Glenn Beck: Palin is Telling the Truth About Healthcare Death Panels

Last updated on August 10th, 2014 at 05:12 pm

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On his radio show today, Glenn Beck gave his full throated support to Sarah Palin’s claim that the Democratic healthcare reform plan creates death panels. He said, “That’s quite a statement. I believe it to be true.” Beck asked, “What would make her say there will be a death panel?” The answer is that Sarah Palin wants to be president in 2012.

Here is the audio courtesy of Media Matters:

Beck said, “So, why is there no more discussion than there is on Sarah Palin and what she said over the weekend that there would be death, what did she call it, a death squad? Or a death, a death panel for her son Trig. That’s quite a statement. I believe it to be true, but that’s quite a statement. She also called health care this, Obama health care, evil, that’s quite a statement. But, again, I believe, I believe she at least should be listened to and you should question, is it evil? Would there be what would make her say that there would be a death panel?”

Contrary to Beck’s perception, there has been plenty of discussion about Palin’s Facebook claims. It was all over the Sunday news shows yesterday, where with the exception of Newt Gingrich, her statement has been roundly condemned. No one is discussing her comments because they are so obviously not true.

Palin is saying these kinds of things because she wants to be president. She is trying to appeal to the Republican base. Is providing better quality healthcare at a lower price evil? If you work for the health insurance industry, it probably is. The idea that providing better and cheaper healthcare to people is evil is itself insane.

However we all know that there are few conspiracy theories that Glenn Beck won’t embrace, so the idea of death panels was certain to strike his fancy. We all should expect Beck to completely run with this, and use it to whip up as much fear as possible. To Beck facts are secondary, to the pursuit of good radio and television.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association