Ron Paul supporters “Let him die” comment; a leftist lie.
Cartoon: By Ramirez.
H/t: Newsbusters.
After the CNN-Tea Party Express there were a number of stories around, with varying details of the audience shouting “Let him die” in relation to a hypothetical uninsured man.
This is not something you tend to take a great deal of notice of, reports tend to be exaggerated, and there are always a few idiots in any audience. There is the odd complete audience of idiots, but normally it takes a speaker like Wasserman Schultz to bring them out.
Here is Paul Krugman on the subject:
Applause occurred following the statement by Paul, “That’s what freedom is all about, taking your own risks. This whole idea that you have to prepare and take care of everybody” -
On the Blitzer statement, (not as NYT commentator Michael Shear claimed, “chants of “let him die” from the crowd,”) “But Congressman, are you saying that society should just let him die?” contrary to Krugman’s assertion, the crowd did not cheer, and there were only a handful of people who shouted ‘Yeah.”
It is clear that Ron Paul did not in any way attempt to evade the question. It is also clear that there was not the wild applause or the calls to let the guy die as has been claimed. You can get into a lot of trouble once you start believing your own spin, especially if you start reporting what you wish had happened.
Here is Paul Krugman on the subject:
CNN’s Wolf Blitzer asked Representative Ron Paul what we should do if a 30-year-old man who chose not to purchase health insurance suddenly found himself in need of six months of intensive care. Mr. Paul replied, “That’s what freedom is all about — taking your own risks.” Mr. Blitzer pressed him again, asking whether “society should just let him die.”Let’s take a look:
And the crowd erupted with cheers and shouts of “Yeah!” …
Now, there are two things you should know about the Blitzer-Paul exchange. The first is that after the crowd weighed in, Mr. Paul basically tried to evade the question, asserting that warm-hearted doctors and charitable individuals would always make sure that people received the care they needed — or at least they would if they hadn’t been corrupted by the welfare state. Sorry, but that’s a fantasy.
Applause occurred following the statement by Paul, “That’s what freedom is all about, taking your own risks. This whole idea that you have to prepare and take care of everybody” -
On the Blitzer statement, (not as NYT commentator Michael Shear claimed, “chants of “let him die” from the crowd,”) “But Congressman, are you saying that society should just let him die?” contrary to Krugman’s assertion, the crowd did not cheer, and there were only a handful of people who shouted ‘Yeah.”
It is clear that Ron Paul did not in any way attempt to evade the question. It is also clear that there was not the wild applause or the calls to let the guy die as has been claimed. You can get into a lot of trouble once you start believing your own spin, especially if you start reporting what you wish had happened.
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