Tony Perkins, Family Research Council, June 7, 2010
You may not personally donate to liberal re-election campaigns, but under a new White House program, your tax dollars will. With anger rising and Presidential approval rates dropping, the administration is trying to cure voters’ adverse reaction to its dose of big government. With its eye on saving congressional seats, the administration is opening a multi-million dollar office meant to boost the popularity ratings of the health care law. From everything we know about the effort, it comes dangerously close to political advocacy.
Not only is the President deploying an army of ultra-Left groups to lead the Health Information Center, he’s also building a lobbying arm, the Health Information Campaign, “to influence the election debate.”
Andrew Grossman, the project’s chief strategist, told the New York Times, “When somebody attacks health care reform or uses health reform against a politician, there’s got to be an answer back.” According to Politico, those answers will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $125 million dollars. Of course, the President hopes to raise some of the money from his friends in the unions, Democratic Party, and organizations like radical pro-abortion Emily’s List.
Over 100 events are scheduled from coast to coast to boost the image of ObamaCare, including one tonight which–unlike the carefully guarded debate over the bill–will be hosted live on C-SPAN. But if you’re hoping to hear important details about the policy–like its ever-expanding costs–don’t hold your breath. These will be meticulously orchestrated events, meant to gloss over the objections of the majority of Americans–objections like the $115 billion in hidden costs announced by the Congressional Budget Office in May. Or the outrage over taxpayer-funded abortions and loopholes for free birth control. “[The President] is very bullish on this,” said White House advisor David Axelrod, “and he also understands… that only by implementing this… will people fully appreciate it. Along the way, there will be points where he is going to pick up that big megaphone.”
In that case, he shouldn’t be surprised when voters shout back. An office of health care propaganda may energize hard-core liberals, but it could backfire with mainstream Americans whose bitterness will only be rekindled by the constant reminder. Tomorrow, ten states have the opportunity to let the President know exactly how they feel about the health care law. If you live in California, Iowa, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, or Virginia, don’t forget to vote in the June 8 primaries! The White House may be using your money to save its congressional majority, but they can’t use your voice. So exercise it! Get out there on Tuesday and send Washington a message of your own.
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=WU10F06&f=PG07J01
Dodging a Ballot? New Health Office Aims to Save Seats
Tony Perkins, Family Research Council, June 7, 2010
You may not personally donate to liberal re-election campaigns, but under a new White House program, your tax dollars will. With anger rising and Presidential approval rates dropping, the administration is trying to cure voters’ adverse reaction to its dose of big government. With its eye on saving congressional seats, the administration is opening a multi-million dollar office meant to boost the popularity ratings of the health care law. From everything we know about the effort, it comes dangerously close to political advocacy.
Not only is the President deploying an army of ultra-Left groups to lead the Health Information Center, he’s also building a lobbying arm, the Health Information Campaign, “to influence the election debate.”
Andrew Grossman, the project’s chief strategist, told the New York Times, “When somebody attacks health care reform or uses health reform against a politician, there’s got to be an answer back.” According to Politico, those answers will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $125 million dollars. Of course, the President hopes to raise some of the money from his friends in the unions, Democratic Party, and organizations like radical pro-abortion Emily’s List.
Over 100 events are scheduled from coast to coast to boost the image of ObamaCare, including one tonight which–unlike the carefully guarded debate over the bill–will be hosted live on C-SPAN. But if you’re hoping to hear important details about the policy–like its ever-expanding costs–don’t hold your breath. These will be meticulously orchestrated events, meant to gloss over the objections of the majority of Americans–objections like the $115 billion in hidden costs announced by the Congressional Budget Office in May. Or the outrage over taxpayer-funded abortions and loopholes for free birth control. “[The President] is very bullish on this,” said White House advisor David Axelrod, “and he also understands… that only by implementing this… will people fully appreciate it. Along the way, there will be points where he is going to pick up that big megaphone.”
In that case, he shouldn’t be surprised when voters shout back. An office of health care propaganda may energize hard-core liberals, but it could backfire with mainstream Americans whose bitterness will only be rekindled by the constant reminder. Tomorrow, ten states have the opportunity to let the President know exactly how they feel about the health care law. If you live in California, Iowa, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, or Virginia, don’t forget to vote in the June 8 primaries! The White House may be using your money to save its congressional majority, but they can’t use your voice. So exercise it! Get out there on Tuesday and send Washington a message of your own.
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=WU10F06&f=PG07J01