Yesterday I receive an e-mail from WashPIRG inviting me to participate in a conference call with thousands of others today on health care reform with its allies in the faith community.
The call, featuring remarks from President Obama, was part of a larger campaign in the faith community called 40 Days for Health Reform.
President Obama said providing better health care is a moral conviction, which goes to the heart of who we are as people.
"I believe that nobody in America should be denied basic health care because he or she lacks health insurance," Obama said. "No one in America should be pushed to the edge of financial ruin because an insurance company denies them coverage."
For those who have a health plan, it should be more affordable and more secure, he said.
Obama said health insurance reform would:
- Eliminate denials for preexisting conditions.
- Cap your out-of-pocket expenses.
- Provide tests, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, which save lives.
- Let consumers keep their doctor, if they like him or her.
Obama called the labeling of voluntary meetings with doctors about end of life choices to be paid for by Medicare as “death panels” an extraordinary lie.
He said people with money already hire “fancy” lawyers to do this.
Obama said health insurance reform wouldn’t:
- Pay for coverage for illegal aliens.
- Be a government take over of the health care system.
- Provide for government-funded abortions.
- Cut Medicare benefits.
- Raise the deficit.
"These are all fabrications that have been put out there in order to discourage people from meeting what I consider to be a core ethical and moral obligation,” Obama said. "That is that we look out for one another, that I am my brother's keeper and I am my sister's keeper."
Throughout history when the country has sought to change and bring justice to more Americans, those opposed have applied pressure by playing on people’s hopes and fears, Obama said. Two examples he gave were civil rights and the establishment of the Medicare system.
“We need the help of all of you,” Obama said, “to move the process ahead in the months to come.” The faith community needs to spread the truth and spread the facts on health insurance reform, he added.
Melody Barnes, director of domestic policy for the White House, answered questions prior to Obama’s telephone conference remarks.
The conference call opened with several people relating their problems obtaining adequate health care.
Ministers, priests, and rabbis also talked about how people are paying more then they can afford for health care, how shouting protesters are spreading fear and hatred, and why members of the faith community have a moral imperative to work on this issue.
