[Aug. 24, 2009]
President Obama on Saturday in his weekly Internet and radio address sought to clarify misinformation on health care reform proposals, including opponents' claims related to abortion coverage, Reuters/New York Times reports. Obama said he wanted "to spend a few minutes debunking some of the more outrageous myths circulating on the Internet, on cable TV and repeated at some town halls across this country" (Mason, Reuters/New York Times, 8/22). He added that he welcomes a debate on reform but that it "should be an honest debate, not one dominated by willful misrepresentations and outright distortions" (Superville, AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/23). According to Obama, one such distortion is opponents' claim that "coverage for abortions would be mandated under reform," which he said is "false" (Reuters/New York Times, 8/22).
In the Republicans' weekly address, Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) suggested that current proposals be thrown out and that Congress start anew on health reform (AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/23). Price said that the president's 1,000-page plan supports "the notion that Washington knows best when it comes to your family's health care" (Rhee, "Political Intelligence," Boston Globe, 8/22).
The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
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The Editors
Debra Ness, publisher & president, National Partnership
Marilyn Keefe, managing editor & director of reproductive health programs, National Partnership
Laura Hessburg, associate editor & senior health policy advisor, National Partnership
Christine Monahan, assistant editor & health program assistant, National Partnership
Justyn Ware, editor
Kimberley Lufkin, senior editor
Amanda Wolfe, editor-in-chief
Paula Fortner, Brittany Hackett, Ryan Holeywell, Julia Moss, Santosh Rao, Zach Swiss, Matt Wayt, staff writers
Michael Pogachar, copy editor
Tucker Ball, director of online marketing, National Partnership
