White House Answers Health Care Critics With 'Reality Check' Site

As the heated debate over U.S. health care reform rages to a boil, talk among its opponents about European-style socialized medicine and "death panels" for the elderly and disabled has roiled to the surface.

To save its goal of passing universal health care for Americans, the White House has gone on the offensive by launching a new site, Health Insurance Reform Reality Check (whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/), that features videos of Obama administration officials discussing the controversial plan.

Opponents of the President Barack Obama's health care plan have raised a range of complaints about it, including fears it will encourage euthanasia, severely limit health care options for Americans and raise health care costs for small businesses. ...

In short videos on the web site, government officials such as Melody Barnes, Obama's Director of the Domestic Policy Council, Christina Romer, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers and Matt Flavin, Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, attempt to deflate what they consider as false information about the health care reform plan.

Below is one of the videos. In it, Barnes addresses the rumor that senior citizens will be euthanized under Obama's proposed health insurance plan.

The web site also offers a "frequently asked questions" section so readers can get facts on the plan and a section for readers to receive email updates on the plan's progress.

Of course, the White House has its own agenda, so don't stop here. Make sure you're truly armed with the facts you need to make an informed decision about health care reform. Scroll down for a list of resources that can add context to the claims being made by Obama, Democrats, Republicans, and various special interests.

+ Obama Administration's Health Reform Web Site

+ House GOP's Health Care Solutions Group Plan

+ Joint Center Health Policy Institute (on Racial Equity in Health Care)

+ Congressional Budget Office (on Health Care Reform)