In fact, PolitiFact has rated six of her statements, and all of them have been either "false" or "pants on fire" false.
The stakes are too high to let Bachmann's reckless lies go unchecked. So we're calling her out.
Politifact’s Bill Adair: Politifact Has Rated All Of Bachmann’s Statements As False Of “Pants On Fire.” Politifact’s Bill Adair: “It's worth pointing out that Congresswoman Bachmann, we've rated six of her statements, all of them have been either false or ‘pants on fire.’ So she has the distinction of a perfect record.” [CNN, 8/13/09]
CLAIM #1: Bachman Said One Of Obama's Key Health Advisers Said That Medical Care Should Be Reserved For The Nondisabled, So "Watch Out If You're Disabled." Bachmann said Ezekiel Emanuel, one of President Obama's key health care advisers, "says medical care should be reserved for the nondisabled. So watch out if you're disabled." [Congressional Record, 7/27/09]
Politifact Said The Claim Was A "Gross Distortion" And Is "False." "But to make the sensational claim that Emanuel says health care should not be extended to the disabled is a gross distortion of his position, lifted out of context from an academic paper in which he poses philosophical ideas but doesn't necessary endorse them. Emanuel's hefty medical record also counts for something, as well his unequivocal public position against euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide. We rule Bachmann's statement False."" [Politifact]
CLAIM #2: Bachmann Said That Health Insurance Reform Was Unconstitutional And Represented A "National Takeover Of Health Care." Rep. Michele Bachmann: "It is not within our power as members of Congress, it’s not within the enumerated powers of the Constitution, for us to design and create a national takeover of health care. Nor is it within our ability to be able to delegate that responsibility to the executive." [Fox News, 8/18/09]
FactCheck.org: Under Obama’s Health Care Plan, “Nobody Would Be Forced To Drop His Or Her Current Insurance.” “Obama has long said he would allow individuals or small businesses to buy insurance through a public plan – like the one now available to members of Congress. But nobody would be forced to drop his or her current insurance, and private plans would exist as they do now. This was the health care plan he promoted as a presidential candidate.” [FactCheck.org, 5/1/09]
AMA President-Elect Reassured: Physicians And Patients Don’t Need To Fear The Rise Of A Monolithic Health System With No Choice From President Obama. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported that “American Medical Association president-elect Dr. James Rohack told Mississippi doctors Friday…Physicians and patients don't need to fear the rise of a monolithic health system with no choice, because it's not something the American people would accept, Rohack said. The president didn't advocate a single-payer system for the United States at the meeting, Rohack said. Obama said he believes in access to health care for all with a system that is a mix of public and private sources with patients still able to see the physicians of their choice.” [Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 5/30/09]
CLAIM #3: Bachmann Said That Illegal Immigrants Would Get Access To Taxpayer- Subsidized Health Care. Rep. Michele Bachmann: "The real issue is, will illegal aliens have access to taxpayer-subsidized health care? Well, the answer is yes, they will. In the bill, 3200 has a section that says illegal aliens will not have access to health care, and that’s why President Obama is able to say that. But the practical effect is that illegal aliens will have access to health care because there is no provision for enforcement in the bill." [Bachmann Town Hall, 9/12/09]
FactCheck.org Says It's "False" That Illegal Immigrants Will Be Covered In The Health Care Bill. "False: Illegal Immigrants Will Be Covered. One Republican congressman issued a press release claiming that "5,600,000 Illegal Aliens May Be Covered Under Obamacare," and we’ve been peppered with queries about similar claims. They’re not true. In fact, the House bill (the only bill to be formally introduced in its entirety) specifically says that no federal money would be spent on giving illegal immigrants health coverage." [FactCheck.org, 8/14/09]
CLAIM #4: Bachmann Said That The House Health Care Bill Would Put Sex Clinics In Our Schools Run By Planned Parenthood. Rep. Michele Bachmann: "Can you believe this, Mr. Speaker? Let's put sex clinics in our schools, and let's put Planned Parenthood in charge of these sex clinics, because the bill requires under this provision, Planned Parenthood would be authorized to serve as a sponsoring facility for the Nation's schools. As a matter of fact, the bulk of this health care bill is scheduled to go into effect in 2013. Remember, all the taxes will start this coming January, Mr. Speaker. Right away, at the time we can least afford it, the taxes will go into place, but the provisions of this bill actually go into effect in 2013." [Congressional Record, 9/30/09]
Politifact Rated Sex Clinics Claim "Pants On Fire." "Critics of the Democratic health care proposal have been increasingly raising concerns that the plan would provide taxpayer-subsidized abortions (a claim we address here). The Liberty Counsel, a conservative group, puts a different twist on that concern, alleging that Page 992 of the bill "will establish school-based 'health' clinics. Your children will be indoctrinated and your grandchildren may be aborted!' ... That's not persuasive. We see no language in the three main versions of the bill that would allow school-based clinics, which have a long history of providing basic health services to underprivileged students, to provide abortions. Nor would the clinics even be new — they have been around for three decades. So we rate the claim Pants on Fire!." http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/aug/07/liberty-counsel/school-health-clinics-would-not-provide-abortions/
CLAIM #5: Bachmann Agreed That Health Insurance Reform Would Create Death Panels. Bachmann also dug in on death panels: "But there's been a confusion about death panels. "Death panels" isn't just about end-of-life counseling. Death panels are the bureaucracies that President Obama is establishing, that will -- where bureaucrats will make the decision on who gets health care, and how much. who will have access to doctors? How quickly? What will the delays be? Because we know, this bill will include rationing." [Talking Points Memo, 9/14/09]
AP FactCheck: The Health Care Bill Does Not Promote Euthanasia. “Nothing in the legislation would carry out such a bleak vision. The provision that has caused the uproar would instead authorize Medicare to pay doctors for counseling patients about end-of-life care, if the patient wishes. Here are some questions and answers on the controversy: Q: Does the health care legislation bill promote ‘mercy killing,’ or euthanasia? A: No. Q: Then what's all the fuss about? A: A provision in the House bill written by Rep. Earl Blumenauer ( D-Ore.) would allow Medicare to pay doctors for voluntary counseling sessions that address end-of-life issues. The conversations between doctor and patient would include living wills, making a close relative or a trusted friend your health care proxy, learning about hospice as an option for the terminally ill, and information about pain medications for people suffering chronic discomfort. The sessions would be covered every five years, more frequently if someone is gravely ill.” [AP, 8/11/09]
NYT: “Death Panels” Claim Is “False.” “The stubborn yet false rumor that President Obama’s health care proposals would create government-sponsored ‘death panels’ to decide which patients were worthy of living seemed to arise from nowhere in recent weeks.” [New York Times, 8/14/09]
FactCheck.org: The Euthanasia Claim Is A “Distortion” Of The Provision That Would Only Require Medicare To Pay For Voluntary Counseling Sessions Helping Seniors Pay For End Of Life Care. “On former Sen. Fred Thompson’s radio show, former lieutenant governor of New York Betsy McCaughey said that the House’s proposed health care bill contained a provision that would institute mandatory counseling sessions telling seniors how ‘to do what’s in society’s best interest … and cut your life short.’ House Minority Leader John Boehner made a slightly more measured statement, warning that the same provision ‘may start us down a treacherous path toward government-encouraged euthanasia if enacted into law.’ In truth, that section of the bill would require Medicare to pay for voluntary counseling sessions helping seniors to plan for end-of-life medical care, including designating a health care proxy, choosing a hospice and making decisions about life-sustaining treatment. It would not require doctors to counsel that their patients refuse medical intervention. … McCaughey misrepresents the content of page 425 of the bill. That section would require Medicare to pay for some end-of-life planning counseling sessions with a health care practitioner. … At least two Republican leaders have echoed this end-of-life distortion. On July 23, Republican Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, the House minority leader, released a statement, along with Republican Policy Committee Chairman Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan, saying that the bill would encourage euthanasia.” [FactCheck.org, 7/29/09]
