Or is that “nemisi?” Regardless, let’s see how the Republicans and Democrats will handle the health destruction debate during the August recess. I’ll skip through the New York Times article to see what the GOP will do first, and then I’ll highlight the Democrat strategy. You tell me which one will have the most problems, especially at town halls
In the Senate, Republicans will meet this week to coordinate strategy, but some plans are already in motion for public meetings and a blizzard of radio and television appearances. Senators Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, a family practice doctor, and John Barrasso of Wyoming, an orthopedic surgeon, will take their “Senate Doctors Show,†an Internet program, on the road to argue that the Democratic plan will not improve care or control costs.
In the House, Representative Mike Pence of Indiana, chairman of the Republican Conference, distributed a packet to colleagues on Friday urging them to argue that the Democrats’ plan would include “more than $800 billion in new tax hikes†and “harmful cuts†to Medicare that would “result in millions of seniors losing their health coverage.â€
That’s pretty much it on the GOP plans, according to the Grey Lady. But, in essence, the Republicans are going to continue explaining to the American people exactly what the legislation means to their future health care, health insurance, and pocket books.
With Republicans mobilizing against the proposed health care overhaul, President Obama, Congressional Democrats and leading advocacy groups are laying the groundwork for an August offensive against the insurance industry as part of a coordinated campaign to sell the public on the need for reform.
The effort will feature town-hall-style meetings by lawmakers and the president, including a swing through Western states by Mr. Obama, grass-roots lobbying efforts and a blitz of expensive television advertising. It is intended to drive home the message that revamping the health care system will protect consumers by ending unpopular insurance industry practices, like refusing patients with pre-existing conditions.
So, on one hand we have the Republicans explaining the issue, on the other, we have Democrats attacking private industry, demonizing them, in order to push through legislation that will fundamentally change the entire health care system, turning the U.S. into Canada. Canada may be a great country for their beautiful landscape and invention of ice hockey, but, they can keep their horrible health care system.
The question is, will enough Americans buy into the Democrat demonetization plan? Or, will they realize that this is par for the course with the Democrats, attacking instead of explaining? David Axelrod stated “Our job is to help folks understand how this will help them.†So, far, they haven’t. There have been lots of campaign style rhetoric that “we have to do this to lower the cost,” yet, they never actually say how it will lower the cost.
Of course, it probably won’t matter, since elected officials tend to be completely disconnected from the American people, and do what they want to do. I’m betting most of the Democrat town halls will be tightly controlled and access will be restricted. Anyone want to take me up on that?
