There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation.  Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to [email protected].

White House wants you to turn in your neighbor
By Dr. Richard Swier | 08/04/09 | 06:15 PM EDT | 0 Comments

I was just alerted to the White House website on healthcare reform. At first it seemed innocuous enough, you know the President is right and you are wrong. He really does not want a single payer system, rationed healthcare or to harm seniors (even though each one of these is in H.R. 3200). Read my column, "H.R. 3200: Government Assisted Suicide".

What is interesting is when you read down the page right under the video of Linda Douglass, Communications Director for the White House's Health Reform Office, saying "be calm, everything is all right" is this chilling paragraph:

"There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care.  These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation.  Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to [email protected]." (Emphasis added)

Note the word "disinformation". According to Wikipedia, "Disinformation is false or inaccurate information that is spread deliberately. It is synonymous with and sometimes called Black propaganda. It may include the distribution of forged documents, manuscripts, and photographs, or spreading malicious rumors and fabricated intelligence. Disinformation should not be confused with misinformation, information that is unintentionally false."

Black propaganda?

So which ones of these "chain e-mails" or "casual conversations" is the White House tracking and how? Who is "flag", the person recieving your reports, at the White House? What does "seem fishy" mean? What will happen to your friend or neighbor who sent you the chain e-mail or you had a casual conversation with after you report them to the White House?

We will contact the White House and ask. Stay tuned.