Obamacare: Palin’s Use of E-Word (“Evil”) Unworthy of Substantive Debate

Sarah Palin has weighed in against Obamacare, worrying that centralized control over what is (and is not) covered could result in rationing against the most weak and vulnerable.  From the story:

Palin, in her first policy statement since resigning as Alaska governor, wrote on her Facebook page Friday afternoon that the sick, elderly and disabled would suffer should healthcare be rationed, as conservatives claim it will with a public option. “The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s ‘death panel’ so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their ‘level of productivity in society,’ whether they are worthy of health care,” Palin wrote.

I think that is a real danger, given the power of “quality of life” thinking among mainstream bioethicists likely to be on the centralized planning boards and, as we have noted here, the beliefs of some of President Obama’s primary health care advisers. But the term “death panel” is getting too heated to be effective in persuading, except with those who already agree.

Then, Palin takes the step too far:

“Such a system is downright evil.”

That was unduly incendiary, and unnecessary to her p0int.  Consider: Nazism was downright evil.  Slavery was downright evil.  Obamacare—as wrong as I think it is—doesn’t come anywhere close to those levels of malign human behavior. Besides, if you present your case properly, it is wise to trust your audience reach their own conclusions. Such talk plays well to the gallery, but I don’t think it helps win the debate.

Here’s a link to the entire Palin statement from The Corner.