Apparently it’s not just Hugo Chavez who can see where Barack Obama and his minions in Congress are bringing this country. Jack Layton, the leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party, links his country’s future with its socialized health care to President Barack Obama’s public health care program.
Many conservative groups have pointed to Canada’s universal health care system as a reason to keep the American health care system in the private sector. Americans for Prosperity Foundation’s campaign, for example, launched an ad campaign last week featuring a Canadian woman named Shona Holmes who was diagnosed with brain tumor and says in the ad the only way she survived was by seeking treatment in America.
Mr. Layton accused groups like this of “sowing the seeds of fear with myths and lies about Canadian health care” and said the futures of the two health care programs are dependent on each other in an address delivered at the Woodrow Wilson Center.
“There is no doubt that strengthening of our system in Canada will be easier with public health care in the United States,” Mr. Layton said. “Just as Canada built a strong public health system through a united effort, and just as America must do the same, so too can we strengthen and reinforce the health of all of our citizen through partnership.”
When reached for comment Ms. Holmes quipped “The only partnership we have is a place for desperate Canadians to run.”
Ed Morrissey has the text of a letter Layton sent to supporters saying that he’ll visit Washington to help Obama achieve his real goals for health care: A government-run program, single-payer system. Craptastic.
by Stephan Tawney on Wed, Jun 3, 2009