Obama turns to religion to press health agenda (Conference call with religious leaders)

[seafan]

Source: The Hill

President Barack Obama on Wednesday tried to retake the upper ground in this month's healthcare debate by casting reform as a "moral conviction" in a conference call with religious leaders.

"The one thing that you all share is a moral conviction," Obama said. "This debate over healthcare goes to the heart of who we are as American people... This is part of an ethical and moral obligation that we look out for one another.
"In the wealthiest nation on Earth, we are neglecting to live out that call," the president said.

Obama asked religious leaders to help him "spread the truth" about reform, and also took the opportunity to push back against critics. He accused insurance companies of spreading "misinformation," dismissed the idea that the legislation would create "death panels" as "just an extraordinary lie," and rejected as a "fabrication" the claim that abortions would become government-funded. "Not true," Obama said.

.....

More than 30 religious groups have banded together to support the Democratic-led reform efforts, including the progressive group Catholics United, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the National Baptist Convention U.S.A., the National Council of Churches in Christ and the United Church of Christ. The group sponsored Wednesday's call and describes itself on its Web site as "an effort from the faith community to make clear to Congress that quality, affordable health care for every American family is a moral priority for millions of people of faith."

Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obama-turns-to-religion-to-press-health-agenda-2009-08-19.html

---

This is a very good strategy. Truth will win in the end.

Ed Schultz has been asking very pointedly, "Where are the religious leaders in this battle? Why aren't they speaking out about health care for all of our citizens as a MORAL ISSUE?"