Betsy McCaughey Thinks Her Opinion Outweighs CNN, FactCheck.org, And (Of Course) Media Matters

December 16, 2009 5:28 pm ET — Melinda Warner

On December 16, 2009, House Republican women held a baseless panel discussion on how they thought the Obama administration would affect women. In attendance was Betsy McCaughey, who unsurprisingly took the opportunity to regurgitate several of her debunked, fact-less, and misleading statements on health care reform.

What was surprising was the fact that Ms. McCaughey has evidently placed her own, misinformed opinion above the opinions of CNN, FactCheck.org, and (of course) Media Matters.

Note - McCaughey has blond hair and is wearing a red plaid jacket. She is sitting with her back to the camera.

FactCheck.org On McCaughey's Claims

Doctor's Orders?

Republicans claim that the new stimulus law says the government will tell physicians what procedures can and can't be performed. It doesn't.

False Euthanasia Claims

The claim that the House health care bill pushes suicide is nonsense.

England's and Canada's Health Care

"McCaughey also passes off opinion as fact..."

'SpotCheck.org'? We Disagree.

McCaughey is the source of the false claim that the bill calls for mandatory counseling for seniors "to do what's in society's best interest ... and cut your life short."

CNN On McCaughey's Claims

Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen:

Now, we asked Betsy McCaughey, because she's been through this bill page by page, "point us to the language that says that this bill will dictate what your doctor does," and she showed us language that didn't actually, specifically say that. It didn't say that the government will have the right to dictate what your doctor does. But she says it's vague enough that the government would be able to do that. And, of course, we ran this by the folks who wrote the bill. They said that any accusations that this bill will allow the government to dictate anything to your doctor, they say those accusations are "wildly inaccurate and preposterous."