Democratic memo plots message war on insurers

[seafan]

Source: The Hill

House Democratic leaders have developed a coordinated strategy for attacking insurance companies to ward off attacks from opponents of their health care overhaul during the August break, according to a strategy memo obtained by The Hill.

“Our message is simple. It is now being echoed by the White House,” said the memo sent to all Democratic members. “And it counters the Republican ‘government takeover’ message.”
The message in the memo, though, won't fit on a bumper sticker:
“Remove the insurance companies from between you and your doctor— capping what they can force you to pay in out of pocket expenses, co-pays and deductibles, and giving you the peace of mind you will be covered for the care you need, if get sick, or if you change or lose your job.”

.....

Democratic leaders will be coordinating media strategies and grassroots efforts with advocacy groups such as Health Care for America Now, Families USA and AARP, along with unions such as AFSCME and the Service Employees International Union.

.....

In addition to noting presidential events, the three-page strategy document lays out a detailed campaign of district events, rapid response, and conference calls with lawmakers to update them on strategy.
The web plan includes a Facebook page, a Twitter campaign, and even a “Hidden Tax Clock” modeled after the National Debt Clock. It will push the Democratic talking point that American's are already paying a hidden tax by subsidizing the uninsured.

Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/dem-memo-plots-message-war-on-insurers-2009-07-30.html

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And while we're at it, let's put single payer ON THE PUBLIC RADAR SCREEN. August will be a hot month.

This is the fight of our lives.

[bemildred]

1. About time the Congress remembered who the boss is, eh? nt

[cosmicone]

2. They made a mistake in not touting the single payer at the get go...

By starting out with the wish-list, the resulting compromises would have been in the middle. By starting in the middle to appease the repukes, the fallback positions are requiring a greater sacrifice from the ideal.

That long PR message is another example why the democrats fail over and over and over at PR games. The old adage of "keep it simple, keep it stupid" still holds. The hicks, bubbas and trailertrash don't understand all the gobbledygook -- they can be easily riled up with soundbites like "government takeover"

A simpler message would be "Take charge of your own health care" or "Be in control, be healthy" or "Your doctor, you and no one else" etc.

The leadership failed Negotiations:101 and are failing PR:101. Sadly.

[targetpractice]

4. Someone should take some marketing classes... NOW!

I agree with your assessment... We will be assaulted with brilliant and expensive anti-reform marketing during the recess.

I'm sad Obama backed off his deadline.

[Stellar]

8. You're hired!

[targetpractice]

3. We're doomed...

Why can't we come up with a simple message? This is a Marketing 101 challenge... Sell the benefits NOT the features.

The benefits...

- No denials, your bills are paid.
- No more big profits for insurance companies
- No in-network vs. out-of-network doctor hassles
- No COBRA hassles
- No worries if you switch jobs or move.
- No changes to Medicare

Somehow we've been trapped into describing nebulous concepts with terms like "public options" and "single-payer" and "exchanges" which are meaningless to most people. The new direction is better, but the message could be crisper.

Let me share a brilliant example of how to simplify messaging re: healthcare, and I'd love to read your thoughts about how to simplify the case for healthcare reform in a similar way...

http://www.atissuejournal.com/2009/07/help-simple-remedies-for-everyday-ailments/

[Mr. Sparkle]

5. Yeah, emm, can we not keep this memo to ourselves and not let the opposition see it.

I think that would help a lot, unless it is a part of a devious cunning plan where we fool the opposition into thinking we actually have a plan where usually in cases like these we dont .

[targetpractice]

6. "Government Takeover" vs. "The People Take Back"

How's this for a message?

"Americans take back control of their health from the insurance companies!"

Or, some messaging that conveys the insurance companies have already taken over healthcare while we weren't paying attention... Now, we want to take it back.

Any ideas?

[Mojorabbit]

9. Very good. nt

[tooeyeten]

7. finally

the people with the power to change things, are getting on the same page. About time!

[Mind_your_head]

10. Ready to win (finally)......

You betcha! (we're not "failin' Palin" this time!)