George Stephanopoulos, host of ABC News’ “This Week,” interviewed former Republican presidential candidate John McCain Sunday. Stephanopoulos reports:
In his first comments on Sarah Palin’s “death panel” claims, John McCain is standing by his former running mate.
Sort of…
He doesn’t like the phrase “death panels,” but he defended the substance of Palin’s charge, saying the Democrats have only themselves to blame for the controversy.
Here’s the transcript of the interview that centers on the healthcare reform debate:
STEPHANOPOULOS: The president also says that the debate has been infected by falsehoods. And probably the most notorious one is the one made by your former running mate, Sarah Palin, who said that his bill would encourage death panels that would encourage euthanasia. He called that an extraordinary lie and he is right about that, isn’t he?
MCCAIN: Well, I think that what we are talking about here is do – are we going to have groups that actually advise people as these decisions are made later in life and …
STEPHANOPOULOS: That’s not in the bill.
MCCAIN: But – it’s been taken out, but the way that it was written made it a little bit ambiguous. And another thing …
STEPHANOPOULOS: I don’t think that’s correct, Senator. The bill, all it said was that, if a patient wanted to have a Medicare consultation about end-of-life issues, they could have it at their request and the doctor would get reimbursed for it, no panel …
MCCAIN: There was a provision in the bill that talks about a board that would decide the most effective measures to provide health care for people, OK? Now, we had amendments, we republican have said that in no way would that affect the decisions that the patients would make and their families. That was rejected by the Democrats and the health committee.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But that’s not a death panel.
MCCAIN: So what does – what does that lead to? Doesn’t that lead to a possibility, at least opens the door to a possibility of rationing and decisions made such are made in other countries?
STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, every single independent group that looked at it said it just wasn’t true.
MCCAIN: Well, then why did the Democrats turn down our amendments that clarified that none of the decisions that would be made by this board would in any way affect depriving of needed treatments for patients? I don’t know why they did that then.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So you think Sarah Palin was right?
MCCAIN: Look, I don’t think they were called death panels, don’t get me wrong. I don’t think – but on the best treatment procedures part of the bill, it does open it up to decisions being made as far – that should be left – those choices left to the patient and the individual. That’s what I think is pretty clear, which was a different section of the bill.
I’m afraid John McCain, whom I once admired, has lost his marbles. Too bad.
I watched that interview. He said he did not agree that there were death panels in the bill. You can listen for yourself in the attached video clip.
Mccain and Palin are disgusting.
I too have lost all respect for John McCain.
I am 57, in good health. If, in the future , I cannot take care of myself, I told my wife to just shoot me. She said ” I will go to prison”. Ever since Obama was elected, I have wished I were dead. Just kidding. Now Obama tells me his health plan will pay for my Dr Kivorkian option. It’s a win win situation. I understand Sen McCain’s words and Sarah Palin’s words, and I agree with them. No death panels, no “boards”. I can decide for myself and inform my wife, kids, and doctor of my wishes as I approach death. PS my motto is “Live free or die”. Read Patrick Henry’s ENTIRE speech that ends with “Give me Liberty or Give me Death!” Read the part that asks, “Is Peace so sweet and Life so dear as to be purchased at a cost of chains and slavery? Forbid it, O Mighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, Give me Liberty or give me Death!” Have a nice Obama day. Vote for Craig Wilson in 2013 LA City Council; dist 11
as usual, it seems that no one has actually read Mrs Palin’s statement–but no matter–I thought Geoggie boy was suppose to be conducting an interview not a debate—opps forgot he’s from the All Barry Channel
It would be a “death panel” if government became responsible for life and death decisions in the private sector. That’s why they took it out of the bill. And now the VA is attempting to justify their little booklet entitled, ” Your Life Choices” in which they directly ask a patient if they think their life is worth living. You do not want a government panel not only dictating end of life decisions but have the ability as well to promote them by rationing care. You noticed Boy George did not answer McCains question regarding why the Demo’s turned down those amendments that would have protected patients rights.
I felt sorry for McCain. he picked her (sarah the liar), so now he has to defend her. Too bad for McCain, soon he will meet his maker and have to answer for this bs.
I wish I knew what John, and hell his wife, really think about Palin now. For someone who prided himself on straight talk, and honor and character, what a foil Palin is to those ideals. To her supporters – please pay attention that when she tells a story, about anything, political, family, personal,,,,,,the second version is different from the first which is different from the third version, etc. It is strange.
Grandpa McCain needs to follow in his former running mate’s shoes and become a Quitter. McCain and Palin should not be anywhere near the Beltway. Hang it up, John! Shut up, Sarah!
I used to have some respect for John McCain, but, he must be going through change ot life. He is getting worse. Time for these career politicians to retire. I know they enjoy all the perks and the republicans are worried about health reform and especially medicare because I think they have been dipping in the cookie jar. This death panel they keep talking about….I understand that to be a heath care directive. I’ve been asked everytime I see a new doctor if I have one ever since the mess in Florida where there was a court hearing and disagreement between the parents and the husband. I finally have one and it is in my health chart, I have a copy, and both my sons have copies besides my case worker and my partner. I filled it out the way I wanted and when I was finished it was witnessed by my case worker. I don’t call that a death panel!!!!!
In 1998 Oregonians passed the death with dignity act. since that time about one tenth of one percent of the patents diagnosed with a terminal illness in the state of Oregon have chosen to end their own life.
I am not here to change anyone’s opinion about your right to die, but giving people the right to chose, and providing them with enough information to make a wise chose based on their own beliefs seems like the most American idea to come out of Washington in a long time. It saddens me that other people want to tell me how to live my life (and how to die). If I try to speak up they tell me that if I don’t like it I should move somewhere else. I say If you don’t want to let me be free then you should move somewhere else.
“Myth?” Except for the fact that panels *do* exist under this bill that are responsible for allocating and distrbuting scarce resources– health care in this instance. Since they are left with the ultimate authority to decide, arbitrarily, who gets access to available resources and who doesn’t, they essentially will be responsible for making the decision of who dies. As such, Palin termed them “death panels”, through interpretation of their purpose and methodology. Her argument was extensively supported in her allegations. So whether you want to call them “death panels” or not is up to you, but that doesn’t change the fact that they exist. Far from the “myth” that so many writers *love* to simply flatly state with absolutely *no* justification.
I prey every day that McCain picked Sarah Palin, now we have a true american for our next President., GO SARAH PALIN and keep up the good work, GOD BLESS HER and GOD BLESS AMERICA. I’m A W.W.2 VET. and screw you all Obama fans.
John McCain made a huge mistake choosing Sarah Palin and I think he understands that, but admitting it would tarnish his long career even more than picking her did. If he had any balls he would admit that he made a mistake in choosing her, he chose her for the wrong reasons, and now he realizes the errors of his ways and then he could speak his mind. But I may be being too kind to John McCain.
Deborah “shit-for-brains” Hart, the transcript and the video clip have the same words in them.