Monday
Dec142009
RNC Launches Ad Campaign To Combat Senate Healthcare Bill
Monday, December 14, 2009 at 4:06PM
By Meagan Wiseley - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service
On Monday Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) Michael Steele announced the launch of the “Listen to Me” Effort. Which will include the launch of a six-figure national radio ad which explains the GOP position on healthcare reform, with emphasis on the Senate healthcare bill.
“We can’t force the democrats to listen to the American people, but we can certainly help the American people lift their voice up to be heard by those in Washington,” Steele said. “[We] are asking the Democrats in Washington to do something different for once, and that is listen to the American people.”
The new initiative consists of telephone town hall meetings, an interactive internet campaign and a grass roots activist campaign.
RNC staff members will also be sent to the six states (North Dakota, Nebraska, Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana and Connecticut) who’s Senators still seem to be undecided on how they will vote on the healthcare bill.
“In these states we will do everything we can to help people get their elected representatives to listen, to pay attention [and] to hear their voice,” Steele said.
On Monday Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) Michael Steele announced the launch of the “Listen to Me” Effort. Which will include the launch of a six-figure national radio ad which explains the GOP position on healthcare reform, with emphasis on the Senate healthcare bill.
“We can’t force the democrats to listen to the American people, but we can certainly help the American people lift their voice up to be heard by those in Washington,” Steele said. “[We] are asking the Democrats in Washington to do something different for once, and that is listen to the American people.”
The new initiative consists of telephone town hall meetings, an interactive internet campaign and a grass roots activist campaign.
RNC staff members will also be sent to the six states (North Dakota, Nebraska, Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana and Connecticut) who’s Senators still seem to be undecided on how they will vote on the healthcare bill.
“In these states we will do everything we can to help people get their elected representatives to listen, to pay attention [and] to hear their voice,” Steele said.
Reader Comments (5)
Message to Michael Steele: It's not "listen to me" (Republicans), but "Listen to us" (Americans). We demand health care reform. Perpetuating the private only option, today's status quo, is not reform. It's disaster. Unconcionable. And anti American.
The Republicans need to stop running there party like a corporation that is worried about profits they receive via payoffs from the health-care industry.
We better stop this bill if low and middle income workers and the elderly don't want to be taxed to death and lose their plans that guarantee their rights to choose their own doctors and have access to adequate diagnostics and care. These are PPO plans that are being maligned as "Cadillac plans". The Senate Dems and President Obama are now using Carl Rove tactics. They will take away our patient/ doctor rights and tax these plans into oblivion. These plans are held by hotel maids, line workers, mine workers, nurses, firefighters, grocery store workers, communications workers to name only a few. For once I am with the Republicans big time. The tax implications if you do the math instead of listening to the President's and the Senate Dems propaganda is alarming. Numbers don't lie, but politicians sure do.
Just a final comment. I was an inner city teacher in L.A. when I got a brain tumor diagnosis. My PPO plan saved my life because I could choose the best brain surgeon I could find for the type of operation I needed and I beat the odds with his help. Had the Senate bill been in place I would not have had that choice. Goooo Republicans.
Ruth Ehrenberg
Why public health care and public transportation are birds of a feather.
A common argument in opposition to health care reform is that we CHOOSE to pay auto insurance to drive our cars. But this is erroneous. Health care could, in fact, be said to be just like transportation. Everybody needs it, and in order to make a living, sustain one's family and contribute to the community pot, one must find the means to afford it.
Most--if not all--states, in fact, REQUIRE liability insurance, so arguing that this is entirely voluntary is incorrect.
Fine, so those who can afford nice cars will do so, but what of those who cannot? Enter public transportation. Our taxes not only help to pay for roads and bridges, but to enable city-wide transportation too--for everyone. So even if you own a car, you still get to take the bus anywhere for under 2 bucks. Consider that your medical co-pay. Nice eh?
Now nobody complains about public transportation; sure, it's a little slower and less convenient, and you don't have cup holders, but ultimately it serves an enormously important function (anyone living in the Boston-NYC or SF Bay area will attest to this).
And what happens when people break the rules of the road by driving recklessly, driving unsound vehicles, or when accidents occur? Enter the highway patrol/traffic cops. Like the government agencies that monitor disease, oversee our drugs, license our doctors, and watch over our hospitals, traffic cops make sure that the transportation system runs smoothly--and not just for those who drive their own cars, but for buses and trains too. All for one, one for all.
And, love it or hate it, our taxes already pay for all this. Not bad huh?
Don't be spooked by notions of so-called "government-run" health care; much of American infrastructure is already "government-run".
It's odd to read stuff out of the Republican party like this when in reality, the majority of Americans *want* this reform package to pass. If I had to take a stance here, I'd say the Democrats ARE listening to the American people... but you guys can't handle it because you so badly want Obama to fail. Pitiful to witness part of our OWN government actively refusing to help its own population due to political aims. The GOP should be abolished, and the Democratic party split into 2 factions to run this country.