By Evan Falchuk

Until this morning I hadn’t heard the word “death panels” in a discussion about health care reform in a long time.

But then the Vice President started talking yesterday.  And so if you wonder – like I have – about why myths about death panels live on, just read what he has to say about why we need this reform plan.

In an interview with ABC News explaining the case for the reform plan, Biden mentioned death panels at least three times.  His comments didn’t seem to result from a question asked of him, he just sort of mentioned them.  Repeatedly.  It’s almost like he was trying to remind people of this old trope.  So, on what he’s telling wavering members of Congress:

once the American public realizes [what's in the bill] you’re going to get a reward for this.  They’re going to be rewarded.  But right now, though, all of the effort that’s been placed near the side, the tens of millions of dollars spent by the insurance industry to misrepresent what this bill, if it doesn’t pass, then it’s like well, Gus, guess what, we’ve saved you from death panels.

Clearly not satisfied that he had reminded viewers about those old death panels, he takes the opportunity to mention them again.  This time, it’s in describing the things in the reform plan that will kick in right away:

very important parts take effect right away.  For example, can [sic] no longer be denied insurance for preexisting conditions.  You’re not going to be in a position where you paid into a health insurance plan your whole life and all of a sudden it’s, whoop, you hit your cap, we’re not going to cover you anymore.  There’s going — they’re going to see there are no death panels that kick in.

Oh, right, death panels.  I forgot about those.  Maybe they kick in after 2014?  I’m not sure, maybe the Vice President can clarify it if he, you know, mentions it again.

I really, truly believe that the worst place to be, as a legislator, is being in the position where your side is being pummeled for an idea and there’s misrepresentations about all the bad things the idea is going to generate.  And then the idea fails and then they go, see, I told you Jake was for it.  And had I not stopped, Jake, there would have been death panels.

I know it’s easy to knock Joe Biden for saying silly stuff.  But when he said that one thing he hears from legislators is that the White House hasn’t “messaged” health care reform very well, he was right.

Actually, he’s making an extraordinary understatement.