American Morning
PolitiFact Truth-O-Meter
Editor's Note: PolitiFact.com is a project of the St. Petersburg Times that aims to help you find the truth in politics. Every day, reporters and researchers from the Times examine statements by members of Congress, the president, etc. They research their statements and then rate the accuracy on their Truth-O-Meter.
Beck says 45 percent of physicians would quit if health reform passes
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/19/beck.glenn.art.jpg caption="Fox News commentator Glenn Beck said that the health care reform plan could harm doctors financially."]
Physicians are important players in the health care debate. They've been courted by both supporters and opponents of the Democratic reform plan. President Barack Obama held a Rose Garden ceremony with some of them recently. And now opponents of the Democratic health care plan are citing poll results that supposedly show that lots of doctors would be so unhappy with the reforms that they'd quit their jobs.
Fox News Channel political commentator Glenn Beck mentioned this on his Oct. 12, 2009, show during a wide-ranging critique of the Democratic plan. He said that the plan could harm doctors financially and make medical students have doubts about pursuing the profession. "Do you really think that you're going to see an increase in medical students? I don't think so," Beck said. "Especially consider that the percentage of doctors who say they'll quit if this is passed is only 45 percent. No worries. Ha! You'll be able to find a good doctor. Really, you will."
The Truth-O-Meter says: FALSE
Read more: A questionable assertion based on questionable data
Flexible spending accounts under health care reform might get new limits
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/19/savemyflexplan.art.jpg caption="Save Flexible Spending Plans warns that a proposal approved by the Senate Finance Committee "would drastically restrict the use of flexible spending accounts.""]
As Congress considers a sweeping health care reform bill, groups are springing up that represent obscure aspects of the current system.
The latest group raising concerns represents companies that provide flexible spending accounts. The group, known as Save Flexible Spending Plans, sent us a press release with the dire warning that a proposal approved by the Senate Finance Committee "would drastically restrict the use of flexible spending accounts (FSAs) in order to help pay for health care reform."
"FSAs are a lifeline for working Americans, often making the difference between staying afloat and going into debt over health care needs, and sometimes between getting necessary treatment and avoiding it altogether because of the cost," said Joe Jackson, the organization's chairman and CEO of the benefits company WageWorks.
The Truth-O-Meter says: HALF TRUE
Read more: Flexible spending account lovers, beware!
E-mail claims Iowa policy seeks to round up Iowans who might be exposed to the swine flu
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/19/swine.flu.cdc.art.jpg caption="A chain e-mail claims Iowa is creating concentration camps for people with the H1N1 flu."]
Patty Quinlisk, medical director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, has been amazed by the amount of misinformation and blatant lies swirling around about the H1N1 virus and the federal plans to distribute a vaccine.
But even she was a bit thrown when a man called last month and asked her whether Iowa was creating concentration camps for people with H1N1. Seriously.
"We don't have concentration camps here in Iowa," she said.
And then she sighed.
"Those are words I never thought I'd have to say."
The Truth-O-Meter says: FALSE
Read more: No concentration camps for those with H1N1 virus in Iowa
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
On Twitter
I frequently consult the Factcheck.org website for clarity and truth on current issues as expounded by the various sources, pundits and so called experts of today’s media. As an independent thinker and voter I try to evaluate both sides of an issue and what influences are attempted and, then form an opinion.
After reading through the first twenty-six articles I found eleven, reviewing statements, information and/or interpretations, voiced by Republican politicians, conservatives and/or right leaning groups concerned mostly with healthcare reform issues, to be deemed by Factcheck to be blatantly false, misleading, distortions or exaggerations.
Being fed a constant stream of falsehoods and disinformation, it’s not difficult to understand the vitriol and anger emanating from this political constituency.
Only in the land of the free and the home of the brave could we survive such a prostitution of the liberty of free speech.
Its the Alex Jones right wing radical crowd that start these kind of rumors. Alex has been pushing his martial law, concentration camp idea for almost 10 years now, every since Bush came into power. It was coming any day he said. We're still waiting Alex.
Who in their right mind believe what that right wing nut says.
Doctors used to choose to be a doctor because they wanted to help mankind now its nothing but the money! Doctors are the most overpaid profession! Doctors do more guessing than knowing! Doctors practice medicine, they dont know it, which I find ood for someone who gets paid so much, you would think they would know instead of practicing! I dont feel sorry for Doctors at all! If they stand on a higher moral ground like most people think then they would do their job more based on the work not the pay!