$2M ad blitz launched by U.S. Chamber of Commerce (against public healthcare)

[Robbien]

Source: The Hill

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will launch a $2 million ad campaign this week meant to build opposition to a public insurance option in healthcare reform legislation.

The Chamber will run Internet and print ads in five states — Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Maine and North Carolina. All are represented by centrist senators, such as Democrat Mary Landrieu (La.) and Republican Olympia Snowe (Maine), who have signaled doubts about a public plan, a key component of President Obama’s healthcare reform proposal.

The Chamber will also host and organize rallies during the August recess in all five states, officials said during a Tuesday press call. While the initial down-payment on the ads is more than $2 million, Chamber officials promised the figure could rise as Congress continues to debate through the summer.

Chamber executives said a government-run plan will undercut private insurance companies, forcing many into bankruptcy. That would leave many people without health insurance, they said.

Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/2m-ad-blitz-launched-by-u.s.chamber-2009-07-21.html

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[depakid]

1. Obama's going to have to cut a slot to counter this

That's basically what he said he'd do when Republican front groups started flooding the airwaves with their lies and equivocations (which in this case hurt the very businesses that the "Chamber of Commerce" purports to represent).

[Liberty Belle]

2. Hunter offered this amendment to help small businesses:

http://www.hunter.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=180&Itemid=60

If this is enacted, would small business chamber members perhaps decides they could support single-payer or at least a public option?

That would be a very interesting turn of events.

[Abq_Sarah]

21. I would prefer an amendment

That completely removed the mandate for any business to either provide insurance of be punished for not providing insurance. The 8% penalty in many cases will be cheaper than actually providing insurance so this will be just another tax that does nothing to get more people on the insurance rolls. We need healthcare plans we choose for ourselves that we can keep for as long as we want, not just for the duration of employment with any particular company.

[ProudDad]

3. C of C is slime

of no use to anyone.

It's a fucking terrorist organization!

[Downwinder]

4. Just shows how far they are from Main Street.. n/t

[Pharlo]

5. Someone needs to counter their

ad with a "Why does the US Chamber of Commerce hate Americans?" ad.

[Downwinder]

6. Part of the Republican RW push was to take over the local C of C.

They all take orders from State or National groups controlled by big business.

[santamargarita]

7. Real name: U.S. Chamber of Fascism

:puke:

[EndElectoral]

8. Getting rid of employer healthcare would make Amer. businesses more competitive

The Chamber is so Republican now it has lost all credibility.

[No Elephants]

9. Democrats should be campaigning for health care--pamphlets, robo-calls, rallies, etc.

Unless, they don't really want it either.

[The Stranger]

19. I was just stating that earlier when you jumped me for "government secrecy."

I don't care who Obama meets with, as long as he can get health care through this massive, multi-million dollar onslaught that the Rightists are burying the public with.

[Vinca]

10. I thought the Chamber of Commerce represented business.

They should be pimping single payer if they want to do something productive for business. I'm not getting the point of their anger now. Even if an employer refuses to provide insurance, his penalty is a tiny fraction of the cost of paying for insurance. Good for people, good for business.

[jody]

12. The Chamber is a front for corporatists who use small, local businesses as dupes. Small business

owners that I know realize they have everything in common with their employees and little in common with local, state, national Chamber officials and the elite that dominate those organizations.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Uncle Joe]

16. They used to, now they just represent oligarchs, monopolies and trusts.

If they actually cared about representing American Business, they would care about the American People, as they've sided with an industry; having nothing to do with health-care siphoning precious dollars away from that critical need, via profiting from the Peoples' illness and injury, the Chamber of Commerce have shown their true colors.

They don't care about the American People ergo, they don't care about the workers or small business owners; which make up the bulk of owned business in the U.S.

One thing is for certain, I will never send them another dollar.

[jody]

11. Obama needs to counter CoC but that requires a specific health care stance. Rhetoric won't work.

Senator: Democrats "baffled" by president's health care stance

WASHINGTON (CNN) – As the prospects for passing health reform by the time Congress leaves for its August recess look bleaker, Democratic grumbling about President Obama is growing louder. One Democratic senator tells CNN congressional Democrats are “baffled,” and another senior Democratic source tells CNN members of the president’s own party are still “frustrated” that they’re not getting more specific direction from him on health care. “We appreciate the rhetoric and his willingness to ratchet up the pressure but what most Democrats on the Hill are looking for is for the president to weigh in and make decisions on outstanding issues. Instead of sending out his people and saying the president isn’t ruling anything out, members would like a little bit of clarity on what he would support – especially on how to pay for his health reform bill,” a senior Democratic congressional source tells CNN. The Democratic leadership had hoped the work going on behind closed doors for months could bear fruit in time for the president’s news conference Wednesday night. But multiple Democratic sources tell CNN that’s looking very unlikely, and one senior Democratic source tells CNN there is some frustration among Democratic leaders that Senate negotiators have, "repeatedly missed deadlines."

[Doctor_J]

14. Huh?

Chamber executives said a government-run plan will undercut private insurance companies, forcing many into bankruptcy. That would leave many people without health insurance, they said.

Umm, if the people have left the blood-sucking profiteers to enter the public plan, then they will have insurance.

Amazing how stupid Limbeciles are

[gratuitous]

17. Oh noes! Not teh bankruptcy!

Just how stupid is the Chamber of Commerce? Or are they referring to insurance companies going bankrupt? Run that concept by a few people trying to get their last check-up paid for, and see what kind of reaction you get from most folks.

Imbeciles.

[high density]

15. Bankruptcy? Now that's rich!!

This is by far the biggest Henny Penny argument I've heard yet on this issue. And I also notice it's just like the GOP: Lots of fear with no viable alternative to the way things currently are going. Just say we need to lower costs and apparently that makes it so. I guess according to these idiots the corporations now want to unilaterally lower their profit margins out of the goodness of their hearts. Yeah, I don't think I'll hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

[and-justice-for-all]

18. It does not matter what those who sponsed that crap ad want..

it is what WE the majority want.

[Supersedeas]

20. Big Insurance/Big Pharma vs. Small Business (who does the Chamber 'represent')

[Devil_Fish]

22. Damn, I sure could use 500 k of that money they are about to waste. NT

[Brother Buzz]

23. First thing I do when I hear the words "U.S. Chamber of Commerce:....

is grab and feel for my wallet to assure myself it's still there.