Oral arguments inspire RNC ad

Mar 31 2012

The Republican National Committee uses audio from Supreme Court oral arguments to craft a campaign ad criticizing President Barack Obama and the health law. Meanwhile, the Obama campaign has had a health law strategy of its own in place.

The Associated Press: GOP Ad Plays With Audio From Supreme Court Hearing
A website ad from the Republican National Committee edits audio from this week's Supreme Court hearing on the health care law to exaggerate Solicitor General Donald Verrilli's struggle to find the words to defend President Barack Obama's initiative. The ad shows a photograph of the Supreme Court Building as it plays audio from Tuesday's arguments on the constitutionality of the mandate that all Americans have health care insurance. As Verrilli speaks, the ad flashes the words: "ObamaCare. It's a tough sell" (Daniel, 3/29).

Bloomberg: Republicans Tampered With Court Audio In Obama Attack Ad
A Republican Party Internet advertisement altered the audio of U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments in an attack on President Barack Obama's health-care law. In a web ad circulated this week, the Republican National Committee excerpts the opening seconds of the March 27 presentation by Obama's top Supreme Court lawyer, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli. In the ad, he is heard struggling for words and twice stopping to drink water. A review of a transcript and recordings of those moments shows that Verrilli took a sip of water just once, paused for a much briefer period and completed his thought -- rather than stuttering and trailing off as heard in the edited version (Hirschfeld and Stohr, 3/30).

Los Angeles Times: Obama Targets Groups That Would Be Hurt By Overturned The Health Law
Even before the Supreme Court heard arguments about the constitutionality of the federal healthcare law, President Obama's campaign had begun targeting key voter groups that might be most affected by a loss (Memoli and West, 3/28).