Obama Calls on Liberal Bloggers to "Debunk" Health Care Myths
BY Nancy Scola | Tuesday, July 21 2009
"One of the things that I know blogs are best at are debunking myths that can slip through traditional media outlets and [into] the conventional wisdom," said President Barack Obama on a 24-minute conference call late afternoon yesterday with about two dozen progressive bloggers. "And that's why you're going to play such an important role in our success in the weeks and months to come." (I missed the chance to chat with the Prez because I had my first scheduled acupuncture session at the same time. I care about you people a lot, but my back hurts!) The number one "myth" on Obama's hit list these days is the idea that the health care reform legislation he is advocating is expensive, an idea that has gained prominence in recent days because of a Congressional Budget Office report that concluded that the legislation currently being debated would raise the federal deficit. "It's simply not true," said Obama to the bloggers on the call. Beyond myth-busting, was Obama's intention behind making some time in his afternoon schedule for liberal bloggers to shore up those who might be concerned that the bill that passes out of congressional committee might be less progressive than they hope for? Is he looking for bloggers to lean on wavering Democrats, particularly those who appear ready to sacrifice a public option? All that and then some, most likely. Ezra Klein has notes on Obama's reassurance to the assembled bloggers that all will right itself in conference committee between the House and Senate, and the Huffington Post's Sam Smith has more on where the blogger call fits into the larger health care debate.