political podcast to get the best political team to go any time. this is what you do. you subscribe at cnn.com/situationroom. i'm wolf blitzer. >> in "the situation room." up next, lou dobbs tonight. lou? >> good evening. thank you everybody. the obama white house and powerful special interest groups joining forces. their plan to attack the president's government proposal. large polls showing a large desserting president obama. fighting back against the democratic's party assault. they are, in fact, demanding the right to be heard at town hall meetings and in a barrage of e-mails targeting members of congress. in our face-off debate tonight, we exam the issue of whether the federal government has a moral obligation to provide health care as many liberals are asserting now.

first, the white house has opened a new front in its campaign to sell the president's plan. why officials are calling on democrats to send out a barrage of e-mails to support the agenda. david axelrod says those e-mails should debunk what he calls myths and lies. it's an attempt by the white house to stop the president's health care plan from collapsing altogether. dan lothian has our report from the white house. dan? >> indeed. the white house, as you know, has been hosting these town hall meetings around the country and they also put up this meeting to debunk the myths out there. now comes this e-mail from david axelrod who is the senior advisor to the president. it reads, "across the country we are seeing vig yous debate about health insurance reform. unfortunately some of the old

tactics that we now are back. even the viral and where we do disagree, let's disagree over things that are real, not the misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that has been proposed. this, again, is showing how the white house is concerned and perhaps even frustrated that their message is getting lost in all of the noise. take a list zone to what robert gibbs had to say today at his daily briefing. >> i think he believes very strongly, as we talked about how to address misconceptions or misimpressions about the bills. i do believe that the president feels strongly that when he makes his case, it helps the case for overall health care reform. >> so, again, the white house believing that these town halls have been effective for the

president to get his message across and that's why you'll see the president going to a town hall meeting tomorrow in montana and then off to colorado on saturday. lou? >> now, this sounds awfully like manufacturing. it sounds like astro turf on the part of the white house which is the very same press secretary robert gibbs was -- well, has been moaning within the past week. all of the noise, as they see it, some of the misinformation as they are calling it at these town hall meetings out there. and they said, yeah, there is that concern. obviously, though, the white house hoping that they will base it on facts and not any misinformation as they see it. what they are trying to do is knock it all down. we are seeing such an aggressive effort with the town hall

meetings and then i take you back to when the president was in new hampshire and he started off his town hall by telling folks that, you know, i want to hear from people who don't agree with me. and then at the end when most of the questions were relatively easy questions, then he started asking, anybody here disagree with me? they really try to at least from a marketing standpoint try to push to try to get folks to talk about these -- what they see as myths so they can correct them. that's a big push that we're seeing here at the white house. >> is there some increased difficulty because the president himself has been contradicted by the congressional budget office on three principle assertions in his health care initiatives? that it would be budget neutral, that they would pay for a central portion of whatever legislation resulted and that the preventive medicine would have a significant reduction on the cost of health care and then finally, as he was calling for a

response to those misrepresentations of his critics, he misrepresented the position of the aarp. >> that's right. they pointed out that he was suggesting at least that they were behind and endorsing this bill and the aarp flatly said, listen, while we do support health care reform, we have not endorsed anything at all. the white house press secretary robert gibbs saying, there is obviously a lot of criticism to what the president is pushing as to whether or not he can really deliver this based on the criteria, that it will be deficit neutral. a lot of people don't believe that this will be done. >> hopefully the right contradiction by the budget office. >> that's right. the congressional budget office nonagency, as you pointed out that's right.

we are still pushing forward and hoping that they can get this done by the end of the year. >> dan, thank you very much. dan lothian from the white house. a powerful coalition of special interest groups today combining to launch a new ad campaign in support of the president's health proposal. a group called american for disableded quality care, this is a new group. they are spending $12 million on those ads mostly funded by the pharmaceutical research and and the labor union they service employees international and the white house campaign to sell the president's plan appears to be failing. one poll showing president obama's approval rating goes now to a new low. the latest opinion poll puts the approval rating over al at 47% and disapproval at 52%. president obama has even less support among americans not

affiliated with either party. the independence have a disapproval rating of 65%. they were once in full support of the president. meanwhile, the latest usa gallup poll shows them sympathetic to town hall protestors. one of the president's closest political allies, senate majority leader harry reid, has stepped up his attack on the protestors. senator reed calls them evil mongerss. he says the evil mongers are spreading lies, inknew went doe, and rumor. this is not the first time that reed has criticized protestors in those town halls. he's accused him of what is the loud and tlud voices to interrupt the meeting.

kruk grassly weighing in. he says that the senate has dropped the controversial end of life provisions from the legislation. critics said that they have led to so called death panels and ut asia. and the first by partisan group to assure that the legislation does result and defend a bill open to interpretation but i can't. people are so angry with the way congress is handling the health care legislation with lawmakers and representatives website and

the congressional website slow and responsive. another indication of the outrage over the health care initiatives is the rising number of americans who are outright challenging our political eye leet for the first time. americans refusing to accept what the white house or the democratic party are saying about health care and in effect telling them don't tread on me. lisa sylvester with our report. >> reporter: the rooms are packed and the constituents are ready to vent. >> hear our voice. hear our voice. >> reporter: ben cardin has been in congress for two decades and half town hall meetings that would draw 100 to 200 people. this one had 1,000 people lining up. >> how are you going to look at my children, in their eyes, and across the country, another town hall, another lawmaker.

but the story is similar. >> congressman. we need you to be a statesman and not a puppet in your party. >> reporter: it's as if a lid has been popped. the object of administration at the debate but that's not the only issue that's brought people out to town hall meetings in large numbers. rising deaths and lost jobs are also on their mind. jean wilder is from a suburb of d des moines. >> reporter: a recent poll shows 23% strongly favor obama's health plan while 33% strongly oppose. >> they are using their displeasure with the aspects of

this plan to kind of express their misgivings about the obama administration and what they see as a big government agenda being driven by the obama administration. >> and the people are speaking out, not only at town hall meetings but also through the internet. the house of representatives website e-mail system has been so jammed, overloaded with those constituent's e-mails. lou? >> thank you very much, lisa. lisa sylvester from washington. much more on the show down over health care. we'll have a special report and that the president plan as he a asserts. and do americans have a moral right to health care and does the federal government have a moral responsibility to provide it? also, a report on the health care system of japan. stay with us. to stay on top of my game after 50,

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as we try to bring you a national debate on health care a. debate that we haven't had until very recently. we are also examining how satisfied people of various nations are with their public health care systems and we are also showing you their lack of expectant sees. 83% of americans are qualified with the health care system. life expectant see is just over 78 years, below the average of 79 in other developed countries. in denmark, if i may point out where we've been 90% are satisfied with the health care

system. in germany, 55% of germans are not happy with their health care system and their life expectancy is 79.8 years, almost two years ahead of the united states. 57%, british believes that their system needs an overhaul. life expectancy is 78.9 years. in canada, canadians say that their health care system is working well. 84% and life expectancy and ranked seventh in a survey of 32 nations spain, as we reported to you last night, ranked 17th in the last survey. life ex pactancy is 81 years.

the health care system in japan is supposed to be one of the best high ex pactancy, the highest in the world. a japan niece government survey finds, however, only 51% are satisfied with their health care. life expectancy, like i said, the highest, nearly 83 years. kitty pilgrim has our report. >> reporter: japanese citizens go to the doctor, on average, 15 times a year. insurance covers everyone for everything. after a fractional co-payment, the visits are practically free. even for the elderly, home care is covered. japanese have a life expectancy of 91 years. >> when they go to the doctor,

they say it's a free service. they might bay a few yen, a few dollars, but pretty much it's a free service. they can go to any doctor. they can go to any specialist that they choose. there is no gatekeeper or anyone telling them that they have to go to this doctor. >> there are about 5,000 insurance plans in japan people who are self-employed or with smaller companies also contribute through earnings. courage for public officials is identical. the government picks up the tab for those that do not work and for those over 70. japan spent 10% of gdp compared to 16% of gdp.

stl is a single reason why japan can pay for such extensive benefits. he specializes in health care systems. >> the government sets the fees. doctors and hospitals live within that set of fees and this is, in fact, the perhaps most powerful cost containment for the system. >> 22% are over age 55 and the birth rate is negative. japan is expected to struggle to provide generous coverage for fewer people in the working years. >> well, the japanese economy has struggled over the last 15 years of its own banking crisis and recession. the japanese health care system will continue to be under financial pressure. the economy has not kept up with

the growth in health spending. japan has a shrinking population. it's getting smaller every year, lou. >> of course, always, the demand on the health care system, right? >> right. >> well, it's fascinating. that is quite a life expectant cy. that's huge. >>. >> health care system is excellent but there is also a big lifestyle difference between western nations and the japanese. >> so they choose to be active and not fat. is that right? hope there's a little message there. kitty, thanks a lot. kitty pilgrim. well, most other nations require a higher tax rate to pay for the health care systems. only one of the nine countries has a lower tax rate than the united states. the national personal income tax rate in this country is 35%. canada is, of course, 29%.

in france, the rate is much higher. 40%. the 40% as well in japan, the highest tax rate there is 40% and they rate that at 50% and in switser. >> land, the tax rate is as high as 41 1/2%. the highest tax rate in germany, 45%. the netherlands, the rate for the dutch, 52%. in denmark, 59%. tomorrow we continue our reporting on health care systems around the world. life expectancy is the third highest life expectancy. we'll have much more on australia's health care system. join us for that tomorrow evening. and for more of my thoughts on the president's health care proposal and debate, turn into

the lou dobbs show each afternoon on wor. get the local radio listings. if you missed today's show, subscribe to my podcast. today i talk about the important new group, very ripple. there is this grade line. george w. bush came into office, a social conservative. and last up, a conservative socialist. you'll hear a lot more. just subscribe to one of the podcasts at loudobbs.com. or twitter. up next, why doctors are divided over the president's health care proposal. does the federal government have a moral obligation to provide americans health care at all costs? that is the subject of our face off debate tonight. and nevada, using california's budget problems and

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california and nevada are the hardest hit states during this recession. now nevada is trying to shore up the economy at the expense of california. its using california's budget crisis and economic crisis to poach business. casey has our report. >> reporter: a so-called flash mob breaks out in dancing in front of a landmark hollywood theater to deliver a message.

they were hired by the nevada development authority and good-bye is exactly what the nevada hopes local businesses will say to california. the silver state is trying to cash in on california's budget crisis, higher taxes, severe cuts in education spending, and government bureaucracy. recruiters are running these ads. >> hard work. always looking out for you small business owners. >> they tell you they are working on a new plan just for you. >> don't wait until they put lipstick on that thing. >> reporter: the development authority said that their phone started ringing after their commercial debuted last week. >> they will pay taxes. they want to get their money's worth. they want to make sure that they have successful years year after year after year. >> not so fast says california

business groups. nevada has its own money troubles, including the highest home foreclosure rate. >> they wouldn't be here trying to steal our business. >> the california president says there's no need for a retal yeah tore campaign and dismissing is a one injury state and that is has been trying to global stit crisis but this is the most aggressive effort today. >> we love you. >> relocate your business to las vegas. >> the california chamber of commerce says it is trying to persuade state lawmakers to make sure the temporary tax hikes recently passed do not become permanent. unless that happens, it says it believes there is little risk that significant numbers of california businesses across the state line. lou? >> either way, are we having any indication as to how real the threat is? i've got to say, the chimp is

absolutely memorable. that will be in the minds of small business groups in california, no matter what anybody in california says. >> absolutely. you know, this is an image that i think a lot of people, as you say, are going to remember. it's a little too early to tell. this campaign has only been going on for about a week. they've managed to convince about 635 businesses, which is not a huge number over the last couple of years to move to nevada. all nevada needs, because of the relatively small size, is a couple of businesses to jump ship and it will make a dent in their economy, lou. >> all right. hope it's a terrific particular campaign. thank you very much. up next, your question about whether the doctors in this country really support the democratic parties health care plan or are they in president obamas camp or not? and in our face-off debate tonight, we examine couldn't verse yes, ma'am controversial assertions that the government

has the moral obligation to provide health care to all americans. and firefighters are battling out of control wildfires in california. we'll have the very latest.

part of the big news in the health care battle was when the american medical association decided to support the president's proposals. but many doctors inside the association are opposed athey say, in fact, the ama is acting to prevent revenue and not the interests of most doctors or their patients. ines ferre with our report. in a weekly town hall

meeting they taughted the reform bill. the largest organization of physicians and doctors is getting heat for endorsing the bill, from outside doctors and even its own members. the ama represents about 240,000 of the roughly 900,000 doctors in the state. some say it receives little for member dues and much of the revenues from billing codes used by doctors and hospitals and insurance companies, something that is protected in the house health care bill, according to dr. daniel. he said that he left the ama because it didn't represent physicians. >> recognizing that the bill didn't include any of the major issues that the physician looks for, they made a decision to do what was in the best interest of its own business model. and that was protecting its licensing revenue and insurance company clients and looking at what is going to be the next stage of the ama.

which in all likelihood wouldn't be a physician advocacy agency. >> reporter: the ama sayses how it makes its money has nothing to do with the desire to provide health care to all. >> it's about freeing doctors to health patients make the best decisions possible, without, frankly, government interference or what we've had to date, which is health insurance plan interference. that is what the goals are. the rest is really, frankly, probably not more than a simple distraction. >> physicians have repeated that they want health care reform to put limits on malpractice awards, insurance reform, and transparency and billing. and in a recent online survey, an overwhelming majority of the 4,000 doctors who responded, 94% say they do not support the house health care bill. lou? >> the ama sharply divided within its self.

other physician groups also under considerable pressure here. i suppose we'll have to wait and see if the ama itself reacts, right? >> right. they are saying that they are looking out for the interest of physicians of doctors and patients and others are saying that they are really looking out for the revenue stream. >> the billing code is a fascinating aspect of this, isn't it? >> it is. and they oversee the billing code. >> and make money? >> and make money off the copy right of it. yeah. >> thank you very much. supporters of the president's health care plan are arguing that the government has a moral responsibility to provide health care for all americans. but does it? that is the subject of tonight's face off debate. joining me is a senior pastor of the united method dist church of the resurrection in kansas. he says that they should be providing health care for

everyone. reverend, great to have you with us. >> thank you very much, senior hope christian church in washington, d.c., he says that there should be no government intervention in health care whatsoever. bishop, good to have you with us. the government has a moral responsibility to provide health care for everyone? >> i think it has a moral obligation to make affordable health care to everyone. continue has an obligation for that. i think part of the role of government is to offer the safety net needed for the most vulnerable of people. so i think people not choosing to work but the working poor for whom giving up a house payment to be able to provide health insurance for their family is simply not possible and then to choose between making a mortgage payment or deciding to pay for their health insurance and they

choose the mortgage payment and for people out of work and certainly right now in the economic crisis, people who have been out of work for some time, their cobra has run out, i think we have to ask the question, what happens with zsh i'm really asking the basis for your statement that the federal government has a moral obligation. >> i guess the question is -- >> that's the question. leonard, that's the question. >> so what constitutes a moral abl gags, though? and that is, in my mind, related to justice. so we look at the scriptures and from a christian perspective, we find hundreds of calls for justice. >> all right. >> and when we think of justice, it's ensuring the rights of those that can't speak up for themselves. >> bishop jackson, we just heard where reverend jackson is coming from. your view? >> i believe, lou, that we have a great health care system. a few years ago i was given 15% chance of living, cancer of the esophagus.

had i been denied or delayed treatment, i wouldn't be alive today. so one of the if you raise the cost of health care and by broadening out all of the people that are going to need to get these services, what you may do is say that you're not going to get to certain people, that people in certain situations are not going to get treated. the government that you overlooked or looked over and talked about. also, i think -- >> we overlooked a couple, too. >> forgive me for that. but the reality, then, is that my life worthless because i'm worth more in terms of net worth? do we have the ability to say, i'm going to get every homeless person health care even if it means you're going to have other people die? the government is going to have other people figure it out and i believe historically the church has been the people that are going to create hospitals and protect the needy and the poor

and the government is not known to manage things well, lou. so i'm concerned if we change these things, delay, denial means death. and i also want to get, if we get the time, into the issue of paid abortions, which will make it go up by 33%. >> first of all, you've been highlighting countries where they have i think it's possible for us to maintain our current plan. i have good health insurance. i'm happy about that. and i know reverend jackson has to be for whom they don't have that access, what about those

folks? i think we have to figure out how they solve that problem. it's probably a combination of private and public. >> but it doesn't mean endorsing this particular plan. the problem is, we're steam rolling a plan that has not been thought out. its i its implementation is horrible and we need to do something that is responsible and moral. >> let's get to the issue -- >> i'm sorry. >> bishop jackson's point, we haven't -- i'm not endorsing the current plan either. i'm endorsing the idea behind having accessible health care coverage for everyone. >> i think we could all sign up for the idea that it should be something better from there. there seems to be absolutely no evidence of any kind impure clee to support any proposition or any state of legislation either in the minds of the heart and leadership of this congress or the white house as to what