If (when) this HCR passes, the Dems have to blitz the media and EDUCATE

[Lex]

people and the media about what benefits are to be had to the average American. A list of points to be sure people understand. On all the tv networks, political shows, etc.

If the Democrats don't do this, the teabaggers will win with their misinformation and that will have an effect in November I'm afraid.

They cannot just pass it and pat themselves on the back and go home. That would be a disaster. This teabagger misinformation must be countered, and loudly, and clearly.

[laughingliberal]

1. But that would require the cooperation of the MSM

Good luck with that.

[Lex]

8. You think the MSM won't have Democrats on tv?

It might be hard work to yell over Chris Matthews or Wolf Blitzer, but so be it.

[laughingliberal]

14. They have Democrats on TV now but the teabaggers get far more face time

It is hard work to yell over these guys and the message gets lost. I guess we should be glad they haven't banned Democrats from the airwaves altogether.

[Lex]

15. I hope the President will help out too. nt

[LiberalLoner]

10. So true. We will probably have to buy advertisements to get it across.

[LWolf]

2. Then the dems will have to hire a private company to educate,

since they obviously can't do so themselves. They know how to fire, union-bust, and privatize, but NOT how to educate.

[Cronus Protagonist]

3. I wonder how our side can spin mandates and fines

Without the support of the "press". it's going to be a hard sell. In fact, I'm not sold on this whole idea.

[EFerrari]

4. Yeah, and it's going to be a challenge for a lot of people

on the left to get behind that effort, as needed as it will be. Because you know the Republicans already have their campaign ready.

[Edweird]

Hey, this has been out there for a while....

http://healthca.newamerica.net/blogposts/2008/reform_newt_gingrich_on_free_riders_and_the_individual_mandate-18127

[amyrose2712]

5. Do we have a nice, eaisily understood email ...

that we could blast, to educate people? If not maybe someone better at that than I could put something together? In the meantime, I shall attempt it.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Lex]

11. Yeah, it contains no benefits and that's why the Democrats want it.

:eyes:

[Bicoastal]

12. Oho, wouldn't you like that to happen...

...you think you're being very clever, don't you?

[Motown_Johnny]

7. some provisions kick in 90 and again 180 days after it is signed into law

so we have those news cycles to get our message out again.

[Lex]

17. Good point.

I hope they do this. After the teabaggers lose, hopefully they'll go back home to their remote controls and recliners.

[quiet.american]

9. Hello! If David Plouffe weren't back, I wouldn't have confidence that they understand that.

But I think they do UNDERSTAND this, now. Whatever it takes, Dems have got to "get out in front" of the garbage and misinformation out there - on both sides of the political spectrum.

[Lex]

13. Exactly.

That's exactly it.

[EFerrari]

21. I object to being equated with the lunatic right wing

as if "both sides of the political spectrum" are comparable in any way.

[quiet.american]

22. Noted. nt

[Edweird]

23. Maybe this will help you feel better:

http://healthca.newamerica.net/blogposts/2008/reform_newt_gingrich_on_free_riders_and_the_individual_mandate-18127

You're on the 'left' side of this.

[EFerrari]

26. Thanks.

:hi:

[sandnsea]

16. Much kicks in in September

So between September and November, there will be lots of time to focus on the benefits of this bill, especially when people see it right in front of their eyes.

[nightrain]

18. "EDUCATE"? as in "SPIN"? "catapult the propaganda"?

[Lex]

20. as in break the benefits of the bill down into easy-to-understand points nt

[nightrain]

28. catapult is more accurate

[eridani]

29. Like how there are several levels of "insurance," reinforcing INEQUALITY in access to care?

How do you explain why the Platinum People deserve better coverage than the Bronze People just because they have more money?

[gravity]

19. I don't see it being a problem other than Fox News

Once this thing passes, all the media outlets are going to write up articles on how the Health Care reform will affect you.

[northernlights]

24. oh please

All the pr in the world isn't going to change that fact that a lot of people will be forced to pay thousands of dollars for insurance and their claims will still be denied, they will still be left to die, and premiums will still go up and only up.

And all the claims of how the bill can now be fixed are just more bullshit. If they couldn't get the votes for public option now, how will they get them whenever? If they couldn't get competition for drugs now, how will they get it whenever? If they couldn't extend medicare now, how will they whenever?

Things will get worse, possible exponentially worse. And all the pr in the world won't change that, any more than the pr about having increased student grants and loans is meaningless when 80% of my fellow students had our student loans cut off halfway through a university healthcare program.

[Lex]

25. I disagree.

But we'll see eventually, won't we?

[zipplewrath]

27. Employers and Insurance companies

One of the hardest parts that you guys are going to have in fighting the downsides of passing this will be all the employers and insurance companies that will blame anything bad, like new deductibles or rate increase, or possibly employers changing insurance companies, on the health insurance bill. And they will whether it was the real cause or not. And the GOP will blame ANYTHING on it including unemployment, taxes, the weather, the NCAA final result......

[eridani]

30. Unfortunately, we OWN EVERYTHING wrong with health care now

People 23-27 whose parents both have insurance and can afford to cover their kids will benefit, as will kids with pre-existing conditions. Expanding Medicaid will benefit people. Unfortunately, what most people will notice is that for them NOTHING HAPPENS until 2014, and insurance companies will be doing to us for FOUR YEARS what the credit card companies did to us with their nine month lead time.

[inna]

31. It's absolutely insane that most provisions don't start until 2014.

How do they explain that delay to people, anyway? Aren't there some talking points on that? I just can't think of any satisfactory excuse, the only explanation I can think of is trying to avoid the political fallout in 2012. :shrug:

[mmonk]

32. Just tell them most of it was written by a former Wellpoint VP.

It will steal their thunder. Stress there is no public option or government run anything in the bill. Of course, they don't listen to Democrats anyway so somehow, you've got to get the message on Glenn Beck, Limbaugh. and FOX. Good luck.

[ipaint]

33. Perhaps they can start by educating folks on the fact

the bill is a very slight re-write of AHIP's 2008 proposal.

http://www.americanhealthsolution.org/assets/Uploads/healthcarereformproposal.pdf

That ought to open a few eyes.