The answer most likely lies in whether you consider yourself a Democrat or a Republican.
The president did not lie. Joe Wilson also might have good reason to feel otherwise, although how he expressed himself is indefensible. How is that possible?
Both men are politicians. Smart politicians don’t tell lies. Not telling lies should not be confused with telling the whole truth, however.
Pretty confusing stuff.
Obama was correct that the House bill does not include health care benefits for people in this country illegally. Critics would like to see a stronger statement with more specific enforcement, thus Wilson’s objection.
Before entering this debate, however, it is appropriate to say that under no circumstances is it proper to treat the office of the president with such disrespect. Members of Congress should know that better than anyone. This type of political bravado trivializes legitimate legislative concerns on health care reform. Wilson was out of line. Sadly, there has been far too much of that from both parties.
Back to reform. If representatives from either party are not in concert with the legislation in committee, then they were elected to help shape changes that bring improvement. Specifically, if Wilson doesn’t believe Obama was honest that the plan would not insure illegal aliens, he should be at the table assuring illegal aliens would not be offered insurance.
Seems pretty simple. Having said that, Republicans did propose an amendment in the House Ways and Means committee to strengthen enforcement on this issue. It was voted down, along party lines. That brings us back to whether the comment was a lie or the truth. Complicated.
So is the president not in sync with his party? Are some or all of our elected officials deliberately misleading us?
Here is one pretty simple suggestion. Let’s start with the president’s speech. If what he said reflects the beliefs of those who elected him, his stated positions make a good starting point. If the current legislation doesn’t reflect his words, make that happen. When Obama said no federal dollars would fund abortions, then assure that the language reads exactly that way. Forget the political double talk. Forget party line voting.
The “public option” seems to be one facet bringing wild accusations. “Socialized medicine?” Don’t we already have Medicare and Medicaid? “Critical to passage of any reform?” So what is more important, health care reform or government control of what has been a mostly private deal? No one is telling lies. They all are seeing different sides to the same issues. As long as that goes on, there will be no resolution.
When Obama said his plan would not add a dime to the federal deficit, that seems pretty easy to dispute. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated health care reform as presented would cost hundreds of billions of dollars during the next decade. So which is it?
If there are efficiencies that will lead to savings, that in turn will help pay for reform, be specific. Exactly how will money be saved? What will be the impact of the savings?
Will this president and Congress become our Robin Hood group, taking from the rich and giving to the poor? Remember, the answer to a growing deficit earlier this year, partly due to the cost of economic stimulus plans, was to tax the rich. Several months later we’re saying the same thing to fund health care reform. With the maximum rate about half what it was just a few decades ago, what is the right number? Are taxes too low for these folks? That’s possible. Was it too high 20 years ago? That’s possible also.
So the question crying to be asked of our elected officials goes something like this. If we believe you are not telling lies, can we trust you are telling us the truth?
Few have said they don’t support health care reform. It’s difficult, however, to achieve that when both parties are more focused on scoring political victories than looking out for Americans’ well-being. Truth or lie?
Rick Bean is publisher of The Herald-Sun. Contact him by e-mail at rbean@heraldsun.com
