From WNYC in New York, this is NPR's On the Media. I'm Bob Garfield.

And I'm Brooke Gladstone.

Some of people's concerns have grown out of bogus claims spread by those whose only agenda

is to kill reform at any cost.

This week's joint session of Congress was notable for the presence of emotion at the podium.

That we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens.

Now, such a charge would be laughable if it weren't so cynical and irresponsible.

It is a lie, plain and simple.

It was also notable for the absence of civility from the floor.

There are also those who claim that our reform efforts would ensure illegal immigrants.

This, too, is false.

The reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegal.

Now there are other democracies where leader heckling is almost de rigour.

The British parliamentary system seems to lend itself to a certain churlishness.

It couldn't have happened under a liberal or conservative government.

Speaker, there comes a point when stubbornness isn't leadership, it's stupidity.

At least I say it to his face.

Question time, when members of Parliament have at their prime minister, is a hallowed tradition.

America has its traditions, too.

Fred Bightler, deputy historian for the United States House of Representatives,

says having the president address a joint session of Congress was actually made an American institution by a 20th century president.

Woodrow Wilson, he was a student of Congress and what he wanted to do by addressing

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