White House is asking Americans to turn in critics of the proposed health care plan –Truth! But Shut Down by White House!
Summary of eRumor:
A forwarded email from Matt Staver of the Liberty Counsel that says the White House is monitoring emails for opposing views and asking citizens to report anything “FISHY” said about the proposed health care plan. The email includes a call to action.
The Truth:
According to an August 4, 2009 White House Blog entry by communications director for the White House’s Health Reform Office Linda Douglass, the White House is monitoring the Internet and said, “Scary chain emails and videos are starting to percolate on the internet, breathlessly claiming, for example, to ‘uncover’ the truth about the President’s health insurance reform positions.” Click for White House Blog.
The email address was shut down by the White House, according to an August 17, 2009 Politico news article saying that, “E-mails to that address now bounce back with the message: ‘The email address you just sent a message to is no longer in service. We are now accepting your feedback about health insurance reform via: http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck.’” Click for article.
The blog includes a video of Douglass singling out and discussing a video sample of President Obama discussing Health Reform that was posted on the Drudge Report on Monday August 3, 2009.
The YouTube Video in question that was linked on Drudge Report 8/3/09
In her White House blog, Linda Douglass said, “There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to [email protected].”
A spokesperson for the Liberty Counsel told TruthorFiction.com that Founder and Chairman Mathew Staver sent out the email to alert his subscribers and call them into action with a grass roots campaign to fax and call the White House as well as elected representatives.
Reaction from critics of the Obama Administration was swift. On Thursday, August 6, 2009, the Dallas News reported that “Texas Sen. John Cornyn, accusing the White House of compiling an ‘enemies list,’ has asked President Barack Obama to stop an effort to collect ‘fishy’ information Americans see about a health care overhaul.” Click for article.
Fox News reported on August 5, 2009 that Republican Senator John Barasso of Wyoming said of this policy “People, I think all across America are going to say is this 1984? What is happening here? Is big brother watching?” The article also quoted Rush Limbaugh from his nationally syndicated radio program, “They’re looking for tattletales,” and “They’re looking for snitches. They’re looking for informants.” Click for article.
updated 08/17/09