“Manufactured Anger” Or “Spontaneous” Outbursts?
Mike Allen of Politico has an excellent piece detailing the extent to which numerous conservative activist organizations and insurance industry groups are planning and carrying out the town hall ambushes over health care reform.
No one who reads this will fall for the standard line from many Republicans that the folks who are often violently disturbing congressional town halls with patient constituents are simply individual outraged Americans. This is a massive political effort that, given the news Thursday that a bipartisan health care compromise may be forthcoming in the Senate, may end up as a failure.
Conservative and business groups, some funded in part by insurers, are mobilizing members and supporters to participate in health care forums that lawmakers are holding in their states and districts this month.
Congressional town halls are typically sleepy and sparsely attended. But passion about President Barack Obama’s health reform plan is drawing hundreds of people to raucous gatherings, with Democratic officials portraying the crowds as “angry mobs.”
Some of the outpouring appears to be spontaneous, or encouraged by Glenn Beck of Fox News. But much of it is being encouraged by Washington-based groups that are devoting considerable online resources to encouraging turnout. Some of the groups even supply supporters with scripts and “talking points.”
As part of the town hall turnout drive, Americans for Tax Reform offers an “Obama Spin Translator: Taking the Propaganda Out of Health Care Newspeak.”
“Over the August recess, Congressmen will be holding town halls on health care,” the document says. “There’s likely to be a lot of spin and doubletalk from very nervous Democrat members. We’ve assembled a dictionary to help you wade through the rhetoric and understand the real impact of health care ‘reform.’”
America’s Health Insurance Plans, the national association representing 1,300 health insurers, is out with “August Recess Talking Points” that assert a “government-run plan would dismantle employer-based coverage … [and] add significant liabilities to the federal budget.”
The group is also offering a sample “August Recess Activation Letter” for CEOs to send to employees.
FreedomWorks, chaired by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, is e-mailing 380,000 supporters this week with a link to an “August Recess Action Kit.”
“Turn Up the Heat in August: Help Defeat ObamaCare,” the group says on its website. “While Senators and Representatives are home for their August recess they need to hear from you, regardless of party. … Find a town hall meeting near you. If your representative or senator isn’t holding one — ask them why.”
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the onus will be on those politcal hacks in Washington if healthcare does pass this fall, with or without the public option.