It’s been in the news the town hall meeting but does anyone know the source of where this hysteria is coming from? The answer is Yes:
Let’s look how health-care information is produced and distributed on the web and who produces it and for what purpose:
Here is your source of Medical Information: http://medicalnewstoday.com
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MediLexicon International is comprised of four websites:
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The number one ranked (Google and Yahoo!) website for medical news. Independent, authoritative and unbiased news from thousands of sources around the globe, divided into over 100 therapy areas (disease/condition categories).
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MediLexicon
The world’s largest online database of medical abbreviations. MediLexicon contains over 234,000 entries and meanings that are constantly updated. The site also contains searchable databases of pharmaceutical companies, medical associations and hospitals, an online dictionary and links to other online resources.
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Hospitals Worldwide
One of the leading hospital directories, listing hospitals throughout the world. Hospitals Worldwide currently features over 15,000 hospitals.
www.hospitalsworldwide.com
MLClick
An independent advertising tracking service providing accurate advert statistics and reporting for clients who are advertising within the MediLexicon network. This service was launched in 2006.
www.mlclick.com
Now for the Hysteria
** HEALTH INSURANCE / MEDICAL INSURANCE News **
ACLJ Calls On President Obama To Repudiate White House Comments Calling On Americans To “Flag” And Report “Fishy” Comments Opposing Health Care Plan
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160166.php
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), focusing on constitutional law, today called on President Obama to repudiate comments made by his Director of New Media – comments that call on Americans to report those who make “fishy” statements about health care. The ACLJ asserts that the official White House release is an attack on free speech and designed to stifle public debate about the health care issue – including growing concerns from Americans opposed to making abortion services mandatory health benefits.
“This is a very troubling attempt to stifle the free speech of Americans who have the constitutional right to express their opinion and concerns about health care,” said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ. “This move is an attempt to intimidate those who have legitimate concerns about the health care plan. And, worse, it turns the White House into some sort of self-appointed ‘speech police’ – urging Americans to monitor and report those who engage in ‘fishy’ speech. What will the Obama Administration do with those names? Who will be ‘flagged’ next? President Obama must reject this assault on free speech. It’s not only wrong, it directly contradicts his repeated promise to conduct a more open and transparent government.”
In a recent White House blog written by Macon Phillips, the White House Director of New Media, Phillips claims that “[t]here is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there” both on the web and floating around in chain emails. Phillips states that “[s]ince we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.”
“In a nutshell, the White House is asking Americans to report on their neighbors, family, and friends who disagree with the President’s policy choices on health care,” said Sekulow. “The White House is also implying that you should think twice before sending an email disagreeing with the President, since it might end up being forwarded to them. The White House email address says it all – let’s ‘flag’ those who disagree with us. This new White House reporting program strikes at the heart of the First Amendment and has no place in this important debate about health care.”
The ACLJ has heard from more than 90,000 Americans (including more than 70,000 who have signed an online petition) who are demanding that Congress take the legislative action necessary to keep abortion services from becoming mandatory health benefits as part of any national health care plan. The online petition is posted here.
“I imagine those who oppose mandated abortion coverage are engaging in ‘fishy’ speech and should be ‘flagged’ and reported to the White House under this new reporting program,” said Sekulow. “What the White House is touting is absurd.”
Sekulow said the ACLJ would send a letter to President Obama urging him to reject the statements issued by his Director of New Media.
Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C. The ACLJ is online at http://aclj.org.
Source
The American Center for Law and Justice
White House Blog in Question:
Reality Check
If you’ve tuned into the news in the past few days, it’s clear that the debate about health insurance reform has heated up as Senators and Representatives return to their home states and districts. A troubling trend has also emerged: as more people become engaged in the issue, defenders of the status quo have responded by muddying the waters with more wild rumors and scare tactics.
It’s time for a reality check.
Today the White House is rolling out a new website that focuses on what reform really means for you and your family, debunks some common myths along the way and provides you with online tools and content to share the facts with friends, family and anyone else in your social network.
The first set of videos addresses a wide scope of topics and debunks some of those common myths:
- CEA Chair Christina Romer details how health insurance reform will impact small businesses.
- Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes tackles a nasty rumor about euthanasia and clearly describes how reform helps families.
- Matt Flavin, the White House’s Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, clears the air about Veteran’s benefits.
- Kavita Patel, M.D., a doctor serving in the White House’s Office of Public Engagement, explains that health care rationing is happening right now and how reform gives control back to patients and doctors.
- Robert Kocher, M.D., a doctor serving on the National Economic Council, debunks the myth that health insurance reform will be financed by cutting Medicare benefits.
- In a video first released last week, Linda Douglass from the White House Health Reform Office addresses fears about the end of our private insurance system and reiterates that if you like your current plan you can keep it.
There is also a handy FAQ about health insurance reform.
Moving forward, we’ll use this platform to provide you with the latest “Reality Checks” and tools to combat misinformation.
We also want to hear from you. If you have questions about health insurance reform or suggestions on what topics we should address next, please let us know.
The road ahead will surely reveal more aggressive efforts from defenders of the status quo to confuse and scare Americans with half-truths and outright lies. We’re all too familiar with the time-tested tactics that opponents of reform have used for decades to prevent the meaningful change our health insurance system needs.
Now, with what the President calls “the best chance of reform we have ever had,” it’s time for citizens across the country get the facts about reform and work on the grassroots level to add a healthy dose of reality into the national discussion on health insurance reform.
It is now apparent who casues the hysteria and why. Healthcare reform reaches into the pockets of big business interests
