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Did Michelle Obama Sneak a Debunked Theory About Barack’s Mother Into His DNC Intro Video?

Sep. 7, 2012 8:26pm Madeleine Morgenstern

Did Michelle Obama Sneak a Debunked Theory About Baracks Mother Into His DNC Intro Video? The seven-minute video that played just before President Barack Obama took the stage at the Democratic National Convention to formally accept the party’s nomination was a recap of sorts of his first term in office — but did it also sneak in a debunked line about his mother’s death?

“When my mom got cancer she wasn’t a wealthy woman, and it pretty much drained all her resources,” Obama said in a voice over during a portion of the video devoted to passage of the health care law. [3:20 mark]

Michelle Obama was featured next: “Watching your mother die of something that could have been prevented — that’s a tough thing to deal with.”

It’s a line nearly identical to the one she gave in the 17-minute, Tom Hanks-narrated “The Road We’ve Traveled” campaign film released earlier this year. At the time, the Washington Post’s Fact Checker took on that account of Obama’s mother’s cancer and her fight with insurance, awarding it three Pinocchios.

The Post’s Fact Checker stated, in part:

The first lady also suggests the death “could have been prevented.” … it was not an insurance issue. Before going overseas, Dunham was too busy with work and had skipped an important test recommended by her U.S. doctor, dilation and curettage, that might have spotted the cancer earlier. Then an Indonesian doctor diagnosed her problem as appendicitis and removed her appendix. By the time the cancer was finally discovered, it was third-stage.

As the Post noted, Obama in 2008 repeatedly made reference to the notion that his mother was denied health coverage and with it could have lived longer. But journalist Janny Scott wrote in her biography of Stanley Ann Dunham that Obama’s mother’s coverage dispute was for disability, not health insurance:

Scott writes that Dunham, who died in 1995 of uterine and ovarian cancer, had health insurance that “covered most of the costs of her medical treatment…The hospital billed her insurance company directly, leaving Ann to pay only the deductible and any uncovered expenses, which, she said, came to several hundred dollars a month.”

Dunham had filed the disability claim to help pay for those additional expenses. The company denied the claim because her doctor had suspected uterine cancer during an office visit 2 ½ months before Dunham had started the job with Development Alternatives, though Dunham said the doctor had not discussed the possibility with cancer with her. Dunham requested a review from CIGNA, saying she was turning the case over to “my son and attorney Barack Obama.”

A White House spokesman said at the time that “the president has told this story based on his recollection of events that took place more than 15 years ago.”

Read the Post’s full fact check here.

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Comments (94)

Mobuy
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:45pm
Why are you so concerned about her looks and why do you have to be such a jerk about it? Also, I’m missing the relevance here.

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LibsRstupid
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:33pm
It‘s a bitch when you get caught in a lie. Try telling the truth. Oops that might be racist!.

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- Sirfoldallot
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:51pm
  So many stories , must be hard to choose 1.
  
  Report this comment
- moretea
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 12:27am
  Like Bill Clinton said in 2008, this is a big fairy tale. So many lies and embarrassments from this administration. I hope someone is keeping a compilation of them ( ie: sending the Dahli Lama out the backdoor of the WH with the trash; Chairman Mao Xmas tree; etc.)
  
  Report this comment
- sillyfreshness
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 1:17am
  Communists do lie. Fact.
  
  Report this comment
- TONY BOLOGNA
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 1:33am
  libsrstupid – and ewe should bee glaad that ewe spenntt tree yeers in da tird gradee and to yeers ina dah fit graadde annd fineally gradiated from grama skool. Ewe eva git thatt hi skool ekwivalancie dieplomea?? Gud fer ewe librstoopid… Ewe musta bin etha homie skooled bie yo mama or pappy and livvs ina won of dose redd reepubicun staatess’. Eye allzo herd dat ewe dun wedded yo sista and r gunna bee witch baebees ina cupla munths’ Conegradieashuns, luv yo pappy!!
  
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- loriann12
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 7:14am
  I didn’t know you could claim disability due to cancer. I guess I’m not bilking the government as much as I could be. I have stage IV 9where as she had stage III) breast cancer and epilepsy….I could be making a lot. And yes, even with really good insurance the bills come up to a couple hunderd a month. Try going through cancer and having a husband dealing with a broken leg for a year (tomorrow) and having to pay deductibles for his therapy twice a week, too.
  
  Report this comment
- mersey
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 7:48am
  The liberal Entertainment Tonight Democrats don’t care about facts. It’s all about the story and the image! Facts are boring and get in the way of a Utopian society. Unfortunately we can’t physically ship all of these progressive dreamers to the Parallel Universe they mentally inhabit now.
  
  Report this comment
- Bohump
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 8:00am
  Check Out :… “Dreams of my Real father “… on youtube. ..to find out about Mommy
  
  Report this comment
- Jenny Lind
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 9:52am
  Lorianne, I had no idea you have been sick, I am so sorry. My husband died of cancer, and I took care of him. I really get what you are saying. We had no out of pocket medical expenses, but gas isn’t free, dr’s apts, hospital apts and stays, chemo apts, it all adds up. Special diets and supplements too. I know how tough it gets emotionaly too, and I will keep you in my prayers and your family
  
  Report this comment
- Look4DBigPicture
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 11:17am
  The only people who hear the truth about Obama’s lies are those who already know he’s lying. Because his lies aren’t widely mentioned in liberal media outlets, there is still a HUGE segment of our population that believes this man is a saint.
  
  Report this comment
- ambrosia
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 11:53am
  Ma Michelle is as big of a LIAR, as her wimpy hubby.
  
  All one needs to do
  is go back to the conversation,
  author David Maraniss’
  had with one of Oblameo’s early girlfriends, Genevieve.
  
  She stated that Oblameo told her,
  he tried to AVOID his mother’s excessive, “needy”, phone calls
  as they threw a monkey wrench into his daily
  state of mind & being,
  
  THAT alone, tells you how much the son
  thought & cared about his mother-
  he avoided her & removed himself from her space, intentionally.
  
  Needless to say,
  You just know Ma Michelle would have felt the same way
  about Barry-Boy’s mama.
  They both Hate the same things & people.
  
  She’s in this all for herself, just like Hillary-
  this is no love story, no marriage,
  it’s strictly a business opportunity.
  Google “Vera Baker”.
  Someday she will talk-
  for now, she’d being paid off dearly,
  to live in the Caribbean, after being exiled by Ma Michelle.
  
  Barry’s gay, Barry’s straight, Barry’s strange-
  he doesn’t know which way he swings,
  though usually, it’s whichever way,
  that best benefits his socialist agenda.
  
  They are both frauds !
  
  The Obamas’ marriage was over….years ago.
  They patchworked it together,
  one of his ongoing “composites”-
  just like all the rest of his “known” history
  so they could hoodwink a country, they both hated
  and in their own, repetitive words,
  “maybe, finally…..GET some JUSTICE” !
  
  Tell me, how does one love America
  and say something, as despicabl
  
  Report this comment
- calebjim
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 1:39pm
  These two people have mastered the art of telling lies. Whatever the situation, they will have a real life “lie” to make their position known. I have little respect for the president or his wife.
  
  Report this comment
- DSN397
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 11:07pm
  LIBSRSTUPID I guess you’ve be set streight by one of Chicago’s brightest inner city kids, south side I suspect, but ole TONY BOLOGNA dun be setin you streight, why he be usin he best ebonics, and he unload on you sho nuf. No use actkin a fuu no mo, he done be habbin yo numer, bet it be fiddy. Might as wel turn tail an run befo he be axin you sumin yo don’t be no’in. I bet da boy be no’in Barock, first name bases. Gots him som steam down cittie hal way, if ya kno’s wad’t I mean,
  
  Report this comment
- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on September 10, 2012 at 11:42am
  Just pick one story from menu A and one from Menu B.
  
  My mom died of cancer in 1982. I lived 900 miles away. Somehow, I can recall the details of her treatment and death accurately and fully. I guess my memory has not evolved to the point I can make up an alternative reality.
  
  Report this comment
BOGOTSTOGO
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:13pm
It sucks when the facts get in the way of a good story.

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youshuthehellup
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:36pm
obama is the MESSIAH right? so he can just raise HIS MOM from the dead! should be easy for him right? he even gives away OBAMA MONEY!

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SPIN_MD
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:17pm
Liberals can’t be bothered with facts. Herr Goebbels said truth is only what you make someone believe.

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- cmonnow
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 10:06pm
  kinda hard to say that after the Republican convention.
  
  Report this comment
AlexV
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:08pm
You must be really…really…REALLY dumb to think that this president even know care about the truth.

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Chromo200
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:04pm
And we are to believe this person and her husband .. I wonder how Tingle Chrissy will spin this. Not that I am letting Rayn off the hook for his lie(s). Just that Obamacare will have the death panels becaue old folks can’t contribute to the slave labor that they want. Plus I have to work my behind off to support Obmam’s mother, who galavanted the world.

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topperj
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:52pm
In other words, Obama made up the story about his Mother. But, what else his new? His whole life is a fantasy, a fiction created to make up for a horrible childhood, thanks to his degenerate “mother.” It’s enough to ALMOST make you feel sorry for him, but not quite. His life could make a case study in a psychology course, some day.

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- Zipit
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 11:37am
  It’s well known and easy to look up, veep Joe Biden routinely lied about the traffic accident that killed his first wife and I believe daughter. Even as recently as the 2008 campaign he was on record telling people that, his wife was “killed by a guy who drank his lunch”, when there was absolutely no truth to those claims at all. If I remember correctly, the family of the truck driver that hit Mrs Bidens had filed a lawsuit against Joe for making these untrue accusations. Not sure where that went. Sad but true!
  
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Michael
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:39pm
It is very hard to keep up with the lies that you have told. The truth is quite simple to remember. OMG

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Raging_Waters
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:19pm
Must be hard keepin’ up with all the lies..

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Wool-Free Vision
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:18pm
I would like to point out that the word “theory” in the headline to this story is misused. What was debunked in this case was a flat-out lie, told for the sole purpose of advancing a socialist political agenda, all the more egregious for the fact that it was concerning the death of his own mother.

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- chazmo
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:34pm
  Beautiful summation of this farce of a President.. Nice Job Wool.. Best comment of the thread.
  
  Report this comment
- Look4DBigPicture
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 11:22am
  You pretty much summed up the entire Democratic platform. Pull at the heart strings and damn the truth.
  
  Report this comment
fgbouman
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:14pm
The last I heard “dilation and curettage” isn’t a test, it is a theraputic or abortion procedure. There’s no reason at all to assume that it would have resulted in detection of the cancer. Having said that, there seems to be no basis for implying that Obama’s mother died needlessly because of something that the insurance companies did and I was certainly surprised at the unnecessary implication. In point of fact the picture of his mother, dying of cancer, battling with insurance companies to get proper payment is heart rending enough to need no embellishment but some people sometimes feel a need to gild the lily and others feel a need to act as though that is somehow a big deal or a character flaw.

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- loveliberty83
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:50pm
  a specimen from a D&C is always sent to a lab so prabl the cancer would have been detected or verified
  
  Report this comment
- chips1
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:56pm
  According to Barak, her lily was gilded many times.
  
  Report this comment
- Crazyotto
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 12:42am
  the point in fact was that she did die battling insurance companies…that was a lie…
  
  Report this comment
- Crazyotto
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 12:52am
  I meant she did not die battling insurance companies..
  
  Report this comment
phrogdriver
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:11pm
Interesting.

Obama can’t recall what he was doing when his mother died 15 years ago – completely understandable to the left.

Paul Ryan can’t remember his run time in a marathon 20 years ago – he’s a liar.

Got it.

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- 13th Imam
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:30pm
  I don’t remember how long it took me to go get Chinese food last night. BFD
  
  I do remember how long it took me to drive from SC to FL to see my dad dying of cancer. Very big Deal
  
  Report this comment
BloodSweatandTears
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:59pm
Liar Liar Pants on Fire…..There’s nothing they won’t exploit. I say they because she’s just as guilty.

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vadale
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:54pm
Why would anyone expect the truth from these people? Don’t you all understand? The movement is bigger than any facts.

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progressiveslayer
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:54pm
Then an Indonesian doctor diagnosed her problem as appendicitis and removed her appendix. By the time the cancer was finally discovered, it was third-stage.

Just think if the so called Obama care abomination goes into effect fully all of our Dr.’s here will be just as qualified as the Indonesian quack.

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- chips1
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:34pm
  For English….Press 7.
  
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- phrogdriver
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:34pm
  What doctors?
  
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Ask Uncle JZS
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:48pm
“A White House spokesman said at the time that “the president has told this story based on his recollection of events that took place more than 15 years ago.”

Funny that BO seems to remember everything he learned about _Community Organizing_ from more than 15 years ago but not his own mothers death. How can that be? Oh yea, he doesn’t care about the mom who abandoned him and renounced her USA citizenship when he was just a young pup. Can I call a guy _young pup_ when he brags about eating dogs in his younger days?

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FredSturgly
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:47pm
Obama supporters don’t care that he did the same things they hated Bush for doing

http://danfromsquirrelhill.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/obama-supporters-dont-care-that-he-did-the-same-things-they-hated-bush-for-doing/

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menticide
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:46pm
So much of the official Obama biography is a work of fiction designed to help him achieve his goals. His official biography said born in Kenya when it worked to his advantage. He only attended Rev. Wright’s church when it could benefit him politically, when it became an issue, he dropped him like a bad habit. Obama is 100% politician…

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maddog777
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:45pm
What more made up stories from the obedumb family? Wasn’t his mother and grandmother just typical white people? Oh well 2mos left for them. Lol

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CatB
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:43pm
An Obama lying .. YEA >. SHOCKED …

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floridareader
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:42pm
Mr. Liar in chief has said to many fallacies to his adorers. One of them gave us Obamacare: people that don’t have health insurance cannot get the health care they need. B.S!!!!!
How many people go to emergency room everywhere and get the attention they need, and then claim they don’t have a single penny to pay the bill. The cost of the treatments go to the taxpayers.
Even people from Latin America come to the United States to get medical treatments and some of them leave the hospitals without paying and no way to contact them to repay.
One the perfect examples that proves Obamacare was made based on lies we have it in Florida: a crazy man decides to eat the face of a homeless man causing him horrific injuries. The victim would need several surgeries that cost millions of dollars.
The man is homeless, has nothing. Was his health care denied? NO!
He is being treated and all the bills are going to the taxpayers.

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kickagrandma
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:37pm
Like watching our mothers die from an overdose of lies from your administration? YOU BET YOUR BIG A IT IS!

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Tri-ox
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:37pm
BREAKING NEWS: Big Mo is a liar.

If we are to survive as a nation, obama must be removed from power.

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BIGWUN
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:33pm
How about wstching innocent babies being aborted. Dems enjoy that one.

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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:44pm
  Only if they are burning bibles while doing it.
  
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- Ask Uncle JZS
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:11pm
  I thought they renamed the Bible _Bounty_ you know… the quicker-picker-upper.
  
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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:48pm
  And they renamed the Constitution, Charmin.
  
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