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
HDB
August 20th, 2010
2:28 pm
Dusty August 20th, 2010
2:13 pm
“You are acting like things were worse before Obama and that is not true. You cannot say employment was worse with Bush.” For some people, it IS true! Ask those who were suddenly thrust into unemployment on 9/11 (I know of a 25,000 person layoff that happened…I was IN it!) and have yet to recover; ask those who progressed under Clinton….and regressed under Bush!!
“The debt was not as great whether you add in war expenses or not.” Why then was the national debt DECLINING before Bush came to the White House…and his VP callously said: “Deficits don’t matter”?
“You can’t say the banks were in worse shape with Bush.” Then why was TARP necessary?? Why are the credit markets shot to h3ll right now??
“You cannot say that the housing market was worse under Bush.” Why then can’t people get mortgages? Why did the foreclosure rate begin to skyrocket?
“You can’t say that worthless stimulus funds raising the national debt even more were thrown out by Bush.” Why then are Republicans lining up to take credit for stimulus programs that they voted against??
“You want to nit pick the Bush years while ignoring the dilemma that is Obama.” No…not ignoring the dilemna..but I recognize the dilemna that Obama was thrust INTO!! What this Administration has to fix has been thrust upon it by 43 Administrations that preceeded it!! I don’t expect one man to fix in two years what took 234 years to screw up! Miracles don’t happen overnight!!
No More Progressives!
August 20th, 2010
2:29 pm
HDB
August 20th, 2010
11:42 am
Has HDB edver made any sense?
The First Amendement is great, isn’t it?
HDB
August 20th, 2010
2:30 pm
josef nix August 20th, 2010
2:23 pm
Hope you’re getting better……hot tea and cognac kills most bugs going around!!! Take a hot shower and breathe the steam….that should open you up!! Works for me!!
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 20th, 2010
2:31 pm
For whatever my opinion is worth, I view Deal and Barnes, as both being crooks. I’ve been looking into Monds. Some of his ideas I like and some I don’t. I may wind up voting for him, or I may wind up just skipping over that one.
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
2:31 pm
Ask those who were suddenly thrust into unemployment on 9/11 (I know of a 25,000 person layoff that happened…I was IN it!) and have yet to recover
HDB,
Are you honestly trying to say that being attacked on 9/11 was a Bush policy?
HDB
August 20th, 2010
2:32 pm
No More Progressives! August 20th, 2010
2:29 pm
Yes, the First Amendment is great….and I HAVE made sense…just not enough people are willing to fully analyze it…without denigrating it!!
HDB
August 20th, 2010
2:34 pm
RW-(the original) August 20th, 2010
2:31 pm
I didn’t say 9/11 was a policy….but the policies and actions taken subsequent to 9/11 adversely affected a LOT of people!! THAT’S my point!! Bush used a meat cleaver in foreign policy when he needed a scapel!! You don’t take the nation to war and allocate massive resources when a more surgical approach would’ve worked!
HDB
August 20th, 2010
2:35 pm
…the attack therein….
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 20th, 2010
2:35 pm
This is pretty cool, even if the guy was Phillies fan.
http://sports.yahoo.com/sportsminute
AmVet
August 20th, 2010
2:35 pm
josef, at first I thought you meant a tracheotomy for Dusty!
A tracheotomy to the brain!
HDB, repeat after me – George W. Bush is faultless. EVERYTHING that has happened after January 20, 2009 is in no manner connected to him. He is not in the slightest regard, responsible for the events of today. His impact ended the moment his successor replaced him.
And this sir, is the backdrop to the Party of No’s game plan for their predicted stunning successes this fall and forever more as well as the sanctified resurrection of their failed and roundly repudiated neo-conservatism…
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
2:38 pm
HDB,
Then its very difficult to see what you mean when you say you were suddenly thrust into unemployment on 9/11 and placing the blame on President Bush.
josef nix
August 20th, 2010
2:38 pm
HDB
The hot shower works for a bit and the three pots of water boiling on the stove are pallative, but it’s the sippin whiskey that makes it tolerable…nothing like a good excuse to lay around like drunken white trash all day, eh?
Hillbilly
So, you’re here! See what you got me into you uppity white trash good ole boy???
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
2:42 pm
Hillbilly D,
Quite a few years back they used to hand out honorary contracts to fans that caught balls in the stands. They might want to give that guy a real one.
HDB
August 20th, 2010
2:42 pm
AmVet August 20th, 2010
2:35 pm
Is it like the hypnotist trying to put you to sleep with the silver watch….but it doesn’t work because the clock keeps ticking?? Like I said: What EVERY Administration has to deal with is thrust upon it from ALL of the previous Administrations! Just like a Clint Eastwood movie: “The Good, the Bad, and the UGLY”!!
HDB
August 20th, 2010
2:45 pm
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
2:38 pm
HDB,
Then its very difficult to see what you mean when you say you were suddenly thrust into unemployment on 9/11 and placing the blame on President Bush
Try working for United Airlines on 9/11, get laid off….and the job market dries up for two years!! Try working there for over 30 yrs….but too young to retire (know of 5 people like that!)Look at what should have been done domestically to keep the job markets open! Bush said: “Spend money!” Can’t spend money if you don’t have a job!!
Who was at the helm then??
AmVet
August 20th, 2010
2:45 pm
HD, hysterical. Maybe the best foul snag I’ve ever seen.
I always laugh when the commentators remark that fans will risk life and limb for a foul ball, while players scatter like a live grenade is coming!
HDB
August 20th, 2010
2:46 pm
josef nix August 20th, 2010
2:38 pm
Hey…never say you’re drunk….just state you are “socially confused”!!!
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 20th, 2010
2:46 pm
Josef
I figured that would be like playing a hornet’s nest for a pinata.
For my two cents, “white trash” is a lifestyle and has nothing to do with money, lack of it, or where you live. A person that we considered “white trash” was just plain sorry. I’ve known plenty of them, rich, poor and in between.
Uppity, for us, just meant a person who was “big feeling”, sometimes they had reason to feel that way and most times not.
Good ol’ boy, meant just what it says. Being called a “good ol’ boy” or “good ol’ girl”, is a compliment.
I got things to do. Maybe the hornets will be in the nest by the time I get back.
josef nix
August 20th, 2010
2:52 pm
HDB
That’s a good one…!
HDB
August 20th, 2010
2:54 pm
josef nix
August 20th, 2010
2:52 pm
HDB
That’s a good one…!
Works really well with the cops if they pull you over….as long as you don’t have to do the field sobriety test!!
HDB
August 20th, 2010
2:54 pm
Have a good weekend, all…..got to catch a plane!!!
josef nix
August 20th, 2010
2:55 pm
HD
@ 2:35
Now, that’s just TOO cool! Thanks…
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
2:55 pm
HDB,
What should President Bush have done to assure you of lifetime employment with United Airlines?
Jefferson
August 20th, 2010
2:57 pm
RW, my only point would be – how could anyone vote for a crook? Party means little to me. I have heard the charges against Deal, I have heard none against Roy, but I do believe his mouth is writin’ checks his ass can’t cover…
Maybe a change would be good, after all look at all the errors in their ways the GOP keep bringing up (with prodding by the tea men), they are going to seek rehab…
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
2:59 pm
Jefferson,
Is someone a crook as soon as somebody else accuses them of something? If so how does anybody ever not vote for a crook?
Jefferson
August 20th, 2010
3:01 pm
In this case the ethics complaint against Deal and the FACT the state didn’t cancel the no bid contract after the influence pedding looks more than an accusation.
josef nix
August 20th, 2010
3:03 pm
They’re politicians. Of course they’re crooks and liars. It’s in the job description.
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
3:09 pm
Jefferson,
Do you have a handy link to an unbiased source? I never researched Deal before the primaries and I supported Handel to begin with so there wasn’t much need to look into him for the runoff.
Jefferson
August 20th, 2010
3:10 pm
I don’t think Bush was a crook, at least from the point of using his position to enrich himself, but his lies may have crosses the grey area. Same with Clinton. Obama, too early to tell most of his lies appear to be from being over optimistic when dealing with a bad situation. But he is early in his part of history.
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
3:11 pm
They’re politicians. Of course they’re crooks and liars. It’s in the job description.
You old cynic, you.
Jefferson
August 20th, 2010
3:12 pm
RW, no unbias source – just articals I have read in the papers and magazine. I don’t have links. If I was in court, the defendent would walk.
Bruno
August 20th, 2010
3:21 pm
“even if the guy was Phillies fan.”
The nice part about being both a Phillies fan AND a Braves fan is that I usually have someone to cheer for in postseason.
Has a staging ground been selected for Friday Night Music yet?
RW-(the original)
August 20th, 2010
3:22 pm
If I was in court, the defendent would walk.
Jefferson,
In your scenario Deal would be the defendant. If you’d let him walk it doesn’t sound like you think he’s a crook. I was looking at John Monds and if the election was today he’d have my vote. I am curious why immigration reform doesn’t seem to be anywhere on his radar screen, but on most of the issues his stance lines up pretty well with mine.
But shrieks and horrors!!! He’s going to be appearing at the Coweta Tea Party Patriot rally.
Jefferson
August 20th, 2010
3:27 pm
Rw, no I think he is a crook, I just can’t provide you with the information I have read. I too will take a look at the 3rd party guy, as I voted for ole Bob in the Presidential race because I would not vote for anyone who voted for TARP, another strike against Deal.
josef nix
August 20th, 2010
3:30 pm
the third choice
http://www.peachpundit.com/2010/06/24/podcast-with-john-monds-candidate-for-governor/
md
August 20th, 2010
3:32 pm
“What this Administration has to fix has been thrust upon it by 43 Administrations that preceeded it!! I don’t expect one man to fix in two years what took 234 years to screw up! Miracles don’t happen overnight!!”
Doubt a fire has ever been put out by adding kindling…………..
AmVet
August 20th, 2010
3:34 pm
B, Normal posted this over at Tucker’s blog a few minutes ago:
Bookmanites,
Last I checked, Jay wasn’t back up yet, so let’s meet at his last working post and do our music! I suggest generational music. How many songs can you post from your birth year. See ya there around 4:45…
But personally, after a long week, I’m ready for an attitude adjustment and see no reason to wait another hour or so!
In my best Charlie Steiner voice, “Follow me to freedom!”
md
August 20th, 2010
3:36 pm
Crook or Liar – tough one, but the way it is supposed to work, crooks do their time and do their penance to society and are supposed to be absolved of their “mistake” (of which we all have done, but our society has allowed a mistake to morph into a lifelong pox).
Liars more than likely have perpetual character flaws (as do some crooks).
Bruno
August 20th, 2010
3:36 pm
“I’m ready for an attitude adjustment and see no reason to wait another hour or so!”
I hear you, bro. Catch you there later on.