Steele: It was ‘proper’ for Sarah Palin to fearmonger about ‘death panels.’
Steele: It was ‘proper’ for Sarah Palin to fearmonger about ‘death panels.’
On Fox News today, RNC Chairman Michael Steele became the latest right-wing figure to endorse former Alaska governor Sarah Palin’s ludicrously false claim that health care reform will contain “death panels.” “I think that’s perfectly appropriate,” said Steele:
CAVUTO: Now obviously in this environment a lot of vitriol comes forth. Michael, I just wanted to get your reaction to some of your co-party members, former Alaska governor Palin, who calls these panels that are essentially going to be dispensing care or deciding it, death panels. That sort of thing — is that proper? Is that right?
STEELE: Well, I think it’s, I think it’s proper because its within the context of what people are seeing in some of the legislation that’s floating around out there. When you’re talking about panels that are going to be imposed, that will be making life and death decisions, that will be making decisions about whether or not you get health care or don’t receive health care. I think that’s perfectly appropriate.
Watch it:
Steele also repeated his false claim that state Republican Parties are not actively encouraging town hall mobs. “Anyone out there who says that the Republican Party or state parties or Republican activists are out there” disrupting town halls “are flat-out lying. They’re wrong.”
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Mr. Steele, would you be so kind as to repeat your comment about how your party lacks credibility? Some have forgotten. Thanks a lot.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:04 pmHow is bloviating on a bill she didnt even read proper?
August 12th, 2009 at 5:05 pmWhy would anyone believe anything SteelyMike has to say?
August 12th, 2009 at 5:05 pmMichael Steele bumper sticker:
August 12th, 2009 at 5:06 pmWarning! I Brake For Hallucinations!
Mikey, Bible Barbie is an idiot, and so are you.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:07 pmMichael Steele IS AN IDIOT!
WHY are you running anything on this moron at all????
August 12th, 2009 at 5:08 pmJust when people almost forget about him, Steele says something incredibly stupid. Great role model for the Repug Party though, “Hey vote for us! Even though we don’t know what the Frig we are talking about!”
August 12th, 2009 at 5:08 pmDeath Panels already exist in private health insurance, its called recission and its about profits.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:08 pmAs God is my witness, I thought the RNC would have dumped Michael Steele by now. Ineffective. Jack-a$$.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:09 pmOMG — Steele thinks it’s APPROPRIATE that Sarah Palin’s pants are on fire? Is he basically admitting that lying is the only tool left in the toolbox?
Pathetic.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:09 pmWTF? “…seeing in some of the legislation…”? Get thee to an opthamologist, Mr. Steele.
Even the author of that particular part of the legislation says it AIN’T IN THERE. There is nothing in the legislation that mandates “death panels” or encourages the voluntary use of “death panels” on rePublicrites nor is there any mention of any such thing.
Mr Steele, you too are a bearer of false witness, and as a former seminary student, you surely know what THAT means.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:09 pmThis sort of fear mongering is designed to incite hatred and fear of the President. It is the catalyst of the death threats that are coming in now constantly against him.
The GOP is sponsoring open rebellion and threats to the President with this sort of outright slander.
If I were the President’s attorney’s, I’d be shutting her down in civil court for slander.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:10 pm11. Virtual Pebble sez:…
Aside from that, Mr. Steele, you blind arse, may I point out to you that fearmongering is never proper.
You’re not simply a bearer of false witness, you’re an unethical turd as well.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:13 pm“I think it’s proper because it’s within the context of what people are seeing in some of the legislation that’s floating around out there.”
People see “death panels” in this health care legislation the way people see the Virgin Mary on a tortilla.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:15 pmOK, GOP, it’s time for you to get your famous “law and order” game on. IF the healthcare reform bill contains language about “death panels”, then it is a conspiracy to commit murder and using RICO laws you should call for the arrest of those involved, including the Republican legislator who first proposed the provision you think is about “death panels”.
I swear, if I had been a Congressman who voted to pass this provision out of committee, I’d have myself arrested just to get a fair day in court.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:16 pmWTF? Where did you pull that from Steele? Your @ss?!?
August 12th, 2009 at 5:16 pmThe so called death panels are probably groups of doctors who determine what treatment is appropriate as opposed to experimental, unproven or unconventional that is not the standard medical protocol. These panels are no different than insurance companies panels that do the same thing. In fact, the insurance companies panels are more likely to deny a commonly accepted procedure just because it is so new. These Republicans are making much ado about nothing.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:18 pmThis is just becoming intolerable for me. The media covers only the fringe righties who invade town hall meetings and drown out any hope of reasonable dialogue.
The web sites, including this one, devote topic after topic on the same subject, featuring the diatribe of the hour from the right wing shills and corporate ass-kissers.
In the end, the result is the same — the right wingers are getting their way at the expense of the general public — this is what they have done for generations and what they are so skilled at, that it continues even as they are less than 30% of the population.
Just to throw this into the mix regarding the falsehoods on National health care:
Professor Stephen Hawking has spoken out in defence of the NHS after high-level U.S. politicians have branded the National Health Service ‘evil’ and ‘Orwellian’.
The British professor, who has suffered from Lou Gehrig’s disease for 40 years, insisted that he ‘would not be here’ were it not for the NHS.
However Professor Hawking- who as recently as April was treated in an NHS hospital, Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge said ‘I wouldn’t be here today if it were not for the NHS,’ he told the Guardian. I have received a large amount of high-quality treatment without which I would not have survived.’
August 12th, 2009 at 5:19 pmSteele…dude, she’s not going to sleep with you. Ever.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:22 pmIt was proper for her to blatantly lie & terrorize people? Well, since we’re talking about a Repub who doesn’t care one iota whether she speaks the truth, or whether her words scare people needlessly through her dishonesty, it may not be proper, but it’s certainly expected.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:22 pmI need to borrow one of those “Liar, Liar, Liar” signs I see people holding up at the town hall meetings…
August 12th, 2009 at 5:23 pmand send it to Steele.
….this from a guy who who stated, “I don’t do policy.” I still can’t figure out what purpose Steele serves, he’s always been “irrelevant.”
I wonder who’s poking Steele’s a$$?
August 12th, 2009 at 5:24 pmGot Death Panels? Mine has extra fiber.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:24 pmWhy is Micheal Steele a Republican? In the last few weeks the Republican Party has shown it’s colors. The racism, the comparisions to Hitler, the anger about a black President, the lynching of effigies. I don’t get it. The Republican Party is now a Party of old white men, (And some sad delusional white women)
August 12th, 2009 at 5:25 pmIn case ya hadn’t figgered it out yet, there ain’t gonna be no kinda health-care/health insurance reform that in any way disadvantages the Health Insurance parasites…
to the extent that any of the corpoRat players are ’satisfied,’ or cane even “live with’ a new plan, to ten times that extent the plan wioll butt-phuque the People.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:27 pmTweetie’s show is now interviewing (Laurence O’Donnell) the woman (Katie Abram) who said she doesn’t want this country becoming Russia, or a socialized country when Specter had his town hall yesterday. She’s an idiot. Stated she doesn’t know how much money her family makes, her husband pays all the bills and handles money, and O’Donnell is trapping her on the Medicaid system. A true LIV following her marching orders.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:27 pmWould an opponent to the healthcare reform bill please direct me to the specific provision in the bill which establishes “death panels”? I must admit that I have been thinking it was the “end of life counseling” language but recognize that there might be some other section that has you worried. Thanks.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:28 pmWhat does Michael Steele and a depressed hammer have in common? They’re both sad tools.
Every media commentator should ask anyone they interview about the health care debate if they’ve read the proposed bills (or at least the parts that are “controversial”), and if they say “no”, cut their mic and let the other side speak uninterrupted.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:29 pmMarie: Although we’re all sick to the teeth of it, the problem is that the head of the RNC is not (at least, ostensibly) a “fringe righty”. He is supposed to be the voice of the “rsponsible” opposition. The fact that he is going on the record on Fox News with a provable, palpable lie, is, regrettably, newsworthy.
The real issue is what political dynamic is going on in this country that makes the head of the opposition party think that this is the best tactic to take right now? There are multiple answers; unfortunately, none of them bode well for the future of the country.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:29 pm“Anyone out there who says that the Republican Party or state parties or Republican activists are out there” disrupting town halls “are flat-out lying. They’re wrong.”
Let me guess. The town hall mobs aren’t Republicans, they are Libertarians.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:29 pmSkyler@26, LOL! The woman was so stupid. She didn’t know ‘Social Security’ was a SOCAIL program? COME ON! She wasn’t interested in politics until now? YEAH RIGHT! She doesn’t want us to turn into Russia? I don’t even know how to respond to that.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:32 pmThe private insurance folks have lobbied for vouchers [the legislation failed] for medicare recipients…you think that they wouldnt use recission, and whatever other statistical studies [weight, age, location] to deny who gets to use those vouchers and who doesnt?
August 12th, 2009 at 5:33 pmGiven the opportunity to set the record straight and bring the dicussion to reality-based debate, the chairman of the rnoc chose not to. He also ignored the fact that this is currently happening with private insurance.
The contaminated swamp of the republican party can’t just be drained. It’s got to be quarantined. The sane ones might be able to form a new party and maybe in a few years have a viable chance at leadership.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:33 pmno, shoeless, it’s all a hoax put on by Democrats…all the people at the town halls were Hollywood actors…it’s a master plan by Obama to discredit Republicons who are the only true patriots…
/snark
*rolls eyes*
August 12th, 2009 at 5:34 pmI can never take anything Steele say seriously…ever since someone pointed out that he looks just like the restaurant customer on Sesame Street who is forever saying to Grover, “Waiter, there’s a fly in my soup!”
August 12th, 2009 at 5:34 pmWhat a blithering idiot this guy is. The piece of legislation that caused all of this was put in by a Republcan, and the whole idea was to give people a chance to discuss end-of-life options with someone – to frickin help them plan – not to create a damn death panel. I wish my own parents would have been able to do this – would have saved a lot of pain and not knowing what they wanted when the time came.
God – these people make me want to puke.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:35 pmBOB@33, Your right. It may take years for the Republican Party to fizzle out. Time is against them. Young people don’t like them, The can kiss the minority vote good-bye, and most women I know haven’t voted Republican in years. All that remains are the older folks and bigots and the Religious Right. They are dwindling.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:36 pmTachinidae@34, That would be a perfect bumper sticker for steele`s car (paid for with our tax dollars).
August 12th, 2009 at 5:36 pmOn the other side he could have one that reads “I brake for rush limpo).
OT but on harball they just had the woman from specter’s townhall who was “worried we are turning into russia” when asked if she had health insurance her reply was “yes, we have an insurance savings plan with a 5,000 deductable. we pay for most of our doctors visit out of pocket.” she later goes on to say she’s happy with what she has and wants to keep it.
and that, my friends, is the GOP “base”. too stupid to know any better than the talking points fed to them.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:38 pmReading, hearing and watching about this utter nonsense with the “mobs,” the rhetoric from the far-right…even some legislators that have always been considered fairly moderate (Grassley) I can only say how astounded I am that people can be SO ignorant, so easily made afraid, so easily manipulated. It’s similar to the reaction I had when Bush started making noises about invading Iraq, and all the b.s. that finally led up to the actual invasion. And at THAT time, a majority of Americans supported it!! And the fact that these nut-jobs have the ears and eyes of the media, helping to create an echo of their madness, is even more alarming.
It’s time for the media to stop providing a platform for this kind of behavior. Those who have organized it count on its appearance being far larger than it actually is. And the media includes TP. Take the spotlight OFF, and the behavior is likely to decrease substantially.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:39 pmOT
Woman removed from McCaskill Town Hall meeting for chasing after ‘peaceful’ teabagger who ripped up her Rosa Parks poster…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7zfawMm-So
August 12th, 2009 at 5:48 pmThe Know-Nothing GOP is holding its going-out-of-business Lie-athon Sale. After spewing and repeating Bush lies during the eight years of torture treason and tyranny by the gangster regime put into power by the 12/00 Presidential Election theft, this Goofy Old Partisan group is going under. Their lies cannot save them. Their smears cannot save them. Their distortions cannot save them. The American people got very tired of the endless lies from Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld from 1/01 through 1/09.
The three thousand or so belligerent bullies, birthers, deathers and teabaggers represent a very tiny minority, about one thousandth of one percent (0.001%) of Americans. Their presence has been greatly magnified by the over-reporting by the corporate media. They will never win an election, if the votes cast are actually counted in an open and honest manner.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:49 pmWell, if anyone knows lying, it’d be Michael Steele.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:53 pmbelaccifer lacca@41
August 12th, 2009 at 5:54 pmthe old gal ripping the poster is lucky she didn’t get her teeth knocked out for her efforts. like she deserved
Looks like a number of us saw Lawrence ODonnell interview the 35-year old woman who recently was awakened to politics.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:54 pmShe is naive, no doubt, and O’Donnell was superb in his gentle and Socratic method of interviewing her.
She is apparently upper middle class, and her parents are ready for Medicare, but she wants the Constitution restored to the original, eliminating all the amendments over the past 200+ years.
Winddancer this is the best thought I’ve heard or read in some time. I have actually been pondering logging off of think progress. I mean it is really disheartening to think that some of my fellow Americans are so stupid and worse yet so angry and rude. Well, I find myself also getting angry when I read this garbage so as of right now I am divorcing myself from this website and cutting back on my MSNBC viewing and going back to a peaceful life. In all reality since when did any legislature come out of a town hall meeting. SO ADIOS my fine liberal friends I will rejoin you in 2010.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:55 pmThe repubs are using “swift boating” to attack every proposal of the Obama administration. The rovian tactic has been effective and due to the lap dog press, outrageous lies are never challenged, but presented as a “concern” for Americans to worry about. Unfortunately, too many Americans are angry about what has happened to them as a result of eight years of cheney/bush but they are gone, so it is an effective strategy to blame the current administration for all the woes being experienced by Americans.
August 12th, 2009 at 6:12 pmMichael Steele is going to rape all the Republican women in Virginia.
(is that proper, too?)
August 12th, 2009 at 6:29 pmIt’s all about the Republicans getting back in the game about HealthCare Reform since a majority of Americans believed the Republican Party to be the Party of “NO”. What? Republicans won’t let this stand, no way. So now comes the big ONE from Republicans: Made-up Lies.
Republicans fight these “made-up lies” by saying “NO” as they protect the American people’s interests. No matter that these “made-up lies” came from their own Republicans, these Republicans will stand TALL in the end. Huh? Yeap, summer ratings are up and the Republicans are back in the game on HealthCare Reform. Republicans will protect American’s interests from the Republican “made-up lies” by ANY means necessary. These Republicans “really” do know how to play the political come back game so well. Wink, wink.
August 12th, 2009 at 6:30 pmIf Republicans get their way on Healthcare, everyone will pay 3 times as much as they do now, and receive NO care in return.
August 12th, 2009 at 6:30 pmThere must be some way to fine Fox News for knowingly disseminating false information. FN does not own its airways… they are LICENSED to them by the FCC. Ergo, the airways are a PUBLIC GOOD.
The courts have repeatedly affirmed that the 1st amendment does not provide the right to say literally whatever you want (such as “fire” in a movie theater when there is no fire). How is this different? Unjustified fearmongering on public airways is not in the public interest, can incite violence, and inhibits democracy from functioning at every level.
I am not familiar enough with the actual law in this area, but am VERY interested in learning and would support any movement to shut Fox News down based on these grounds. Does anyone have any ideas or can you point me in the direction of anyone building a real, legal case against Fox?
August 12th, 2009 at 6:31 pmSam Sunset says:
No there isnt. Fox news went to the court of appeals to protect their right to LIE OUTRIGHT to the public and won the case
August 12th, 2009 at 6:33 pm***
palin,
myth vs. reality.
***
from c&l
*
August 12th, 2009 at 7:07 pmRepublican Parties ARE actively encouraging town hall mobs. “Anyone out there who says that the Republican Party or state parties or Republican activists are out there” disrupting town halls “are flat-out telling the truth.
But Steele wouldn’t know how to tell the truth…he is a repuke…
…and they can’t put 4 words together without lying…
…it’s the only thing they do well.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:35 pmSarah has bigger problems then Health Care as we saw Willow drunk and getting it on as the wild child. Yes Todd is about finished with Miss Thing as she tossed her ring in the ocean. Sarah will be on the market and ready for some fun with her male Republican partners. She might get support by being single and available. Now first in line will be Pat Buchanan who still thinks the wink Sarah gave was to him only.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:03 pmThese town meetings are simply an excuse to reignite the McCain-Palin rallies of the campaign.I wished that KO,RM,ES or CM would do a split screen report showing the crowds at both town meetings and the Mc.-Pallin rallies.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:41 pm#55 Jackie—Where can I find that info?
August 12th, 2009 at 9:44 pmSocialistic tyranny? Fascist dictatorships? Death panels? Internment camps? Foreign birth certificates? They’re all part of a common pattern.
The problem is that the most vocal opponents of the reform legislation really do not care whether what they are espousing is factually correct. They will gladly embrace the lies and distortions if these fallacies provide a vehicle for venting their pent up hatred against anything and everything with the Obama stamp on it.
The key is to get past these bellicose blowhards and reach the constituency that is genuinely concerned, yet receptive to learning the facts. The tricky part is that it’s hard to separate the sincere wheat from the Astroturf chaff.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:03 pm#57 You can read and see it in the Star Magazine it’s on the front page. Somebody is taking pictures and getting inside info on the Palin Family and I notice there’s no complaints from Sarah or Todd. Can’t blame this one on David Letterman either.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:07 pmMichael Steele. Black man. I guess it’s ok to be a minority if you belong to the Democrat party.
August 12th, 2009 at 11:54 pmconservativeMORON says:
There is no such thing as a Democrat party. Then again you ar so stupid I am not suprised you are too ignorant to know the name of the largest political party in America. I guess its ok to be a retarded, brainwashed piece of dogshit like YOU if you are a conservative
August 13th, 2009 at 12:28 am.
LIE-CHEAT-STEELE
The “NEW” G(no)P
It was proper for Ms. Palin to LIE?
It was proper for Sarah to CHEAT Americans on the truth?
And of course, it was proper for STEELE to prop-her up as the truth…
… YES?
.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:02 amAlright! When are we going to establish some law and order, and bring back sanity to our Nation? There is a duty to act which is being ignored here. The police have a duty to act when Right-wingers become unruly and disturb the peace, just as they do when those on the left act up. There is a responsibility that comes with the first amendment, and it does not allow for yelling fire in a crowded theater. Nor does it allow for the Free Press to print lies and fabrications.
I, too fear “death panels” in this current environment; but none of them have anything to do with the elderly or the sick. It is time to re-establish order and civility in our nation, or lose it to mob rule.
August 13th, 2009 at 7:13 amYessir boss- no sir boss I is a SAMBO …
August 13th, 2009 at 9:22 amvery thanks for article
August 14th, 2009 at 9:47 amOnce again, Michael Steele shows how really “STUPID”, he is….As chairman of the RNC, it’s a small wonder the Party of NO, is going the way of the “WHIG PARTY”.
August 14th, 2009 at 10:39 am