Only after Obama pushed for it did it suddenly become socialism.
Once Obama scored the big victory in 2010, many House and more than a few Senate Dems did their typical squishiness and let the GOP define the law. This was in part due to a "messaging conference" that did anything but help.
A "messaging conference" was held by Families USA based on polling by the Herndon Alliance for Democrats in 2010. What they told Democratic officials should be the central theme of the law was the following:
"The law is not perfect, but it does good things and helps many people. Now we'll work to improve it."
Wow. That showed confidence.
They continued with what NOT to say:
”Keep claims small and credible; don’t overpromise or ‘spin’ what the law delivers,” it advised. Its “to don’t” items include offering “a long list of benefits” or claims that “the law will reduce costs and the deficit,” even as “Voters are concerned about rising health care costs and believe that costs will continue to rise.”
Somehow, that didn't work. Bill Clinton, who knows something about winning elections, argued the opposite: To tout the damn benefits of the law. And there are MANY:
-No more denial of claims after paying premiums for decades
-No more denial of health insurance for PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS
-Coverage for your kids until 26 years old
-Free health checkup every 6 mopnths
-Free preventative health screening procedures for cancer and heart like mammograms, colonoscopies etc.
-Lower seniors' prescription-drug prices by beginning to close the donut hole.
-Moving forward means insurance companies can no longer charge a woman more just because of her gender.
-It saves money. (When Republicans threatened to repeal health reform, the CBO determined that a repeal would increase the deficit by $147 billion!)
-No lifetime caps anymore.
There are many, many more... I just picked a few to focus on.
Not many times in politics do you get a second chance to make a first impression. But for the next several days or even weeks, all the talk will be on health care.
WE CANNOT DECLARE VICTORY AND LEAVE. The fight is just beginning!
The GOP is going to be throwing everything at this. Hundreds of millions will go to TV ads saying "death panels" and "skyrocketing costs" and "government takeover" BS. They don't shy away from their opposition and are willing to lie to win in November.
Democrats in office only need to tell the truth. But it helps if you have a spine and actually stand up for it. Some tried even running from it in 2010, and you see how will that worked.
Democrats: There are A LOT of great things about the AHCA, not the least of which is that for the first time in our nation's history, everyone has a modicum of protection.... and it didn't cost us anything extra. You should be screaming about this from the pulpit.
This isn't just our victory, this is a victory for every American. Don't be afraid to talk about it and run on it. Own it. I'm proud of it, hell, I'm elated. I would love the opportunity to talk about it, and you should be too.
9:17 AM PT: PS... I can't WAIT to see what Rick Scott has to say about this...
No comments :
Post a Comment