The media feels that Obama has been attacked enough so now they’re gathering their forces to defend The One and his healthcare plan, even if it means lying.

Case in point, Newsday is claiming that Bishop William Murphy supports ObamaCare based a letter he penned for the USCCB. Oddly, when Inside Catholic covered Murphy’s letter they entitled it: Bishops Blast Obama Health Care Plan.

Newsday wrote:

A variety of Long Island religious leaders expressed support for President Barack Obama’s national health care reform efforts Wednesday…

Bishop William Murphy, the head of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, could not be reached for comment. But in a letter he sent to all of Congress last month on behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Murphy said the bishops support “comprehensive health care reform that leads to health care for all, including the weakest and most vulnerable.”

Murphy’s letter also opposed not treating immigrants or using public funds for abortions. Murphy says abortion goes against church teachings.

Obama’s preferences for a health care bill don’t include public funding for abortions or health care for illegal immigrants.

This claim by Newsday of Bishop Murphy’s support is nothing short of a lie.

The closest thing their is to an endorsement is this:

“The bishops want to support health care reform. We have in the past and we always must insist that health care reform excludes abortion coverage or any other provisions that threaten the sanctity of life.”

And as we all know the healthcare bill does indeed threaten the sanctity of life.

How can Newsday possibly say that Obama’s preference for the bill doesn’t include abortion when the bill itself does include funding abortion?

I mean, let’s just pretend for a moment that Obama really didn’t want abortion to be covered (which he does). The question remains – who cares what Obama wants? The legislature is writing the bill and they’ve included abortion funding and Obama hasn’t said (and won’t) that he’ll veto it if it includes public funding of abortion.

You can read the text of Murphy’s letter here.

The funny thing is that, Newsday doesn’t only lie about the Catholics supporting the bill. There’s this quote from Rabbi Anchelle Perl, the head of Congregation Beth Sholom Chabad in Mineola:

“Health care reform needs to be done in a balanced way, along a middle ground, so you don’t destroy the present infrastructure,” he said. “This is a capitalist society.”

Does that sound like he supports the health care bill? Not to me.

The media is pulling out all the stops for their man Obama. I think it’ll only get worse as the polls worsen.