CNN's Glenn Beck juxtaposed Hitler's "decree permitting euthanasia" with Clinton's plan for health care
On the November 14 edition of his CNN Headline News program, Glenn Beck juxtaposed Adolf Hitler's"decree permitting euthanasia" with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-NY) statement that"the whole issue of health care is coming back."
In his"Real Story" segment, Beck discussed a recent reported statement by leaders of the Church of England advocating that, according to a November 12 article in The Observer,"doctors ... be given the right to withhold treatment from seriously disabled newborn babies in exceptional circumstances." The article added that the church's decision stated that"'it may in some circumstances be right to choose to withhold or withdraw treatment, knowing it will possibly, probably, or even certainly result in death." Beck said the report was"a very slippery slope" and compared it to the case of"Baby Knauer," a blind and physically deformed infant who Beck claimed"was allowed to die" in Nazi Germany and whom Beck, echoing Discovery Institute senior fellow Wesley J. Smith, described as"the first victim of the Holocaust." Beck then juxtaposed Hitler's decision to create"a panel of 'expert' referees, which judged the infants and found out which ones were eligible for death" with a clip of Clinton stating her desire to find a"uniquely American solution" to health care in the United States:
BECK: Once he [Hitler] was through with the babies, the elderly were next. As it has been said over and over again with tragedies regarding the Holocaust: never again. So, when you see politicians making statements like this one yesterday --
CLINTON [video clip]: But the whole issue of health care is coming back. That may be a bad dream for some, but for others, it's a very welcome possibility, because we are on an unsustainable course. I think that we have to come up with a uniquely American solution.
BECK: OK. When you see statements like that, be afraid. Be very, very afraid. It's not a bad dream for me; it is a nightmare. Hillary, thanks, but no thanks. 1993 wasn't that long ago. I remember all too well that confused, nonsensical mess you tried to make of the greatest health care system in the world.
As Media Matters for America noted, Beck has previously referred to Clinton as the"Antichrist" and hosted discussions that attacked her.
From the November 14 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:
BECK: I tell you this because the news today that has come out from the Anglican Church of England -- they have reversed their stance that all life should be preserved at all costs. It is now calling for doctors to let seriously ill newborn babies die.
And if that wasn't evil enough, a top bishop of the church is also arguing that the high financial cost of keeping severely disabled children alive should be a factor in making life-or-death decisions. Cash? I hope that the 73 million worldwide members of the Anglican Church will remind their leaders that the whole"thou shalt not kill" thing -- kind of nonnegotiable, I'm thinking.
The real story is that the decision isn't about compassion; it's not about divine motivation; it is about the almighty dollar. And it is a very slippery slope that has led to some pretty diabolical medical practices not so long ago.
Now, look, as I said, I know it takes tremendous commitment of time, of resources, of love and compassion to care for a physically challenged child, but here's the thing: It doesn't matter what god you pray to or what party you vote for. Don't you think we, as human beings, as Americans, we should draw the line at making life-and-death decisions based on money, especially for the weakest and most fragile among us? In the name of all that is good and holy, I ask you, what kind of monsters are we prepared to become in the name of a buck?
We need to just look back, just not too far in our distant future, and the future of the -- or the not-too-distant past on this planet to see some pretty dark deeds that have been done. You know, I want to share a story with you about a baby that was born -- baby Knauer -- born blind, missing an arm and a leg. The baby -- the parents were just beside themselves.
The dad decided he's going to write and ask for some help because all the doctors weren't helping. They wrote somebody who is pretty powerful, and they trusted him. And they said,"Please, can you help us put our child into a better place? Please remove the burden on us."
Well, he saw the pictures. He read the letter, talked to the parents, flew out to meet with them, just filled with compassion, tears filling his eyes. He said,"I will personally give you my personal doctor to review the case." The doctor came back and said absolutely no justification for keeping this child alive. The baby was allowed to die.
Who was that compassionate, powerful man who so graciously put that baby boy to sleep? You probably guessed by now it was Adolf Hitler. Baby Knauer was the first victim of the Holocaust. Hitler later signed a decree permitting the euthanasia of disabled infants based on this case and creating a panel of"expert" referees, which judged the infants and found out which ones were eligible for death.
Once he was through with the babies, the elderly were next. As it has been said over and over again with tragedies regarding the Holocaust: never again. So, when you see politicians making statements like this one yesterday --
CLINTON [video clip]: But the whole issue of health care is coming back. That may be a bad dream for some, but for others, it's a very welcome possibility, because we are on an unsustainable course. [...] I think that we have to come up with a uniquely American solution.
BECK: OK. When you see statements like that, be afraid. Be very, very afraid. It's not a bad dream for me; it is a nightmare. Hillary, thanks, but no thanks. 1993 wasn't that long ago. I remember all too well that confused, nonsensical mess you tried to make of the greatest health care system in the world.
Your universal health care is only universal in one way: It stinks for everybody. Imagine getting your health care from the DMV. I don't think so. It will also, more importantly -- and here's how it ties into the real story -- will cripple us financially.