There is one point on which the president may not be criticized: he is a skilled verbal gymnast and there is no denying it.  Most recently, he has denied that the government taking more of our money as a penalty for not living up to our supposed "responsibility to get health insurance" would be a tax increase, despite the dictionary's assertion to the contrary:

"I don't think I'm making it up," Mr. Stephanopoulos said. He then had the temerity to challenge the Philologist in Chief, with an assist from Merriam-Webster. He cited that dictionary's definition of "tax"—"a charge, usually of money, imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes."

Mr. Obama: "George, the fact that you looked up Merriam's Dictionary, the definition of tax increase, indicates to me that you're stretching a little bit right now. . . ."

Riiight...because checking with the dictionary is always indicative of stretching the truth.

Not to fearmonger, but this story is, if true, quite frightening.

Doctors left a premature baby to die because he was born two days too early, his devastated mother claimed yesterday.  Sarah Capewell begged them to save her tiny son, who was born just 21 weeks and five days into her pregnancy almost four months early.

They ignored her pleas and allegedly told her they were following national guidelines that babies born before 22 weeks should not be given medical treatment.

Miss Capewell, 23, said doctors refused to even see her son Jayden, who lived for almost two hours without any medical support.  She said he was breathing unaided, had a strong heartbeat and was even moving his arms and legs, but medics refused to admit him to a special care baby unit.

Read the rest of this disgusting story here.  Thanks to Matthew Hurtt for the link.

While the healthcare "debate" has been childish at best, this commercial illustrates the reason why real discussion about healthcare reform is not taking place. Instead of critically engaging the issues, the GOP has once again resorted to fear tactics to accomplish its goals. By inciting fear and anger in its consitutents, the GOP has funneled the energy born in August's townhall meetings in hopes to once again breath life into the party.