New ObamaCare talking points: Forget previous talking points
Some liberal groups are finally acknowledging the obvious: Hardly anyone believed their claims that ObamaCare would “bend the cost curve downward” and help balance the federal budget.
The public rejection of the claims may not be news, but the left’s acknowledgment of this defeat does qualify as a scoop — and Politico’s Ben Smith is the one who got it:
Key White House allies are dramatically shifting their attempts to defend health care legislation, abandoning claims that it will reduce costs and the deficit and instead stressing a promise to “improve it.”
The messaging shift was circulated this afternoon on a conference call and PowerPoint presentation organized by Families USA — one of the central groups in the push for the initial legislation. The call was led by a staffer for the Herndon Alliance, which includes leading labor groups and other health care allies. It was based on polling from three top Democratic pollsters, John Anzalone, Celinda Lake and Stan Greenberg
The confidential presentation, available in full here and provided to POLITICO by a source on the call, suggests that Democrats are acknowledging the failure of their predictions that the health care legislation would grow more popular after its passage, as its benefits became clear and rhetoric cooled. Instead, the presentation is designed to win over a skeptical public and to defend the legislation — and in particular the individual mandate — from a push for repeal.
The presentation concedes that groups typically supportive of Democratic causes — people under 40, non-college-educated women and Hispanic voters — have not been won over by the plan. Indeed, it stresses repeatedly, many are unaware that the legislation has passed, an astonishing shortcoming in the White House’s all-out communications effort.
“Straightforward ‘policy’ defenses fail to [move] voters’ opinions about the law,” reads one slide. “Women in particular are concerned that health care law will mean less provider availability — scarcity an issue.”
The presentation also concedes that the fiscal and economic arguments that were the White House’s first and most aggressive sales pitch have essentially failed.
“Many don’t believe health care reform will help the economy,” reads another slide.
The presentation’s final page of “Don’ts” counsels against claiming “the law will reduce costs and [the] deficit.”
So, what do the pollsters and advisers recommend? That Democrats and their fellow travelers focus instead on personal stories like greedy doctors who needlessly remove kids’ tonsils — er, I mean, greedy doctors who amputate diabetics’ feet instead of telling them to modify their diets — er, I mean, well, Smith reports the advice here:
“People can be moved from initial skepticism and support for repeal of the law to favorable feelings and resisting repeal,” it says. “Use personal stories — coupled with clear, simple descriptions of how the law benefits people at the individual level — to convey critical benefits of reform.”
And, finally, they recommend telling the public that the law may not be that great, but don’t worry — the great ObamaCare debate of 2009-10 was just a prelude to our efforts to truly fix health care:
“Keep claims small and credible; don’t overpromise or ’spin’ what the law delivers,” it says, suggesting supporters say, “The law is not perfect, but it does good things and helps many people. Now we’ll work to improve it.”
How about this for a tagline: “We had to pass the bill so that we could find out what needed fixing in it.”
(H/t: Hot Air)
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289 comments Add your comment
Grand Forks
August 20th, 2010
10:29 am
“And for my regular readers, thanks for playing nice with the newcomers!”
For the most part I’ve played nice with Joseph and a couple of other old comrades from Jay’s blog. As for ScamVet, she deserves no mercy on the blogosphere. You should read some of the garbage she posts on Bookman’s pages. VILE and mean.
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
10:29 am
Yes, it is very much a mentality
josef,
If it’s a mentality wouldn’t it have to be their mentality rather than those people who would judge them’s mentality? Maybe it’s those stubborn Yankee roots of mine, but I don’t see you making much of a case for turning “white trash” into a term of endearment.
Grand Forks
August 20th, 2010
10:30 am
“I think my regular readers will tell you that my engagement tends to be a bit streaky, and it’s been a streak of lightness for most of this week.’
Yeah, and unlike Tucker, who bans anyone and everyone, you’re fair.
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
10:33 am
Kyle,
Thanks for the welcome. I hope you’re not confusing readers with blog contributors. You’ll have far more readers than you’ll ever have contributors and even your contributors will have more readers.
Jason T
August 20th, 2010
10:36 am
@GF
Has Cynthia Tucker EVER made any sense? LOL!
AmVet
August 20th, 2010
10:37 am
Thanks for dropping by — I hope you’ll continue to do so even after Jay returns.
Thanks Kyle. Will do.
And for my regular readers, thanks for playing nice with the newcomers!
True, Mr. Wingfield, generally a good group here.
josef, do you remember the scene in Gone with the Wind where Dorothy first encounters the “Wizard” figure after leaving home? (”Child, you cut me to the quick! I’m an old Kansas man myself, born and bred – in the heart of the western wilderness…”)
I always thought of the “Wizard’ as a bit of a Kansas “gypsy”. For me, the term always had as much to do with a lifestyle than being a pejorative…
Grand Forks
August 20th, 2010
10:38 am
“Has Cynthia Tucker EVER made any sense? LOL!”
Well, come to think of it, no not really. I nearly died laughing when she wrote that Robert Byrd was not a racist but Judge Pickering was….
Grand Forks
August 20th, 2010
10:40 am
“True, Mr. Wingfield, generally a good group here.”
ScamVet is either now a shape shifting werewolf or she’s lying through her dentures. You write some of the most vicious and vile things over on Bookman’s blog and here you are acting all nice. You remind me of a Hyena. One minute you’re sitting there licking your butt and acting nice, the next minute you’re attacking local villagers.
Grand Forks
August 20th, 2010
10:42 am
“Thanks Kyle. Will do.”
Doubt that. There’s too many “reicht wingers” as you call us, to name call and tear down on Bookman’s blog.
Jason T
August 20th, 2010
10:42 am
GF
In CT’s world, you CANNOT be a racist if you are a)A Democrat b)An African American. No way, not even possible.
Grand Forks
August 20th, 2010
10:46 am
“In CT’s world, you CANNOT be a racist if you are a)A Democrat b)An African American. No way, not even possible.”
Eh, she once called Clarence Thomas a racist.
Jason T
August 20th, 2010
10:50 am
GF
That’s correct…let me amend my previous post…b) should now read b)A Liberal African American.
josef nix
August 20th, 2010
11:00 am
RW
It’s a dicey term and does sink deep into the cultural soil…I think where the confusion comes in is when the term is expanded to be po white trash at which time it takes on socio-economic connotations…the Southern “ear” can distinguish when just “(white) trash” is in reference to the mentality and when it is in reference to a class of people…as an endearnment, it’s sorta like that “bless his heart” thingie…
AmVet
Took me a minute there with that GWTW one and “wizard!” But the point you make does play into what I was saying about the quasi-romantic but no less stereotypic and drawing from the pejorative…
Bosch
August 20th, 2010
11:22 am
I’ve mentioned it before on another blog, but since the topic is here, I’ll chime in the fact that I am no fan of this new health care bill simply because it is not single payer. In my opinion, that is the only way to actually control costs. I give the Dems in Congress and the POTUS a big F- on this. They caved and bought into the insurance companies. In my opinion, the insurance companies are the problem concerning costs — they represent a removal from the free market system of allowing customers and suppliers to directly set the price of services. They do nothing in regards to direct care, but are a large percentage of the price incurred for services. Several industries have had to re-invent themselves due to ever changing and new technology and I dont’ see why health insurance companies can not do the same. Single payer all the way– until then, nothing will change except the increase in our premiums.
Dusty
August 20th, 2010
11:34 am
Whooooeee…. now let’s talk fair and sensible here and no insults…..But
WHY ARE YOU CALLING REDNECK “WHITE TRASH”?????? (Actually, he’s phony “white trash” which is even worse than real white trash ’cause he is phony liberal white trash. Did I get that right?)
Grand Forks
August 20th, 2010
11:36 am
Dusty
I love it when left wing retards trash talk the south yet choose to live here.
Grand Forks
August 20th, 2010
11:39 am
From NY Times 2008
As the son of the Muslim father, Senator Obama was born a Muslim under Muslim law as it is universally understood. It makes no difference that, as Senator Obama has written, his father said he renounced his religion. Likewise, under Muslim law based on the Koran his mother’s Christian background is irrelevant.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/12/opinion/12luttwak.html?_r=3&pagewanted=print
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
11:41 am
he is phony liberal white trash. Did I get that right?
Dusty,
You’re close but he’s a liberal phony not a phony liberal.
HDB
August 20th, 2010
11:42 am
“And for my regular readers, thanks for playing nice with the newcomers!”
Kyle…thanks for letting a diverse — and sometimes opposing – opinion state its case! Many use prejoratives rather than logic rule…and I’m glad that yo DO call them out on it!!
Grand Forks August 20th, 2010
10:38 am
“Has Cynthia Tucker EVER made any sense? LOL!”
Yes…she has; if one is open to diverse opinions and thoughts, CT has been quite poignant in some of her opinions!!
Jason T
August 20th, 2010
10:42 am
GF
In CT’s world, you CANNOT be a racist if you are a)A Democrat b)An African American. No way, not even possible.
Not quite true…..racism exists on all sides of the political and racial spectrum! We all…as individuals, have our biases and prejudices…..but the key that many here fail to note is that those that have the POWER to exert their racism do it as frequently as possible; those that do NOT have the power can only talk about it!! If one is honest about it….the group that has the greatest power exerts its influence the most!! Those whom are frequently railed against are those that have the LEAST amount of power!!
Halftrack
August 20th, 2010
11:50 am
The real talking points should be about costs. Insurance premiums are not being sent out with increases in their costs. The silent tax that is coming is that everyone will have to pay tax on the amount that your employer pays for you for your health insurance as this now becomes income to you. Benefits for you as an individual will not come until 2014, but many other costs are coming immediately to your door steps. The wolf is at the door and no one is here to rescue us except for us voting in November. P.T. Barnum said it best – one is born every minute.
HDB
August 20th, 2010
12:12 pm
Halftrack August 20th, 2010
11:50 am
“The wolf is at the door and no one is here to rescue us except for us voting in November. P.T. Barnum said it best – one is born every minute.”
Question: Who were the suckers….those that allowed the nation to be Bushwhacked…and caused us to NEED a change….or those who voted for the change….and angered those who desired to maintain the status quo!!??
If you think about it..there are suckers on both sides…but who were the bigger of the two??
Grand Forks
August 20th, 2010
12:41 pm
“Yes…she has; if one is open to diverse opinions and thoughts, CT has been quite poignant in some of her opinions!!”
Oh wow, I didn’t see that one coming. Imagine, HDB defending another racist.
Grand Forks
August 20th, 2010
12:43 pm
HDB
I’m amazed at how you talk about race on a daily basis. I mean, it must suck to live in your world where all you do is live and breathe race race race.
Grand Forks
August 20th, 2010
12:44 pm
“Who were the suckers….those that allowed the nation to be Bushwhacked”
The country was better under Bush than they have been under Obama. Bush has been vindicated with Gitmo, Iraq, Afghanistan, economy, and everything else.
Dusty
August 20th, 2010
12:45 pm
HDB 12:12
Now you’ve done it. Back to the old song & dance. BUSHWHACKED huh? Bush pulled this country together after one of the historical tragedies to hit our nation.. He brought Americans to their feet and defied those who would kill thousands of unprotected American civilians on one sad day.
Now if you did not like that, why did you vote for a man who is carrying out Bush policies this very day? Change, huh? Combat troops are returning from Iraq right on the Bush schedule. Obama has followed several of Bush’s policies. The efforts that have come from the Obama Administration’s own planning are pure failure as evidenced by all statistics. The nebulous infantile healthcare bill is one of them.
Maybe you such drop your brain washing and pay attention to real facts. Bush had determination and stood up for it. Obama tries to appease and promote and flipflop with the crowd while passing out money we don’t have.. It is time for you to notice instead of the usual liberal rote suckered review.
Bosch
August 20th, 2010
12:47 pm
Hey Dusty! Sorry the Braves lost yesterday.
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
12:50 pm
You Obamabots better get over here and spam this poll. The results so far are pretty telling
Bosch
August 20th, 2010
1:02 pm
RW,
Hahaha. Now all the wingnut-bots are gonna spam it and make it worse. We liberals are too busy for stupid on-line polls, we are busy sipping our lattes.
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
1:05 pm
Bosch,
If SeeBS really wanted to drive some traffic to their poll they would make one of the answers be Ron Paul. Those Paulnuts are like moths to a flame when it comes to online polls.
Bosch
August 20th, 2010
1:09 pm
RW,
Paulnut. I like it. I’m a Paulnut, but for the blogger, not the politician. I like our blogger pal Paul. He’s cool.
Off topic, but how’d ya’ see the Governor race going?
Snidley Backlash
August 20th, 2010
1:09 pm
Kyle,
I was so nice to your guests that I took them out on the town last night, even rented a limo. They finally agreed on their favorite place to meet: the Atlanta Zoo. They unanimously voted to have dinner at Kroger’s. They each selected their preferences of cans of beans & Vienna sausage. The Kroger deli was kind enough to let them use the can opener & some spoons. I thought they might enjoy attending the Braves game but they insisted on going to a wrestling match. On the way to the arena, I noticed they limited their comments to one sentence at a time, just like they do on the blogs. The sign out front indicated that Chris Benoit would be on the mat against Savage Love. I mentioned that Benoit killed himself (along with his wife & son). They denied that the story was true because MSNBC had not reported it. They agreed that it’s only common sense that if it’s not on MSNBC, “it ain’t true.” Anyway, we watched a fake wrestler participating in a fake sport & they enjoyed every minute. I was unable to get my limo deposit back. There was too much evidence of man-made global warming in the back seat.
Jefferson
August 20th, 2010
1:12 pm
Hey Kyle, nice words not a bad place other than someone needs to check IDs to keep the kid out.
Just think of the health care as a work in progress.
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
1:16 pm
Bosch,
With the volume of Roy Barnes ads already playing people are probably going to be so sick of him by November Deal will win easily.
Jefferson
August 20th, 2010
1:18 pm
So a crook is better than a liar for gov ?
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
1:23 pm
Jefferson,
I hardly think a prediction qualifies as an endorsement, but a crook probably is better than a liar. At least the crook is dedicated to something.
Not So Casual Observer
August 20th, 2010
1:23 pm
As long as the choice is between “establishment” Republicans and Democrats an intelligent voter will be required to hold their nose to vote for either one. Deal or Barnes is no choice at all.
HDB
August 20th, 2010
1:26 pm
Grand Forks August 20th, 2010
12:41 pm
“Yes…she has; if one is open to diverse opinions and thoughts, CT has been quite poignant in some of her opinions!!”
Oh wow, I didn’t see that one coming. Imagine, HDB defending another racist.”
No…not defending a racist; CT isn’t one….but those who keep decrying her views have issues……..
Dusty August 20th, 2010
12:45 pm
HDB 12:12
“Now you’ve done it. Back to the old song & dance. BUSHWHACKED huh? Bush pulled this country together after one of the historical tragedies to hit our nation.. He brought Americans to their feet and defied those who would kill thousands of unprotected American civilians on one sad day…..”
Economically….the Bush years were NOT the best times for Americans; I know of too many people who lost economic ground (I, for one!)….THAT’S my focus! Bush took two wars and put the spending off the books…and sent the nation down economically! If that’s not Bushwhacked….please elaborate!!
“Maybe you such drop your brain washing and pay attention to real facts. ” I have…TARP, bailouts, economic downfall: all are attributed to the BUSH years! Where was the level of outrage over the deficit and risin unemployment…and the bailouts when Bush was in the White House?? The silence then was deafening!!
The GOP had 8 years to get healthcare straight…and did nothing; the GOP had 20 years to take care of the border…..nothing happened!! Obama’s ICE has deported more than Bush did…..and has made the attempt to work on health care….and the war spending is ON THE BOOKS..so we do know how much we’re spending!!
Not brain-washed…..just not buying all that the Bushies claim!! Also think about this: 1) Who funded the mujahaddin in Afghanistan in the 80s to fight the Russians…..and now, those who were funded have turned on the US? (Ronald Reagan) Who has a working relationship with the bib Laden family, serving on the Board of Directors of the Carlyle Group? (George HW Bush). Who allowed the bin Laden to leave the US when all aircraft in and out of US airspace were grounded? (George W. Bush) Who funded Saddam Hussein against the Iranians? (Ronald Reagan)
There’s more to this than you think….and I’m looking at it realistically!!!
Jefferson
August 20th, 2010
1:28 pm
RW, do you not think crooks also lie? What if the man is indighted (sic?) Would that push it to — I just won’t vote?
HDB
August 20th, 2010
1:33 pm
Grand Forks August 20th, 2010
12:43 pm
“HDB
I’m amazed at how you talk about race on a daily basis. I mean, it must suck to live in your world where all you do is live and breathe race race race.”
My world’s GREAT! The focus of the NATION always has a racial tinge to it!! Look at how groups are pitted against each other! Is it “racist” to point that out?? Don’t think so…..but the more it’s pointed out…the sooner we as a nation can get past it!! To determine how to solve a problem, you have to see that the problem exists!! The nation isn’t perfect…but we are strving to create a “more perfect union”! You point out the flaws so that you can FIX them! Ignoring the flaws makes them harder to fix…….
HDB
August 20th, 2010
1:37 pm
Grand Forks
August 20th, 2010
12:44 pm
“Who were the suckers….those that allowed the nation to be Bushwhacked”
The country was better under Bush than they have been under Obama. Bush has been vindicated with Gitmo, Iraq, Afghanistan, economy, and everything else.
Not everybody feels that way…..and as someone here said: perception IS reality!! I know of many who were working prior to 9/11/01….lost their jobs…and have YET to recover!! The economy went down….and in several areas, Bush has YET to be vindicated…but definitely vilified!!
josef nix
August 20th, 2010
1:46 pm
Jumping in here, but who are the suckers? I venture it’s any of us who keep voting Tweedle-Dum (R) or Tweedle-Dee (D) We fall for the talking heads’ promotion of the two parties to the exclusion, and I do mean exclusion, of those who do come in trying to offer an alternative. The gubernatorial race here in Georgia is but one example. There is a third choice on the ballot. Someone said recently he wasn’t “getting his message out.” The media are intent on seeing to it that he doesn’t,
Racism, etc. Face it, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. We are mired in a black-white dichotomy in this matter. Brown has found its voice and is beginning to get some attention now but black and white are, it appears, hell-bent on getting shed of as many of them as possible as quickly as possible up to an including virtual repeal of the 14th Amendment. Red has no voice and when mentioned is consistently referred to with crocodile tears in the past imperfect tense. Yellow? Let’s see, there was something on a slow news day about a MARTA line, wasn’t there?
HDB
August 20th, 2010
1:58 pm
josef nix August 20th, 2010
1:46 pm
It would be nice if there were other possibilities….but how can one get the message out when they’re drowned by the din of the preponderant two??
“We are mired in a black-white dichotomy in this matter. Brown has found its voice and is beginning to get some attention now but black and white are, it appears, hell-bent on getting shed of as many of them as possible as quickly as possible up to an including virtual repeal of the 14th Amendment.” Right now, it’s nore of a trichotomy, isn’t it?? As I stated before….it’s more of maintaining POWER moreso that doing what’s right!! FEAR is the driving force behind most of this…primarily..the fear of losing power!!
AmVet
August 20th, 2010
2:06 pm
The gubernatorial race here in Georgia is but one example. There is a third choice on the ballot. Someone said recently he wasn’t “getting his message out.” The media are intent on seeing to it that he doesn’t,
josef, until we force change, the corporate owned media will never allow any non Rep-Dem voices to be heard. they long ago shut out and sold out the American people.
Just look at that farce called the Commission on Presidential Debates. Aka the American Politburo.
Take one teeny guess who controls it?
Yep, the Republican and Democratic Parties. Arguably, the two greatest failures in all of America.
But then they’ve ensured that the flacks who use our airwaves do so for free, not even paying rent to we the people, who own them, so it’s not at all surprising, is it?
And how ironic that the biggest blowhards in America, like HeadRush, and innumerable others, who rave and rant against the mooches turn out to be major league mooches as well…
Dusty
August 20th, 2010
2:13 pm
HDB,
If you are going to go back decades in history and blame every thing there you don’t like on Bush, there is nothing I can say to you. You are acting like things were worse before Obama and that is not true. The debt was not as great whether you add in war expenses or not. You cannot say employment was wrorse with ‘Bush. You cann’t say the banks were in worse shape with Bush. You cannot say that the housing market was worse under Bush. You can’t say that worthless stimulus funds raising the national debt even more were thrown out by Bush. You want to nit pick the Bush years while ignoring the dilemma that is Obama.
Maybe if you hold up your head and look around you might notice that things are not going well. And you might notice that Obama is president and has been for some time now and the growing mess is under his administration. Keep whistling in the dark, fellow, but you have strayed from the obvious truth.
josef nix
August 20th, 2010
2:14 pm
HDB
I would agree that we’re headed toward a trichotomy, perhaps, but the issue of brown is still being square-pegged into the round holes of the old liners.
AmVet
As was said in Pogo years ago, “we have met the enemy and he is us.”
Dusty
August 20th, 2010
2:15 pm
AmVet,
Mooches, huh? Takes one to know one.
josef nix
August 20th, 2010
2:17 pm
Bush or Obama…matters little to me, on my issues they’re pretty much two peas in a pod or as Unmentionable put it the other night, “what do you want? A red hot air baloon or a blue hot air balloon?”
Dusty
August 20th, 2010
2:19 pm
josef,
If you don’t stop talking “trichotomy” I’m coming over and perform tracheotomy!!
Ha, scared, aren’t ya!!! I know how to use the big weapons!!
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
2:19 pm
RW, do you not think crooks also lie?
Probably, Jefferson. Do you have a point to make?
josef nix
August 20th, 2010
2:23 pm
Dusty
A tracheotomy might be welcome today…I’ve got this bug that’s going around and can hardly breathe…but that was HDB’s word, not mine…