CNN's Hill advanced falsehood that public option is "unpopular"
Reporting that "a lot of the anger that we've seen in these town hall meetings is over the idea of a public insurance plan," CNN's Erica Hill falsely suggested that a public health insurance option is broadly unpopular, asking chief business correspondent Ali Velshi, "What are the real proposals here for public insurance? And why is it so unpopular?" In fact, according to several recent polls, a majority support a public plan option. Read More
Carlson, Doocy falsely claim Pelosi called health reform opponents "un-American"
Discussing the recent health care town hall protests, Gretchen Carlson falsely claimed, "Nancy Pelosi says anyone who speaks out is un-American," and Steve Doocy falsely claimed, "Pelosi [said] that apparently the opposing view to her view is un-American." In fact, in a USA Today op-ed, Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer wrote that "it is now evident that an ugly campaign is underway not merely to misrepresent the health insurance reform legislation, but to disrupt public meetings and prevent members of Congress and constituents from conducting a civil dialogue," and that "[d]rowning out opposing views is simply un-American." Read More
WSJ baselessly claimed health care surtax would "hit small business especially hard"
The Wall Street Journal editorial board claimed that the House Democrats' health care reform bill is "a jobs killer," citing as evidence the bill's "5.4-percentage point income surtax," which it baselessly asserted "would hit small business especially hard." In fact, according to House Democrats, the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) has concluded that only 4.1 percent of small businesses would be affected at all by the surtax -- which, as currently drafted, affects household income exceeding $350,000 -- while an even smaller number would presumably be affected at the surtax's 5.4 percent level, which applies only to income exceeding $1 million. Read More
Breitbart claims White House literally "directed" town hall violence
Joining other conservatives who have claimed that President Obama bears "responsibility" for violence at town hall meetings, Andrew Breitbart distorted a reported quote from a White House official in claiming that "union thugs were directed by the White House to go to" the meetings "and 'punch back twice as hard.' " In fact, White House deputy chief of staff Jim Messina reportedly used that phrase while speaking to Senate Democrats -- not to any union groups -- and there is no indication it was anything other than a metaphorical explanation of how the White House plans to respond to attacks against Senate Democrats. Read More
Fox News personalities advance Palin's "death panel" claim
In a Facebook posting, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin claimed that under Democratic health care reform, "Obama's 'death panel' " would "decide" whether her parents or her son Trig, who has Down syndrome, were "worthy of health care." Since then, several Fox News anchors, hosts, and contributors have adopted Palin's "death panel" term or advanced or expressed support for her assertion -- which is based on the widely debunked claim that the House health care reform bill would require end-of-life counseling -- while others have termed it "crazy" or "over the top." Read More
Fox's Jarrett falsely claimed Pelosi "sort of suggested" that health care protesters are Nazis
Fox News anchor Gregg Jarrett falsely claimed that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "sort of suggested that any American citizen who dared voice an objection in a protest is a Nazi, apparently based on one isolated incident." However, Pelosi actually said of the protesters, "They're carrying swastikas and symbols like that to a town meeting on health care," a claim that is true, and swastikas have appeared at more than "one isolated incident." Read More
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