President Barack Obama used his weekly address today to rebut assertions by opponents of his health care proposals and to reassure those who may be concerned by some of the other side’s claims.“Let me start by dispelling the outlandish claims that reform will promote euthanasia, cut Medicaid or bring about a government takeover of health care,— Obama said. “That’s simply not true. This isn’t about putting government in charge of your health insurance; it’s about putting you in charge of your health insurance.—Obama sought to emphasize some of the benefits that would accrue to those who already have insurance. “While reform is obviously essential for the 46 million Americans who don’t have health insurance, it will also provide more stability and security to the hundreds of millions who do,— Obama said. “Right now, we have a system that works well for the insurance industry, but that doesn’t always work well for you.—Obama cast the choice as being between his proposals and the “status quo,— a notion rejected by Republicans who have been touting their own proposals.“In the end, the debate about health insurance reform boils down to a choice between two approaches,— Obama asserted. “The first is almost guaranteed to double health costs over the next decade, make millions more Americans uninsured, leave those with insurance vulnerable to arbitrary denials of coverage, and bankrupt state and federal governments. That’s the status quo.— The Republican address was given by Bob McDonnell, the GOP candidate for governor of Virginia. McDonnell covered a variety of issues, describing GOP opposition to cap-and-trade legislation, higher taxes, regulation and several issues prominent in Virginia. McDonnell also attacked Obama’s health care plans.“We are committed to helping more Americans get the health care and coverage they need,— McDonnell said. “Not through nationalizing the system with a costly government-run plan, but rather by supporting free-market incentives and helping small business owners make covers more accessible and affordable, and ensuring that Americans can keep their individual private policies.—