard regarding Wright, Ayers, et al. But she'll probably get a nasty note from Rahm because she left out "this isn't the [health care] I knew" distortion.
It's a lying machine in the White House.
Nothing infuriates a liberal like being quoted accurately!
August 4, 2009 - 09:07 ET by motherbeltThe AP story says this (all emphasis mine):
WASHINGTON – The White House is turning to the Internet to hit back at a Web posting that claims to show President Barack Obama explaining how his health care reform plans eventually would eliminate private insurance.
The three-minute White House video features Linda Douglass, a former network television correspondent and now White House Office of Health Reform communications director, sitting in front of a computer screen showing the Drudge Report Web
site. That site carries a series of video clips from another blogger
who strings together selected Obama statements on health care to make
it appear he wants to eliminate the private health insurance business.
As usual, it's not what the President is doing and saying; it's what they "claim" and what they "make it appear"....
Nothing infuriates a liberal like being quoted accurately.
Yeppers.
August 4, 2009 - 09:15 ET by JWF...beat back the campaign of misstatements and outright falsehoods about the president's efforts to reform health insurance."
AKA quotes and videos of PBHO his own self.
This is a horrible horrible horrible President that is his own worst enemy.
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
You can see from this how important the Left's control...
August 4, 2009 - 09:08 ET by ThalpyYou can see from this how important the Left's control of the media is. You can see from this how important it is that we don't allow it. We know what we saw and heard. Enough!
I must be
August 4, 2009 - 09:08 ET by moderncommentaries83I must be psychic.
Because just yesterday I said I'd bet a substantial sum of money that the White House and MSM would come rushing to Obama's defense, saying that what he said in this video isn't really what he meant...which is the standard operating procedure for liberals, apparently.
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
Classic ... great catch, Noel
August 4, 2009 - 09:12 ET by KC MulvilleTo refute the clip of what the president said in 2007, Linda Douglass showed two clips of what Obama just said a month ago.
The only conclusion is that Obama has changed what he said. Which is, by the way, exactly what the original piece accused him of. The reason that's important? Because as we've been arguing, Obama's plan is a trojan horse, just as Barney Frank said explcitly.
Monitoring Disinformation ... yeah, she's in the right job ...
the same way they dress up
August 4, 2009 - 09:17 ET by seaniepthe same way they dress up their "tax and spend" as "tax cuts and competition" they dress up an effort from the White House as "grassroots"
at least when a republican politician lies to you its not based on the assumption that you can't read
I hate the New York Times more than it hates the US Military
OJ Simpson: "Man, Obama is good, he makes me look like a chump"
August 4, 2009 - 09:18 ET by SickofLibsFifteen years ago after the "acquittal", many people thought that even if OJ was caught on videotape slitting throats, he still would have beat the rap. So here we have Zero caught dead-to-rights a scant two years ago, and we're supposed to not believe our own eyes and ears.How effing stupid do these people think we are?
Too bad for 0 that 1000 times as many people see Drudge as will-
August 4, 2009 - 09:20 ET by jazbosee his pathetic attempt at spin control and lies.
"Democrats; Breeding voters like farm animals since 1962"
They hate it when the truth
August 4, 2009 - 09:24 ET by mattmThey hate it when the truth is told about them.
Because in this
August 4, 2009 - 10:38 ET by celatorBecause in this administration, the truth is always inconvenient. We have never, ever seen such a gaggle of compulsive liars in the WH blantantly spewing falsehoods with such ease and facility. And the old useless media enables these liars every step of the wayl It's really remarkable to watch.
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
how can people say that he doesn't want single payer?
August 4, 2009 - 09:26 ET by sarainitalyHe said it plain as day. First he has to take back the white house, then the senate, then get single payer health care....
http://www.youtube.c...
How can that be taken out of context?
Out of context
August 4, 2009 - 10:53 ET by slickwillie2001For the liberals, 'taken out of context' has lost its meaning. It is now just a weasel phrase that better translates as 'nevermind what I said then'. Like we say, liberals will destroy the language to advance their evil philosophy.
how can people say that he doesn't want single payer?
August 4, 2009 - 09:29 ET by sarainitalyHe said it plain as day. First he has to take back the white house, then the senate, then get single payer health care....
http://www.youtube.c...
How can that be taken out of context?
LMAO
August 4, 2009 - 09:30 ET by jdlybrand"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. I am the great and powerful OZ."
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha.
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
Classic
August 4, 2009 - 09:40 ET by ReaverOver at Deceiver.com they have a whole series of posts called “Past Obama vs. Present Obama". His two-faced revisionist history is getting noticed.
If stupidity got us into this mess,
then why can't it get us out?
--Will Rogers
Ahem, Linda. People will go to Drudge and see it was an entire..
August 4, 2009 - 09:50 ET by jazbostatement of position. Not a cherrypick.
"Democrats; Breeding voters like farm animals since 1962"
I trust
August 4, 2009 - 09:49 ET by jessieHI trust her about as far as she can throw me. And I'm 6'4"-230 lbs. Patriot & Proud!
Oh come now, what Obama
August 4, 2009 - 09:55 ET by dscottOh come now, what Obama said during the campaign to his supporters was only for domestic consumption and not in any way relevant to the what he is saying now. /sarcasm/ Obama was only telling them what they wanted to hear to affirm their desires, a government run system. Once President, Obama is now only telling the general public what they want to hear, private insurance back stopped by the public option to cover everybody.
Being the consumate salesman, Obama only tells people what they want to hear to affirm them, never mind that whatever a Democratically controlled Congress passes, no matter what it contains is what Obama will sign and take credit for bringing into existence. Obama is here to SELL the Democrat agenda, he will tell you anything in order for you to buy it. If you are gullible enough to believe the master of hope and change, you'll have both, hope that you get what you heard and change from anything you now have.
Obama is ready to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge if only you are in the market for bridges. Some people would say Obama is a con artist, some would say he is a liar, Obama is so much more than these, he is the seller of dreams come true - Utopia. The true villains of this story are the gullible masses who believe anything they are told as long as it pleases them to hear it. Obama is just a victim of expectations you see, your unreasonable expections, it's all your fault... What's Obama to do? He's only telling you what you want. So when Obama seems to be giving contradictory messages, it's because you have contradictory expectations.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
Drudge is really on a roll today--
August 4, 2009 - 10:59 ET by carolina09Would love to see a NB story on the "Dear Leader" beaded mosaic artwork that was supposedly made by 1000 adoring fourth-graders. Who paid for this very large and expensive project? Who managed and oversaw it?
carolina09, yes Drudge is on a roll, 26 million hits, ha ha ha
August 4, 2009 - 11:23 ET by upcountrywaterThe more the liberals whine the more views Drudge gets! Drudge now has a full UNCUT version up of the 0bamic care . HA HA HA ...
To bad for NB having crashed yesterday, I've read in 3 different places, about some "web site crashing" of course no name mentioned.
dang it.
Reagan VS Liberalism
Good catch, carolina
August 4, 2009 - 17:29 ET by Chris NormanNow, if that had been made in China, there'd be screaming about the use of child labor in making cheap souvenir junk for tourists.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
I've seen both
August 4, 2009 - 11:04 ET by NorthCoasterLinda Douglass is promoting propaganda, (lying) for the President. That is what they hired all of the so-called journalists to do. Just think Tokyo Rose or Axis Annie when you see and hear these later day propagandists lying on their videos and in their sound bites.
Hey Linda Douglass, He also
August 4, 2009 - 11:05 ET by USA4freedomHey Linda Douglass, He also said this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhYD8_L0nV8&feature=related
Soooooooo is doing the misleading???
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
Kemosabi
August 4, 2009 - 12:06 ET by jdlybrandHalf white man speak with forked tongue. Good find USA!
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
The Obama "administration" is nothing but a farce
August 4, 2009 - 11:06 ET by R D HelmThese people, EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM, are nothing but reflexive, pathological liars, and a clear and present danger to the near-term survival of our nation as we know it.
The socialist's plan (it is not Obama's, as he is too stupid to even think one up) is designed to pull off a 100% government takeover of our nation's health care system.
They are also working on a 100% takeover of this nation's private sector, too. For some reason, most people aren't catching on to that at all.
-Dave
Translation
August 4, 2009 - 11:09 ET by ur-conIgnore what we told you yesterday. Believe what well tell you today. The truth evolves.
Ahh...the standard defense...
August 4, 2009 - 11:16 ET by cjbreisch"Who are you going to believe? Me? Or your own lying eyes?"
words matter
August 4, 2009 - 11:17 ET by MaytagI sent the link of obama vids. to 50 + people on my mailing list and hope they are doing thier part and sending them out to all thier contacts
Now if only our "recently
August 4, 2009 - 13:18 ET by SickofLibsNow if only our "recently censured" Republican Congressmen were allowed to do that.
I wonder how much Obama
August 4, 2009 - 11:20 ET by Dan The Man 2I wonder how much Obama spends on misinformation campaigns like these using our tax dollars. Anyone remember how much the MSM complained about President Bush talking about starting an office to boost the USA positions on the Iraq war? Now it seems we are in 1984 Ministry of Information.
God help us all.
Rush Today
August 4, 2009 - 12:10 ET by slickwillie2001Rush is now finally attacking Obamacare on a page-by-page basis. This is what Fox News should be doing (Beck is to some extent) and what we have to pound on in the protests. This is what the liberal old media will never do, they don't want us to know the details. Today he touched on the 'access to all of your bank accounts for automatic withdrawals' clause.
waterloo
August 4, 2009 - 12:12 ET by TN MomThis is Obama's Waterloo. The MSM have consistantly covered up for, lied for, cheered for Obama and attacked anyone who disagrees with his policies.
Linda Dougless is a former reporter for ABC News and even she can't spin the words Obama, himself said.
Oh, and, for the record, I believe the video shows that Obama did bow to the saudi king, although the WH spins it otherwise.
Waterloo; couldn't escape if they wanted to....
Why So Socialist, Linda?
August 4, 2009 - 12:22 ET by stratmanWhat a Joker.
"Communications Director" for the White House:
August 4, 2009 - 14:02 ET by TailgunnerReichsministerium für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda.
If you're going to be a dictator, Obama, get it right.
These people are scared and desperate.
Nationalized Healthcare is a DEATH SENTENCE.
They were just horrible, horrible people....
August 4, 2009 - 12:52 ET by acumen"....there are people out there with a computer and a lot of free time, and they take a phrase here and there - they simply cherry-pick and put it together, and make it sound like he's saying something that he didn't really say. You know the people who always try to SCARE people...."
What a bunch of sick indivuals that...gasp...have computers and...shudder...a lot of free time and...tremble...are committing blashemy and....shiver...like all this other real "scary" stuff.
Sorry, got caught up in the moment.....now what was Linda saying about scare tactics again?
you know acumen...
August 4, 2009 - 13:00 ET by BKeyserif the administration would save or create some jobs, many of these people wouldn't be out there, cherry-picking factual statements from The One and making it sound like the things he said.
Dittos BK
August 4, 2009 - 13:14 ET by acumenAnd then team Obama wouldn't have to spend so much of our tax money attempting to make us soooooooo scared of his critics...er...those wascally scare mongers.
Welcome to the ....
August 4, 2009 - 13:01 ET by sam12663real world Linda. How long did they think Obama's past comments would stay hidden? In this era of You Tube and such, everything you say and do is available for viewing. The very technology that Obama used to gather support during his campaign is now coming back to bite him in the ass. As Rev Wright once said, Obama's chickenssssss have come home to rooooost.
President Obama is nothing more than a lying empty suit; a Hollywood style special effects smoke and mirrors show that has shown itself to be a total fraud.
WAKE UP AMERICA! SAVE OUR CONSTITUTION!
Linda Douglass is exhibiting solid consistency here - Noel
August 4, 2009 - 13:06 ET by Gary HallHad Douglas remained at ABC, it's difficult to imagine that her video spot [news spot] would have looked different on any level.
(;~> gary
Obama tapes. Priceless
August 4, 2009 - 14:33 ET by sevenHi. I'm Linda Douglass
I will lie for socialism
Obama Thinks You're Stoopid
August 4, 2009 - 15:16 ET by Reaganite RepublicanHe must, as he feels free to change his story at will and flip-flop on every issue- when you ask any questions about the constantly morphing narrative, you're a "hater"- please.
This is like how all videos show Obama pumping and stumping for Blago in 2003- then when he gets arrested, Obama says he had nothing to do with him. Same with Rezko.
Americans are quickly waking up to the fact that this president is habitually dishonest- can you imagine the towering arrogance of Obama, implying there's something wrong with us for not swallowing all his self-serving BS as fast as he can shovel it on your plate? What a jerk-
I've already seen plenty enough to keep me from ever believing a word that comes out of the guy's mouth... and that goes 2x for slimy Emanuel and Axelrod- all three of these crooks are used to getting away with murder in the Chicago Machine's racketeering embrace... and they freak out and initiate vicious Alinskyite counter-attacks when they're finally confronted.
I'm SO sick of these scumbags-
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com
This is just fairly crude
August 4, 2009 - 17:35 ET by Chris NormanThis is just fairly crude and clumsy propaganda, polished up for the computer age. Now, how many dumbies will buy it?
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Now, how many dumbies will
August 4, 2009 - 17:43 ET by bigtimerNow, how many dumbies will buy it?
Chris...
Only the leftist lemming twits know for sure.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
"Now, how many dumbies will
August 4, 2009 - 18:19 ET by ckc1227"Now, how many dumbies will buy it? "
About 66,882,230. Give or take one or two.
You really have to suspend
August 4, 2009 - 18:27 ET by ckc1227You really have to suspend disbelief to not believe single payer is his goal. It's been a goal of his his entire life, yet now, when he actually has the power to make it happen, with virtually no way for the other side to stop him, suddently he's no longer interested in doing it, lol.
Sure, I buy that.
WTF
August 4, 2009 - 19:29 ET by DeclinesToStateI honestly gave this White House video a chance. I read the headline and listened expecting to hear some qualifiers on the original pieces that were omitted and would give the original quotes new meaning. Linda Douglass prefaced her comments so one would expect this. She neither delivered on the premise nor proved that this technique was use to manipulate Obama's words. These people must really think average citizens are stupid.
What I did discern from this pathetic propaganda was that Obama will say whatever is necessary, given the two new clips, to sway the minions. He must believe that we simply don't know what is good for us, and he will lead us where we need to go.
Also very unnerving is her saying " there are people out there with a computer and a lot of free time " as if her taxpayer funded misinformation is of greater value because it comes from the great Linda Douglass.
I am shocked that our current government is either this condescending or this ignorant, but then not shocked that both are true.