As Part Of New Coalition, PhRMA, AMA Sink Millions Into New Pro-Reform Campaign
The White House's health care industry coalition may be about to pay off. In spades.
A new coalition called Americans for Stable Quality Care--which includes the American Medical Association, PhRMA, as well as more predictable groups like SEIU and FamiliesUSA--will launch their first pro-reform ad later today as part of an August recess campaign that's expected to cost $12 million.
According to Politico, the ad--which is scheduled to run for two weeks and cost about $6 million on its own--will air in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota and Virginia, home to a number of key congressional centrists, whose support for reform will be vital to its success.
Though PhRMA has recently been involved in a bit of a dust up with the White House, it will continue to participate in this and other pro-reform activities, and plans to spend as much as $150 million along the way.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
"The White House's health care industry coalition may be about to pay off"
Really?
All this means is there is now proof that a deal was made to prevent real health reform.
Hardly anything to be hapy about.
Unless you like the idea that the white house is right-wing.
August 13, 2009 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Right. And it would have been better to lose World War II than to ally ourselves with Stalin.
August 13, 2009 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Head up anus
August 13, 2009 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
If there is one distinguishing characteristic of Obama's MO, it is that he knows when to bring out the big guns. We saw that time and time again in the campaign, and we're seeing it now. There are too many people out on vacation in late July/early August to make this kind of effort then, so Obama focused on coalition-building then. With people getting their kids ready for school, they will focus on issues like healthcare.
August 13, 2009 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. Smart to wait while the rabid right loses their sh*t over nothing.
August 13, 2009 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
me 3
The Bagger Riots will disappear into the media's Cloud of Unknowing save for a well-timed DC rally on 9/12 at which point the legislative crunch time will have just begun
August 13, 2009 12:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I REALLY like this ad.
People have to be realistic. PhRMA has the money to DERAIL health care reform. So I personally think it IS BETTER that we have PhRMA on board than not even if it means that we only get $80 billion.
We have to win this fight folks!
August 13, 2009 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
If anyone hasn't noticed, I believe it's the same marketing group being used here as in Obama's campaign. Same voice for sure. Looks like the visual editing is the same too.
August 13, 2009 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here is one of the commercials so you can hear.
My favorite one that I really thought turned the campaign around at a point....Seven.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpmFd25tRqo
August 13, 2009 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
With the exception of the lede attack on insurance companies in the HCAN ad, the ads are identical.
Contrast
So who ya gonna believe Brian Beutler or your lyin eyes?
August 13, 2009 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank God!
Finally, somebody is going to bring the focus back where it belongs - on health care reform and what it means to the average person. The insurance companies has been winning handily ever because they succeeded in changing the narrative from "We need to do something to reign in insurance company abuses" to "Wow, ain't those protesters wacky?"
If reform proponents would exercise some mental discipline and stop fixating on the wingnuts, we would be well ahead on this. As long as the discussion is about the issue, we win, whenever the discussion is about anything else, we lose - especially when it's about how "divided" the public is about reform.
Keep your eyes on the ball, people!
August 13, 2009 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
They really should add Florida to their list. I'm in the middle of blue dog heaven.
By the way, one national insurance company has recently put an annual $ cap on prescriptions and another just announced free living wills and powers of atty.
August 13, 2009 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is reality. The left is not now, nor will they ever again, be in charge of any agenda. It is only from the middle that anything will be done.
August 13, 2009 6:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
"plans to spend $150 million"
I'll believe it when I see it.
They will spend a few tens of millions and then everyone will forget about it.
August 13, 2009 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink