Obama criticizes `scare tactics’ in health debate (AP)

Obama criticizes `scare tactics’ in health debate
By LIZ SIDOTI - Associated Press Writer

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — President Barack Obama on Saturday criticized what he termed as the “scare tactics” of opponents to health care reform. He told a town hall meeting “what is truly scary is if we do nothing” to solve the nation’s health care problems.

Obama said Americans no longer should be “held hostage by health insurance companies” that deny coverage for various reasons.

And he attempted to deflect some of the sharpest criticism of the health care bill before Congress from those who say it would mean government control over health care system.

“I don’t want government bureaucrats meddling in our health care - but the point is I don’t want insurance companies’ bureaucrats meddling in our health care either,” Obama declared, unleashing a cheer from the audience.

Obama’s focus on insurance companies, a theme of earlier town hall meetings in Montana and New Hampshire as well in recent days, was an attempt to regain the upper hand in the health care debate and deflect the impact of increasing vocal and organized critics.

The president said the current health care system and the policies of insurance companies are “hurting too many families and businesses.” And he vowed to change that, predicting health care reform legislation will be passed by Congress this year.

“Because we’re getting close, the fight is getting fierce” critics are fighting back with by trying “to scare the American people. “Because of all the scare tactics out there, what is truly scary is if we do nothing,” he said.

http://www.bradenton.com/news/breaking_news/story/1641880.html

seems to be legit?!

Obama invokes granmother's death
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Now, it's personal.

President Barack Obama invoked his own anguish over the death of a loved one as he challenged the debunked notion that Democratic efforts to overhaul the nation's health care would include "death panels."

"I just lost my grandmother last year. I know what it's like to watch somebody you love, who's aging, deteriorate and have to struggle with that," an impassioned Obama told a crowd as he spoke of Madelyn Payne Dunham. He took issue with "the notion that somehow I ran for public office or members of Congress are in this so they can go around pulling the plug on grandma."

"When you start making arguments like that, that's simply dishonest — especially when I hear the arguments coming from members of Congress in the other party who, turns out, sponsored similar provisions," Obama said.

In a debate in which he often sounds professor-like, Obama spoke with a rare bit of emotion that seemed to counter that of vocal health care opponents as he referenced the beloved grandmother who helped raise him and who he called "Toot." She died of cancer at age 86 on Nov. 2, two days before he won election to become the nation's first African-American president.

He talked about her death while answering a question about misinformation being spread about Democratic health care efforts during a town hall style gathering in a high school gymnasium.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090815/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_town_hall/print