The lengths to which Fox News will go to demonize President Obama (in any way possible) never ceases to amaze me. Fox had Peter Johnson Jr., who was described as a Fox News Legal Analyst, on the air to trash President Obama by mischaracterizing a comment he made about doctors and patients exploring their health care options in regard to surgery vs. pain killers. Johnson ran with it and tried to portray President Obama as wanting the government (this is the tired Fox News anti-Obama narrative) to control whether old people live or die. The president was talking about procedures that will not or may not help a patient (a procedure that might be unnecessary). He was talking about arming doctors with knowledge that will help them make a more informed decision about health care. This is not about government control (but, that does not fit the Fox News strategy of painting President Obama as a socialist, a social engineer, as a person who wants the government to control everything, etc.).
Here is a quote from Johnson while appearing on the right-wing show Fox and Friends:
“Is that what this plan is about? To save money by killing old people?”
Johnson takes the president’s words and spin them to have the worst-possible meaning he could manage. Such comments are irresponsible and reprehensible. It’s amazing a legitimate news network (if you consider Fox a legitimate news network) would allow someone to come on, distort words and use fear against old people.
Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200906250008
