Obama's Higher Calling

As President Obama called on religious leaders to spread the gospel about his health care plan, he addressed a pair of moral issues dogging his reform efforts.

The president told a conference call sponsored by 30 religious groups Wednesday that his reform did not include so-called death panels and definitely wouldn't fund abortions.

"There are some folks out there who are, frankly, bearing false witness," Obama said, according to CNN.

He called on the estimated 140,000 people listening to help him push his plan, saying that providing health care to the neediest is an ethical issue. The notions of government-funded abortions and euthanasia panels are scare tactics that need to be dispelled, Obama said.

"These are all fabrications that have been put out there in order to discourage people from meeting what I consider to be a core ethical and moral obligation: that is, that we look out for one another; that is, I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper. And in the wealthiest nation in the world right now, we are neglecting to live up to that call," the president said.

The night before, Democratic Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. touched on the same issues at a South Side Chicago church. Democrats are tackling some of these hot-button topics head-on after being pummeled for weeks over negative publicity surrounding health care reform. Obama is returning to grassroots organizers to spread the word, just as he did in his presidential campaign.

The president has some ground to make up, public opinions polls still show negative sentiment toward his reform.

Obama reaches out to a less friendly audience today. He agreed to take listener calls on conservative radio commentator Michael Smerconish's show. Stay tuned.