By Dave Ruthenberg, Columnist

The push is on folks. It’s a full-court press and you better be prepared to play some hardcore defense if you hope to stave off the government-led onslaught.

From health care to our economy, those in Washington who are convinced they know what is best for you and know best how to spend your own money (yes Washington, that tax revenue derives from the paychecks of the hardworking people out here in the real heart of America) will use any means necessary, including “doctored up” photo ops, in the hopes you will not be able to wade through the intentional obfuscation and see the truth.

As many of us have become sadly aware, the Obama administration is based more on appearances than substance and in those rare instances where there is substance, it is the type of which you wind up having to scrape off the bottom of your shoe. More of this was on display this past week when our president hosted a gathering of doctors at the White House who support his wrong-headed health care reform efforts.

Gathered on the lawn were “150 doctors from all 50 states” according to the breathless release from the White House. Of note, Obama, in his opening remarks to the docs stated, “And you look very spiffy in your coats.” Why is this worth noting? Well, he was referring to the white lab coats each and every doctor suspiciously was wearing. Did every doc receive a memo about the expected attire? No, but there now must be a White House Props Czar since White House staff passed out lab coats for the docs to wear for this grand photo op. (Although, I am tracking down an unsubstantiated report of a recent theft of Good Humor uniforms.)

Yep, the White House passed out white lab coats to the docs in attendance to enhance the effect because, after all, just dressed in business suits the docs resembled (gasp!) business people and we all know how much this administration despises evil business people. However, this was rather consistent for an administration that likes to cover-up and put a phony wrap on its real intentions.

But it’s not just our president we need to cast a wary eye upon. You better watch those rascally cats in Congress as well, if not more.

Have you heard about the “Office of the Attending Physician?” Not likely since Congress would really rather you not know too much about this. This is where the privileged class (members of Congress) go for their health care. As reported by ABC News, located in the Capitol Building is a clinic staffed by Navy doctors where members can go for physicals, on-site X-rays and lab work and even physical therapy. Members can also get referrals to the best medical specialists in both military and private hospitals. There is even a pharmacy located in the Capitol Building. And how much does this service cost each member? According to that same ABC News report, 240 members paid $503 annually. Annually! Most people with a family pay that much in a month and don’t have instant access to premium health care.

Do you think Congress will give up this perk and subject itself to the same health care they are intent on forcing upon us? Please.

What’s more troubling is many members who don’t even pay the annual premium avail themselves of this service as did Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Wisc.) who came in proclaiming he would not participate in Congress’ little private health scheme since his constituents did not have access to it. Sounded good but when it actually came to his own health, he used the clinic’s physical therapy facilities after undergoing knee surgery. “It’s one of the benefits of Congress,” Kagen matter of factly told ABC News.

That “benefit” (at our expense) apparently leads to an inability to stay in touch with reality once becoming immersed in the fantasyland known as Washington, D.C., where even your “wildest dreams” can come true if you were to believe our vice president.

You gotta love Joe Biden. Biden, when talking about the president’s economic stimulus plan, stated “In my wildest dreams, I never thought it would work this well.” I guess he didn’t notice since that stimulus went into effect, we have lost two million more jobs and unemployment is soaring near 10 percent.

Those kind of numbers do not make for pleasant dreams, but a cold, harsh reality that has become a living nightmare for many citizens living outside the Beltway.

Time was that snake oil salesmen would be driven out of town. Now, however, the snake oil salesmen are running the nation.

The question is whether the American public can resist being further beguiled before it’s too late.



Ruthenberg is copy editor at the News & Eagle. He can be reached at daver@enidnews.com.