New health care ads hit the airwaves

Oct 3 2009

The onslaught of health care advertising continues, with new ads from MoveOn.org, Organizing for America, the medical industry and Americans United for Change.

"The liberal activist group MoveOn.org is targeting three Democratic Finance Committee Senators over their opposition to the public insurance option, with radio ads set to air in the Members' home states beginning on Thursday," Roll Call reports. "MoveOn.org is going after Finance Chairman Max Baucus (Mont.), Budget Chairman Kent Conrad (N.D.) and Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman Blanche Lincoln (Ark.)," all of whom "voted against two separate public insurance option amendments during Tuesday's session of the Finance health care markup" (Drucker, 9/30).

Meanwhile, "Organizing for America, the Democratic National Committee grassroots project building on President Barack Obama's campaign network, is turning to doctors and nurses as credible voices to make the case for health care reform in the final phase of the year's biggest legislative battle," Politico reports. "Mitch Stewart, the director of Organizing for America, says in an e-mail fund-raising pitch being sent to supporters on Wednesday: 'The cavalry is here — and they're in white coats and scrubs: More than a half a million doctors and millions of nurses are joining forces to help pass real health reform. Americans listen to their nurses and doctors when it comes to health reform — and for good reason. If we can help them amplify their voices, it'll be a huge boost to our campaign for change.'" The email solicits donations for a new television ad featuring doctors and nurses, which will run in key states and districts (Allen, 9/30).

A new ad from the medical industry and other groups features footage of President Obama. "To the untrained eye, the 60-second spot could appear to be a commercial sponsored by the White House. It features the president at a desk speaking directly to the camera, arguing that coverage will improve and concluding, 'Everyone will have the security and stability that's missing today,'" The Associated Press reports. The remarks were taken from the President's weekly radio and Internet address from Aug. 15. The ad was sponsored by a coalition called Americans for Stable Quality Care, which is made up of "groups representing the nation's doctors, pharmaceutical companies and for-profit hospitals, as well as a union and a liberal pro-family organization" (9/30).

The Palm Beach Post: "Backers of President Barack Obama's health care reforms unleashed a television ad in Orlando, Louisville and Washington pillorying Humana's scare tactics targeting seniors and the plan's impact on Medicare. Americans United for Change, Obama's campaign organization-turned unofficial presidential PR machine, is running the ad and also staging a protest at Humana headquarters in West Palm Beach today at noon" (Kam, 9/30).