Democrats say memo showing them running from debate over CBO is a fake

Mike Riggs Contributor
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UPDATE 3 p.m. – A senior Democratic aide says the memo is fake, according to Talking Points Memo.

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Rep. Boehner’s office is emailing around a memo from Steny Hoyer to Democrats, instructing them to avoid discussing the CBO report and depicting Republicans as “anti-reform extremists.” Below are the juiciest excerpts (again, provided by Boehner’s office–the other two pages are much less salacious):

Do not allow yourself (or your boss) to get into a discussion of the details of CBO scores and textual narrative.  Instead, focus only on the deficit reduction and number of Americans covered.”
“Do not give [opponents] ground by debating details. (For example, the March 11 letter has estimates of discretionary costs not accounted in the [deficit reduction] total).  Again, instead focus only on the deficit reduction and number of Americans covered.”
“Most health staff are already away that our health proposal does not contain a [Medicare physician payment] “doc fix.” … The inclusion of a full SGR repeal would undermine reform’s budget neutrality.  So again, do not allow yourself (or your boss) to get into a discussion of the details of CBO scores and textual narrative.  Instead, focus only on the deficit reduction and number of Americans covered.”
Leadership and the White House are working with the [American Medical Association] to rally physicians for a full SGR repeal later this spring.  However, both health and communications staff should understand we do not want that policy discussion discussed at this time, lest I [sic] complicate the last critical push to pass health reform.”

Wow.