Many of you will remember last fall when the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) released new guidelines regarding mammogram screening for women under 50 years of age.
The USPSTF was very quick to clarify the position in that no woman over 40 should be denied a mammogram on the basis of their recommendation. In fact, according to Salon's Joan Walsh, this is the same position they have tried to have published since Clinton was President.
But there were people quick to claim this would lead to a "rationing of healthcare" a notion which Congressman Frank Pallone was quick to dismiss after the controversy prompted a Congressional Health Subcommittee hearing, calling the attacks "scare tactics."
OK, so you know this. I though everyone did, but apparently some people did not get the memo, because I saw a commercial running in 18 Congressional districts where they use the USPSTF guideline as an example of how the government can and will intrude into your healthcare decisions if this bill is allowed to pass.
The claims made in the ad are so specious that Polifact gave it a "Pants On Fire" rating.
So, who would lie so brazenly about facts that were clarified by a Congressional Subcommittee? Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the name of the group, which was born from Citizens for a Sound Economy along with the Tea Party's bankroll, Freedomjerks.
AFP was a main lobbyist for the tobacco industry, which in turn was a main opponent to President Clinton's healthcare reform efforts.