Monday, May 25, 2009
The "Swiftboating" of Health Care
Posted By Greg Wilcox on May 25, 2009, 1:25 PM
It's 1993 all over again as the medical industrial complex takes action to prevent health care reform.
The group Conservatives for Patients' Rights recently hired CRC Public Relations to help them scare the public into thinking that the option to buy government health insurance is disastrou
s. CRC Public Relations are the same people who were behind the notorious swift boat ads against John Kerry in 2004. In response, Obama campaign advisor David Plouffe has sent fund raising appeals to supporters to stop the “swiftboating” of health care. (Most should be familiar by now with the content of these attack ads; long lines, faceless government bureaucrats, waiting months for an appointment, not being able to choose a doctor, etc.)
As Paul Krugman reminds us in an insightful article, Obama has said that the Clinton's failed at health care reform because they were not inclusive enough in their reform discussions. Not wanting to make the same mistake, Obama held a meeting with the big players in U.S. Health care, including the American Hospital Association and the lobbying group America's Health Insurance Plans on May 11. The tone of that meeting was said to have been one of inclusion, with the common goal being fixing the health care system into one that is more efficient and gives coverage to all Americans.
But shortly after this meeting, the Hospital Association insisted that they did not promise to reduce medical costs. Also, The Washington Post reported that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is preparing to run a series of ads attacking health care reform.
Despite the attempt at inclusion, it seems that the medical industrial complex is still unwilling to play ball. Though feigning public interest and cooperation by attending meetings at the White House for health care reform, it is clear that giving the public the option to have government health insurance is an issue they will not compromise on.
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