Conrad blasts TV coverage of healthcare

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) slammed television news stories that "obsess" over "death panels" and minor issues in Democrats' healthcare reform efforts.

"I think the media have done a grave disservice to the American people for chasing every rabbit of an issue that matters very little to dealing with has to be done," Conrad said Tuesday. "And I'm not talking about — I'm largely putting the finger of blame on network media that has a minute and a half on a story and never has a chance to explain to people what are the things that really matter to this debate. Instead, they obsess on things that are a complete side issue."

Conrad, during a Senate Budget Committee hearing, said he and his fellow lawmakers also deserve blame for "not doing a good job of coming back for what really matters," reform of the healthcare delivery system. He cited experts who argue that such reforms could cut health costs without harming quality of care.

"It's almost nowhere in the debate," Conrad said. "Instead, it's 'death panels' and things that don't even exist that get the attention."

Conrad made the remarks in response to testimony from economists warning about the long-term federal debt problem, which is largely due to increased Medicare costs. Conrad and other Democrats expressed frustration that the healthcare legislation, which its backers said would reduce deficits, has stalled after the Obama administration and Democrats spent months working on it.

"We've lost an entire year of this administration already before we can really deal with this" fiscal and healthcare problem, said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

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