Once again, Politifact gives a False rating to a true statement.
Politifact just gave another False rating to an email sent by the DCCC which accurately describes the Ryan plan as an effort to end Medicare. You can find the relevant article here.
The relevant and egregious justification for calling the truth about the Ryan plan a lie is as follows -
The Republican plan would be a huge change to the current program, and future seniors would have to pay more for their health plans if it becomes law. But to say it would end Medicare, as the DCCC email does, is a major exaggeration. All seniors -- current and future -- would continue to be offered coverage under the proposal, and the program’s budget would increase every year.
Then PolitiFact goes on to make the following argument -
Democrats contend that the proposal would change the essential nature of Medicare as a guarantee of health coverage for seniors. The Congressional Budget Office in April released a detailed analysis of the proposal that concluded future beneficiaries would pay more for current levels of coverage, and that some will decide to go without any insurance.
Many Democrats, including the president, said Ryan’s plan would end "Medicare as we know it." And that’s a crucial qualifier, since Ryan’s vision for the program is indeed very different from what currently exists.
But the DCCC left that qualifier out of its attack on Hurt.
Sorry, PolitiFact, but when you change the fundamental nature of a thing like Medicare, you are voting to end Medicare. It's just that simple.
We need to respond, again, forcefully to their rating of this issue. What can be done? I've emailed their staff about their inaccuracy. You can, too, at truthometer@politifact.com. Please, send them an e-mail and let them know about how frustrating it is to see them try and argue that a voucher system is not in any way shape or form Medicare, except in name. Hurt did indeed cast a vote to end Medicare, and PolitiFact is absolutely wrong in their analysis.