AMA to Obama: Stop accusing us of wanting to hack off people’s body parts, champ
posted at 9:06 pm on August 12, 2009 by Allahpundit
A follow-up to last night’s post about the looming dangers of mass amputation if ObamaCare doesn’t pass. This is now the second time in three weeks that a doctors’ association has had to correct him publicly over a bit of cheap demagoguery aimed at scaring people into swallowing his plan. Or, rather, the third time: The American College of Surgeons released a statement of its own earlier this evening hammering him on the same points as the AMA. What’s next for The One? Accusing nurses of stealing money out of patients’ wallets while they’re asleep?
We agree with President Obama on the importance of prevention. However, a recent example used to illustrate his important point was misleading. Surgeons are not paid $30,000 to $50,000 to amputate a diabetic’s foot. Medicare pays a surgeon, on average, from $541.72 to $708.71 for one of two procedures involving a foot amputation. It is possible that the total bill, hospital stay, rehabilitation, prosthesis, etc. may approach the larger amount mentioned.
In the case of tonsillectomies, a patient is referred to a surgeon after medication therapy has proven to be ineffective. Actually, the medical profession itself recognized questions about utilization and appropriateness of tonsillectomies and took action by developing clinical guidelines, which has resulted in a sharp decline in the rate of tonsillectomies.
These types of examples create the impression that physicians are motivated by payment levels rather than what is best for patients. The AMA will continue to stress to our elected leaders that physicians are dedicated to putting patients first and optimizing health care quality.
Translation: The guy who wants to run American health care was off here by a factor of 100 on cost. Although who knows? If the public’s fears about exploding health-care expenses under ObamaCare prove justified, maybe someday soon an amputation will run you $30-50K.
Oh, here’s something else I spotted on the wire today that has no implications at all for a public option or single-payer. None.










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+1000
rockmom on August 12, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Long legged Mack Daddy, LOL!!!!
Cindy Munford on August 12, 2009 at 9:42 PM
some people are too smart for their own good. Being smart is one thing, having common sense is a whole different ballgame.
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Did anyone catch Dick Morris tonight? He made a very good point. Obama keeps whining about special interests who pour money into opposing Obamacare. Yet the AMA endorsed it, drug companies are endorsing it, AARP is certainly cozy with it, etc
It’s the Democrat primaries all over again. Obama is the underdog, with all the powerful forces against him, except for the fact that he has all the power.
MobsterinVA on August 12, 2009 at 9:43 PM
It sounds like a ghost story.
I went in for a headache…and when I woke up, both feet and my tonsils were gone…and the name on the gazillion dollar bill was…Dr. Roxana Mayer!!
MamaAJ on August 12, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Hitler’s intelligence was over rated too. There, I said it.
Akzed on August 12, 2009 at 9:44 PM
My youngest daughter had a tonsillectomy just today – she went in at 8am and we were home by 1pm. Total cost without insurance 4700 (with insurance 500)
She has had discomfort and infections for over 2 years (the family doc kept saying wait wait wait b/c most “outgrow” the problem) – we finally went to another doc (ENT) & he did the surgery within 24 hours. The doctors politely and firmly forced us to be patient and gave us the referral and surgery only after a large period of time elapsed without marked improvement.
Obama is a buffoon & makes a mockery of the office of the President – let’s have his kids go without care for a few years and see if it makes him “feel good” inside having some skin in the game when they suffer needlessly. He is a fool.
Ris4victory on August 12, 2009 at 9:44 PM
So, I went in for a checkup… I came out and my throat hurt, my voice was gone, my butt hurt and I had a wooden leg….
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Don’t forget………..
……… what is all behind this.
Seven Percent Solution on August 12, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Oh my goodness. This is just too funny not to share…I’m wiping tears away from laughing…
don’t know who this is..just got it from a friend…too much~
http://la-gun.com/email/manning/
bridgetown on August 12, 2009 at 9:32 PM
yeah, it takes those white folks a long time to get riled up, but then watch out!!!
Willie on August 12, 2009 at 9:46 PM
*spit take*
WaltzingMtilda on August 12, 2009 at 9:47 PM
does the long legged mack daddy need an amputation…?
how ’bout a wooden leg?
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Gone from? He was a bumbling idiot from the beginning, but no one wanted to say it. He HAD to be brilliant, smooth, and thoughtful because… well, because he’s liberal and all liberals are smart!!
theblackcommenter on August 12, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Did you at least get a parrot for you bum,uh, bum?
HornetSting on August 12, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Exactly what prevention is The One talking about? He seems to think every ailment is preventable. I suggest that reducing the number of lawyers and government agencies by half will reduce the stress level so much that its resulting drinking, drugs, heart attacks, strokes and etc. will decline and really make us healthier.
IlikedAUH2O on August 12, 2009 at 9:48 PM
I think you just did (thumbs up)
Ozprey on August 12, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Gives a whole new meaning to something costing an arm and a leg, doesn’t it?
Daggett on August 12, 2009 at 9:48 PM
+1000 !
I would add that we need to laugh at him and the Dems. They hate to be laughed at! Saw the video at drudge of Sheila Jackson Lee during her own town hall talking on her cell phone while a constituent was speaking at the podium. Jackson Lee kept on blabbing until the people started to sniker at her.
TN Mom on August 12, 2009 at 9:48 PM
nope, no parrot. but i did get a rainbow sticker for my wooden leg.
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 9:49 PM
No worries America, the “Champ” will tackle Social Security next. He can fix it easily, and streamline the bureaucracy.
At retirement, you will go for your “end of life” consultation, you will be given “vitamins” take two, come back for your first SS check tomorrow. You will die from the vitamins, in two days become Soylent Green. Social Security, and Medicare are fixed.
Thanks Champ! This is the change we’ve been waiting for!
M-14 2go on August 12, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Obama had better hope he doesn’t come down with something that would require a surgeon. Nothing like looking up from the operating table at a pissed off guy saying “So you’re the jerk who thinks I yank tonsils just to buy a new golf cart? Nurse, hand me that dull rusty knife over there, we won’t need any anesthesia for Mr Tough Guy from Chicago.”
GarandFan on August 12, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Cool. I guess with no voice and a sore bum, it figures.
HornetSting on August 12, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Skippy is such a bold-faced liar!
woodswalking1 on August 12, 2009 at 9:50 PM
It sounds like a ghost story.
I went in for a headache…and when I woke up, both feet and my tonsils were gone…and the name on the gazillion dollar bill was…Dr. Roxana Mayer!!
MamaAJ on August 12, 2009 at 9:44 PM
WE HAVE A WINNER!!!
Willie on August 12, 2009 at 9:52 PM
If they hacked out Ø’s larynx, couldn’t a colostomy bag serve as the prosthesis?
ericdijon on August 12, 2009 at 9:53 PM
The guy isn’t stupid. He may not be a genius, but I doubt his intelligence is below average. He is, however, not the great public speaker his press claims. In fact, he’s rather bad at it, on or off script.
It also doesn’t help his case that his assumptions are inconsistent with reality.
Count to 10 on August 12, 2009 at 9:53 PM
If the Europeans wake-up will they regain that fighting spirit they had up to WWII?
WashJeff on August 12, 2009 at 9:54 PM
Just sign right here…………
Seven Percent Solution on August 12, 2009 at 9:56 PM
that’s funny!
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 9:56 PM
If Obama wants a number to have a negative impact, divide the number by 100 to obtain the real cost.(30,000 for a procedure) If Obama wants a number to have a positive effect multiply the number by 100 to obtain the real cost (obamacare cost)
It’s the “Obama Constant”. I think exaggeration is the only think he keeps constant
Conserv on August 12, 2009 at 9:57 PM
If the Europeans wake-up will they regain that fighting spirit they had up to WWII?
WashJeff on August 12, 2009 at 9:54 PM
not too much faith in the Europeans, but the Americans sure are getting the idea and I have more faith in the Americans than the Europeans any day
Willie on August 12, 2009 at 9:58 PM
HObviously you are correct,but his “army” of idiots will think he’s godlike no matter how stupid his actions are.
Jeff from WI on August 12, 2009 at 9:59 PM
Actually, I think it is Bill Clinton who has to worry about getting something cut off. I mean, he is spending his birthday in Vegas while his wife is in the Congo. And she seemed none to pleased with this development.
Bru on August 12, 2009 at 10:01 PM
I used to worry that President Obama would take us back to the time of Jimmy Carter. Now, I hope that is all that happens.
Bru on August 12, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Word
thomasaur on August 12, 2009 at 10:02 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU8vOQNvd3c&feature=related
Jeff from WI on August 12, 2009 at 10:03 PM
April 29 (Bloomberg) – President Barack Obama said his grandmother’s hip-replacement surgery during the final weeks of her life made him wonder whether expensive procedures for the terminally ill reflect a “sustainable model” for health care.
The president’s grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, had a hip replaced after she was diagnosed with cancer, Obama said in an interview with the New York Times magazine that was published today. Dunham, who lived in Honolulu, died at the age of 86 on Nov. 2, 2008, two days before her grandson’s election victory.
“I don’t know how much that hip replacement cost,” Obama said in the interview. “I would have paid out of pocket for that hip replacement just because she’s my grandmother.”
Obama said “you just get into some very difficult moral issues” when considering whether “to give my grandmother, or everybody else’s aging grandparents or parents, a hip replacement when they’re terminally ill.
“That’s where I think you just get into some very difficult moral issues,” he said in the April 14 interview. “The chronically ill and those toward the end of their lives are accounting for potentially 80 percent of the total health- care bill out here.”
TN Mom on August 12, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Exactly. Once they know that their con is truly busted and that we, the marks, know what’s going on, then we can finally start working our way out of this disaster of truly historic proportions.
I usually agree with you, Count, but on this point we diverge. The only times (off the TOTUS) when The Precedent seems even passably non-stupid is when he is on one of his marxist rants. Other than that, he is almost universally clueless. The Precedent is a Renaissance man of stupid.
progressoverpeace on August 12, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Ha! Those greedy money-grubbing doctors do need some opaque, unaccountable White House “oversight.”
Otherwise they’ll take all our limbs just to buy another yacht. Obama said so, it must be true.
Gilda on August 12, 2009 at 10:07 PM
What has this smart, articulate president managed to accomplish this week in his quest to pass a healthcare plan that does not yet exist?
1) Pushback from the AMA, Camille Paglia, an article on Open Left that called him out for lying about his stance on single-payer, and a particularly harsh O’Reilly commentary.
2) Revealing that Congress is not bound to honor the deal that he made with Big Pharma in return for their support.
3) Lying about the AARP endorsement.
Keep up the pressure, as he is cracking under it.
ICBM on August 12, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Fail! Fail! Fail! Uhg!
ronsfi on August 12, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Why you awful,awful racists!…LOL
Jeff from WI on August 12, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Another leak in the dam… More water coming through every day…
Khun Joe on August 12, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Oh the agony of da feet…real grass feels so much better than astroturf…..
justonevictory on August 12, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Good analysis there from the long range.
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Usually, when intelligence is overshadowed by ego and hubris, common sense falls by the wayside. Ahd when you start thinking you’re so smart people can’t see through you, that’s when you become a laughingstock.
jon1979 on August 12, 2009 at 10:16 PM
How would you like to amass $100,000 in debt to pay for your medical degree, spend two years of hard labor as a minimum-wage resident, and then pay $100,000 a year for malpractice insurance to make a lousy $500 for performing a long and risky procedure like a leg amputation? And then watch your President call you a greedy money-grubber?
Where the F does this clown think the doctors are going to come from if his plan is enacted?
rockmom on August 12, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Screw the Docs. Screw the pharma companies and screw everybody who chose to “play ball” and cut secret deals to be treated kindly by their new boss under the Commie system. Screw them. They were ready to sell us all out because they lack any integrity or courage. Now all of a sudden because the little people rose up they find a little courage. Screw them.
TheBigOldDog on August 12, 2009 at 10:17 PM
some folks just never had common sense–plenty ‘o brains, just no common sense.
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 10:18 PM
ARE YOU FED UP? MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD. JOIN US!
Thursday, August 13, 2009, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Collin County Republican Party Headquarters
8416 Stacy Rd., McKinney, TX 75070
“Our New American Revolution”
Make your voice heard! If you don’t take a stand, who will?
Protest against intrusive government!
Stand up for your freedoms and liberties!
Sign a petition against an out-of-control federal government?
izoneguy on August 12, 2009 at 10:18 PM
This is not the ONE that the left knew…this guy is not only not very smart, he is very dangerous.
d1carter on August 12, 2009 at 10:18 PM
boo yah! go get some there TX
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 10:19 PM
The strings are fraying on Pinnochio and Gepetto can’t be happy!
When the strings break Pinnochio will be a useless heap and Gepetto will be looking for a real Boy to do his bidding!
Question is who is Gepetto? Soros?
dhunter on August 12, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Lots of older docs have already said they will retire when this goes into effect.They’ll have a harder time getting people to become doctors which means you’ll get the 2nd or 3rd stringers to go out for that occupation.
Jeff from WI on August 12, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Add affirmative action into that calculus and it all looks pretty ugly. People would be lucky to ever find a 2nd stringer.
progressoverpeace on August 12, 2009 at 10:26 PM
THOSE DIRTY DOCTORS WILL BUTCHER YOU WITHOUT MY HEALTHCARE PROGRAM!! ONLY I, THE OMESSIAHBAMA HAVE YOUR BACK!
BillaryMcBush on August 12, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Waterloo was a one-off. Think instead of something longer lasting and more agonizing… Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow is more appropriate: it went dragged on and on and his troops just melted away
ya2daup on August 12, 2009 at 10:28 PM
I haven’t decided if HE is Evil or just his policies.
“The chronically ill and those toward the end of their lives are accounting for potentially 80 percent of the total health- care bill out here.”
Yep…he said it (to the NYT), Here is the link quoted in the WT. Someone want to send this to the snitch site at the White House because I’m spreading this article around tomorrow to everyone I know.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/may/01/obamas-health-care-rationing/
1-20-13, Noon let’s send Barry and Michelle back to Chi-town.
PappyD61 on August 12, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Has it been mentioned here that in the wonderful Britain NHS Healthcare system that a 2 year old abused baby was sent home to be further beaten to DEATH? Dr. Akajalllsiiujjdhuuem Ibushijusyyydhhhtkkksity didn’t recognize the 2 year old had multiple bruises and a broken spine and documented the “baby was cranky”.
Marcus on August 12, 2009 at 10:30 PM
I’ve had so many infections over the course of the past 47 years, my tonsils are HUGE, every doctor that looks at them says the same thing – “Wow! You’ve got HUGE tonsils!” – but they will not remove them. I’m told that tonsillectomies are considered the remedy of last resort. If there was a fortune to be had by the wholesale removal of tonsils, there’d be a line out in the street in front of my house to get at mine.
uncivilized on August 12, 2009 at 10:32 PM
And Sen. McCaskill wonders why we don’t trust her?
Good grief. If this administration would simply stop lying with every other breath, they could probably get their entire, disastrous legislative agenda passed.
jazz_piano on August 12, 2009 at 10:34 PM
But, have you noticed the way they were salivating while staring at your feet? $123,000 to hack those babies off. Payment within hours. They are every doctor’s dream. Tonsils are for pikers.
progressoverpeace on August 12, 2009 at 10:34 PM
That man is vulgar. Did he even go to his grandmother’s funeral?
tkinTX on August 12, 2009 at 10:36 PM
and thats only 1 car payment for that doctor. he has to do 50 others to cover the rest of his expenses, greedy bastard
andrewtf on August 12, 2009 at 10:36 PM
bridgetown on August 12, 2009 at 9:32 PM
long legged mack daddy . that was too funny .
liberdadereigns on August 12, 2009 at 10:38 PM
They will give a mandate about who will become doctors.
Johan Klaus on August 12, 2009 at 10:38 PM
TN Mom on August 12, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Oops. Was referring to the article that TN Mom posted. Dude’s still vulgar, article or not.
tkinTX on August 12, 2009 at 10:38 PM
A Parrot?
Just turn on MSDNC it’s loaded with Parrot!
DSchoen on August 12, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Damn. I thought they just had a foot fetish. **sigh**
uncivilized on August 12, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Yup. Some folks forgot what happened the last time white folks got rilled up. Back in 1860. Not a pretty sight. Not at all.
AW1 Tim on August 12, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Didn’t he fly to Hawaii to make sure
he got his original his birth certificate our of her dying handsshe saw him one last time bfore she passed away the week before he election?Wasn’t that enough you heartless right winger?
BillaryMcBush on August 12, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Is that Racist? Just askin?
Buyin ammo, gold, silver!
dhunter on August 12, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Is there still any doubt that Dear Leader is an unconscionable liar?
Mahdi Al-Dajjal on August 12, 2009 at 10:48 PM
I think this calls for a tune…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-64CaD8GXw&feature=PlayList&p=51B160EB9692690C
yakwill83 on August 12, 2009 at 10:48 PM
I mean seriously, I miss one day of watching this ummm “smart” President and now he is an expert on amputating feet? I don’t want to know what’s next. Isn’t this guy supposed to be on vacation?
hmfearny on August 12, 2009 at 10:48 PM
He is busy pressing the flesh with the faithful ignorant unwashed masses that bought his bullsh!t and helped get him elected.
When you build your house on manure, you got to work overtime to keep piling on the bull.
BillaryMcBush on August 12, 2009 at 10:50 PM
How long can the mainstream media keep falling all over Pinnochio as he keeps makin an ass out of them and himself?
When they get tired of holding up Pinnochio he will be a useless heap and they will have lost what tiny little bit of credibility they had left.
dhunter on August 12, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Where’s that damned teleprompter?
He really did say that, how duuuummmmb! I’ve got nothing else to say, flabbergasted
elclynn on August 12, 2009 at 11:03 PM
That’s Rev. Manning. He had a video going around back in the campaign, also warning against the idiot messiah. He loves America and our traditions, but I don’t think he’s right about the revolution. Our dollar is going to be destroyed too quickly for anyone to react, and after that it’s anyone’s guess what might happen – though there can’t be any cohesive nation without a working currency.
I’ve been telling Jews much the same thing, that liberal Jews supporting The Precedent and his anti-American stance are going to bring hell down on all of us. It amazes me that people could have all experienced Oct 2008 (how society flipped a switch when the credit crisis hit) and still not realize that society can turn on a dime and in amazingly unpredictable and uncontrollable ways. We are headed towards Oct 2008 redux, but 1000 times worse and without anything left to buy time with. The next time it will crash and it’s going to be very ugly.
progressoverpeace on August 12, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Hey AMA, you endorsed this guy and his plan. You’re stuck with him, morons.
Daemonocracy on August 12, 2009 at 11:07 PM
It’s like watching that commercial where the businessman talks about “sticking it to The Man” but is reminded that he is “The Man.”
J_Crater on August 12, 2009 at 11:08 PM
We found the birth certificate!
AltTuning on August 12, 2009 at 11:12 PM
So, is the POTUS trying to tell us that we simply won’t be getting surgery under his plan?
theCork on August 12, 2009 at 11:13 PM
They can’t help it. Leftists will lie even when the truth would server their purposes. Leftism, or whatever deficiency necessary to embrace Leftism, is a mental disease. Lying is a fundamental part of what they are. That is also why the can’t or won’t believe the truth when they see it. They assume everyone else is like them.
mrpeabody on August 12, 2009 at 11:14 PM
Champ
Chemp
Chimp
Chomp
Chump
Chymp
All the vowels. Take your pick.
GunRunner on August 12, 2009 at 11:17 PM
IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
IT COMING PEOPLE
http://la-gun.com/email/manning/
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE YOUR EYES
MRMIKE on August 12, 2009 at 11:38 PM
The current cost of one Electroshock Therapy session is approximately between $240.00 and $800.00….unless the surgeon decides he needs a couple of new suits from Brooks Brothers…and decides to remove the whole brain thus he can charge between $5,000.00 to $10,000.00….as in the case of our current President.
papabrody on August 12, 2009 at 11:43 PM
Someone wanna bring up Planned Parenthood and Partial Birth Abortion?
Scissors are a heck of a lot cheaper than an Abortion Machine.
- The Cat
MirCat on August 12, 2009 at 11:55 PM
Whoa, he is actually going to start pitching reduced care for the elderly. What is next, restriction on reproductive rights for the purpose of Eugenics that Zeke Emanuel Mengele wants?
Holger on August 13, 2009 at 12:07 AM
Prevention:
If that damn Stanley Dunham had kept her legs closed when she was 17 none of this would be happening!!
BillaryMcBush on August 13, 2009 at 12:12 AM
OUCH!
“Hello, flag@whitehouse.gov? You’re not gonna believe what I just saw on Hotair …”
VibrioCocci on August 13, 2009 at 12:17 AM
First post on Hot Air. Keep in mind that Obama is being fed this information – thus he is surrounded by idiots. And then – he has no common sense to question an obvious inflation in medical costs. One wonders how many times you would allow your staff to publically embarass you before you begin questioning the information you are given and request some kind of backup. This is indicative of someone who lacks any management or executive skills. History will show that Mr. Obama’s competency rating of all Presidents is the lowest of the lowest. What a disgrace!
Bereans on August 13, 2009 at 12:21 AM
Imagine when we take back the WH and releases those records if we can legally release them.
Holger on August 13, 2009 at 12:22 AM
Since history is written by the left, Obama will go down in history as the bestest, coolest, hippest, most adored prez-in-chief we ever had.
VibrioCocci on August 13, 2009 at 12:24 AM
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