UPDATE: Coverage here The Weekly Standard and here The Catholic Key Blog: Obama Lies about Abortion Coverage at Staged Event with Fake Faith Groups
This evening a coalition of religious groups had a teleconference with Administration officials and with the President. One of the prime organizing groups was the politically active Evangelical group Sojourners. The prime mover of Sojourners is Jim Wallis Jim Wallis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia who is a very sincere, committed "Progressive" (current name for liberal Democrat).
Years ago, I was a member of Sojourners. I admired their consistent official stands on issues; and their membership in the Seamless Garment Network (Now known as Consistent Life). But after a couple of years, I realized that they really only actively supported positions that the Democratic Party espoused, and kept certain things, like their official opposition to abortion, under wraps.
So I didn't renew my membership, but I still receive their emails.
Monday I got an email inviting me to tune into a teleconference at 5PM today, to hear Administration officials and the President promote their healthcare reform. So I registered and tuned in.
Here's the gist of it (as soon as I can I'll put up a link to the website which has the streaming audio - it's not up yet. Website is www.faithforhealth.org)
Wallis opens with an impassioned few minutes on the necessity of reform.
Then Melody Barnes, the White House Director of the Domestic Policy Council comes on, and takes a few questions.
- Need to help the uninsured - the government option is the President's preferred approach - need to cut medical costs - no to abortion in a government plan - yes you can keep the coverage you have.
A couple of other speakers, all from a faith background - ministers, priest, rabbi. All sincere in wanting reform.
The President comes on:
He says - I presume he's reading this, and he doesn't take any questions,
- "Frankly some folks out there are bearing false witness." He goes after "Divisive and Deceptive attacks ... death panels ... that is an extraordinary lie ...." Then "We need to look after each other ... i am my brother's keeper... ." Like the struggle for social security and medicare, this is "a contest between hope and fear... ."
- He goes after insurance companies - "medicare advantage ... insurance companies skim(?) 17-20 billion dollars every year in (unfair) profits" from that system.
The President says we are going to cover everyone, lower insurance premiums, eliminate pre-existing condition limitations, and improve everyone's coverage.
President Obama signs off, and the moderator urges everyone to get on the bandwagon: "Forty days for Health Reform" as they steal an idea from the anti-abortion group "40 Days for Life".
Here's a comment from "40 Days for Life"
On the heels of these successful pro-life efforts, a
much smaller coalition recently announced its own
campaign called "40 Days for Health Reform" to push
abortion-laden health care reform. The group has
organized a series of events, including a conference
call today featuring President Obama.
"Some say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,
but using the biblical 40-days concept in an attempt
to salvage floundering health care reform proposals
that would mandate taxpayer funding of abortion and
force Americans into health plans with mandatory
abortion coverage - we are anything but flattered,"
said Bereit. "I am confident that the prayers of
millions of people, imploring God to inspire people to
turn away from abortion, will be a much more powerful
force in shaping the future."
Imitation - the sincerest form of flattery.
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