Palin Claims Abortion-Rights Supporters Will Withhold Care From Children, Elderly Under Health Reform

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Seniors / Aging;  Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 11 Nov 2009 - 3:00 PST

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Former vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) linked her opposition to abortion rights to criticism of Democrats' health reform proposals on Friday at a fundraiser for the Wisconsin Right to Life Education Fund, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The speech marked Palin's re-emergence onto the political scene shortly before the launch of the book tour for her new memoir, "Going Rogue" (Glauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/7).

Palin tied support for abortion rights with rationing health care for children with special needs or the elderly, asserting that if policymakers do not believe in the value of a life in the womb, then "perhaps the same mindset applies to other persons." She asked, "What may they feel about an elderly person who doesn't have a whole lot of productive years left?" She continued, "And what about the child who perhaps isn't deemed normal or perfect per someone's subjective measure of their use or questionable purpose in the eyes of a panel of bureaucrats making our health care decisions for us?" During the summer, Palin sparked controversy by falsely claiming that Democrats' reform proposals would create "death panels." While she did not directly mention death panels in her speech Friday, she "repeatedly suggested that liberal social policies could lead to de facto euthanasia," according to Politico.

Palin said, "It is so bogus that society is sending a message right now and has been for probably the last 40 years that a woman isn't strong enough or smart enough to be able to pursue an education, a career and her rights and still let her baby live." Palin also urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to allow an amendment with additional restrictions on abortion coverage under health reform to "at least come to a vote of her colleagues so they can have their voice be heard." The House approved the amendment before passing the bill on Saturday (Martin, Politico, 11/7).

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