Doctors given white labcoats to wear for White House photo-op with Obama

An example of where real life and the world as seen by The Onion are indistinguishable. As reported in today's New York Post --

A sea of 150 white-coated doctors, all enthusiastically supportive of the president and representing all 50 states, looked as if they were at a costume party as they posed in the Rose Garden before hearing Obama's pitch for the Democratic overhaul bills moving through Congress.

The physicians, all invited guests, were told to bring their white lab coats to make sure that TV cameras captured the image.

But some docs apparently forgot, failing to meet the White House dress code by showing up in business suits or dresses.

So the White House rustled up white coats for them and handed them to the suited physicians who had taken seats in the sun-splashed lawn area.

All this to provide a visual counter to complaints from other doctors that pending legislation is bad news for the medical profession. ...

Heck, why stop there? How about asking the assembled doctors to wear stethoscopes, lest anyone confuse them with pharmacists? Better yet, have the dutiful doctors put on those shiny reflectors they use to wear.

Gee, what a surprise

Radio host Ed Schultz, who also has a TV show on MSNBC, talking today about Obama's speech before Congress on health reform --

We're waiting to see what the president says tonight, the pregame show well underway, we're 7 hours and 53 minutes and 16 seconds before the speech. You know, we're the only network, MSNBC, that's giving us a countdown on exactly when the big show's gonna start.

Yes, the man is easily amused.

Gentlemen, you can't fight here, this is the war room!

Caller on Ed Schultz's radio show today who identified himself as "Raymond," chairman of town Democratic committee in Dartmouth, Mass., describing his approach to moderating town hall forum on health reform Aug. 18 attended by Bay State congressman Barney Frank --

As chairman of the party, in chairing that meeting, I made a statement at the beginning that I won't tolerate political stances.

Guess this means Barney Frank remained uncharacteristically silence through the meeting.

Possible deal in House on health reform

As reported by CNN -- follow this link for details

Update, 3:30 -- some "deal" -- the only news here is Blue Dog Dems getting House leaders to agree on holding off a vote on health reform until after the month-long August recess.