Those 'phony claims' of Obama detractors ~ By Patrick J. Buchanan

From WorldNetDaily

By Patrick J. Buchanan Posted: September 04, 2009 ~ 1:00 am Eastern © 2009 We should have "an honest debate" on health care, said Barack Obama in his Aug. 22 radio address, "not one dominated by willful misrepresentations and outright distortions." Among the "phony claims" made against the House bill, says the president, are that it provides funding for abortions, guarantees coverage for illegal aliens, contains "death panels" and represents a federal takeover of the health-care system. Is Obama right? Are critics misleading and frightening folks with falsehoods about Obamacare? Well, let us inspect each of those "phony claims." Does the House bill fund abortions? No. However, while the House Energy and Commerce Committee at first voted to exclude abortions from "essential" services, to the howls of NOW, Chairman Henry Waxman conducted a second vote, to drop the anti-abortion amendment. That vote carried. In short, funding for abortions remains an open question. And whether Obama agrees to drop it to assure passage, he supports the Freedom of Choice Act that would, opponents insist, overturn every state and federal restriction, including the Hyde Amendment, which forbids federal funding. Obama has already used his authority to lift the Reagan administration prohibition against using foreign aid funds to procure abortions abroad. Obama is a pro-abortion absolutist. And if abortion-funding is not in the final health care bill, does anyone doubt that Democrats will move swiftly to incorporate it in future legislation? [CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE COLUMN]