Palin Slaps Down NBC Spin as Matt Lauer Hopes People 'Forgive' President's ObamaCare Lies

On Monday's NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer declared that President Obama "apologized" for ObamaCare failures, "not only the issues with the website, but broken promises as well." Turning to former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Lauer hoped Obama's vague statement of regret [1] was the end of the story: "Did he say what he had to say?" [Listen to the audio [2]]

Palin shot down Lauer's assertion that the President had taken responsibility for the disastrous health care rollout: "What apology? What apology? He kind of acknowledged a bit that there is a broken website. The broken website is the least of America's worries. This broken website, I think, is symbolic of a broken administration – takeover of 1/6 of our economy and this socialized medicine that's being crammed down our throat, that's what's broken."

Lauer stuck by his spin: "[Obama] apologized for the fact that he made a promise during the rollout, during the campaign..." He then tried to downplay the fallout from the President's deception: "5% of Americans can't keep it because it doesn't meet the standards of the new health care law. If it turns out, Governor, that they end up – those 5% of people – with a better health insurance policy, do you think they'll forgive him for the broken promise?"

Again, Palin pushed back

But where do you get this 5%? It's not 5%. It's most Americans will not be able to keep the health care policy and programs that they had desired and the new programs that are being forced down our throat are unaffordable. People who are being told today if you – and some of them are still being told – "Well, if you like that insurance policy and that coverage, you still will be able to keep it. It's just going to cost you a little bit more." That's the point, if it's going to cost you more, then it's not the same policy.

In frustration, Lauer attacked conservatives for criticizing ObamaCare: "From the Tea Party over and over again we're hearing the words 'no,' 'defund,' 'delay,' 'repeal.' What are we hearing from the Tea Party in terms of an absolute realistic plan that could be an alternative to ObamaCare?"

Palin noted: "And it's not just the independent grassroots Tea Party movement saying this, it's many in the Republican Party-" Lauer interrupted her: "But where's the plan from the Tea Party?" Palin finished her thought: "...and many Democrats, too. Especially Democrats in red states that are running for re-election who are running for political cover." Ignoring her correction to his assertion, Lauer insisted: "Where's the plan?"

Here is a transcript of the November 11 exchange:

7:16AM ET

MATT LAUER: Former Governor Sarah Palin is with us now. She has a new book out called Good Tidings and Great Joy: Protecting the Heart of Christmas. Governor, good to see you again, good morning.

SARAH PALIN: Thank you so much. Thank you.  

LAUER: Now let me – I'll get to the book in a second – let me start with ObamaCare and the rollout issues. The President apologized at the end of the last week for not only the issues with the website, but broken promises as well. Did he say what he had to say?

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Sarah Palin One-on-One; Her Take on ObamaCare Rollout Debacle]

PALIN: What apology? What apology? He kind of acknowledged a bit that there is a broken website. The broken website is the least of America's worries. This broken website, I think, is symbolic of a broken administration – takeover of 1/6 of our economy and this socialized medicine that's being crammed down our throat, that's what's broken.

LAUER: He apologized for the fact that he made a promise during the rollout, during the campaign for health -

PALIN: Many, many, many promises.

LAUER: Made it over and over again. Said you get to keep your existing policy if you like it. 5% of Americans can't keep it because it doesn't meet the standards of the new health care law. If it turns out, Governor, that they end up – those 5% of people – with a better health insurance policy, do you think they'll forgive him for the broken promise?

PALIN: But where do you get this 5%? It's not 5%. It's most Americans will not be able to keep the health care policy and programs that they had desired and the new programs that are being forced down our throat are unaffordable. People who are being told today if you – and some of them are still being told – "Well, if you like that insurance policy and that coverage, you still will be able to keep it. It's just going to cost you a little bit more." That's the point, if it's going to cost you more, then it's not the same policy.

LAUER: From the Tea Party over and over again we're hearing the words "no," "defund," "delay," "repeal."

PALIN: Right on. Absolutely.

LAUER: What are we hearing from the Tea Party in terms of an absolute realistic plan that could be an alternative to ObamaCare?

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Sarah Palin One-on-One; Her Take on State of GOP and Tea Party]

PALIN: And it's not just the independent grassroots Tea Party movement saying this, it's many in the Republican Party...

LAUER: But where's the plan from the Tea Party?

PALIN: ...and many Democrats, too. Especially Democrats in red states that are running for re-election who are...

LAUER: Where's the plan?

PALIN: ...running for political cover. The plan is to allow those things that had been proposed over many years to reform a health care system in America that certainly does need more help so that there's more competition, there's less tort reform threat, there's less trajectory of the cost increases...

LAUER: So you're telling me you think-

PALIN: ...and those plans have been proposed over and over again. And what thwarts those plans? It's the far left. It's President Obama and his supporters who will not allow the Republicans to usher in free market, patient-centered, doctor-patient relationship links to reform health care.

(...)