Posted on 07/27/2009 11:21:21 AM PDT by EagleUSA
WASHINGTON – August means beaches and barbecues. And for some, a chance to rally the troops for this fall's health care showdown.
Senate postponement of work on health care until September gives interest groups on both sides an entire month to whip up supporters, and pushes off crucial votes on the overhaul effort until fall — when people are likely to refocus on the issue.
Backers and opponents of President Barack Obama's top domestic priority plan to use Congress' August recess for intensive advertising and grass-roots campaigns in hopes that energized voters might influence wavering lawmakers. Even so, some political and media veterans consider the summer a tough time to sway people, who are often more focused on vacation than legislation.
"The real fight will come from September through November, when you can really swing public opinion and change hearts and minds," said Evan Tracey, president of the Campaign Media Analysis Group, which tracks political advertising.
That won't stop interest groups from trying to get their voices heard in August.
Health Care for America Now, a coalition of labor and progressive groups supporting Obama, will at least match the $2 million in TV ads it's run this month and send members to lawmakers' town hall meetings, said Richard Kirsch, its national campaign manager.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a foe, will run print ads in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Maine and North Carolina criticizing Obama's proposal for optional government-run insurance coverage, place newspaper op-eds and stage events around the country.
The states are home to moderate Democrats and Republicans crucial to passage of any health care bill in the Senate.
The conservative Americans for Prosperity, which considers Democrats' plans a federal takeover of health care, is sending two buses to 13 states to rouse opposition.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I have no confidence whatsoever in our government...they’ll payoff and bully to get what they want. By no means do I think this is over....
I won’t be happy until the “health overhall” is defeated and Barack Obama is out of office and replaced with someone with a fiscal brain.
There is no way that the Rats want to go home in Aug and face the music. I doubt any will have any “town hall” meetings. If they do..it will be selected supporters of govt health care.
Now is the time to lean on them..
I think he may go down as one of the dumbest President’s ever that cannot speak without a teleprompter which means he is not using his words but reading what someone has written (Ayers/Dohrn perhaps).
Everyone needs to keep propping up their members of Congress that are voting no and go full force against the Blue Dogs because Pelosi will be seeing they get money in their accounts like she did on cap and trade.
If they had the votes they would ram it through today.
He may well go down as the destroyer of the US economy. And Nancy Pelosi— she is a clown, and I cannot comprehend the people of California both putting her in office, and then re-electing her. (She reminds me of Nelly Olsen.) She is a braying a$$.
Your description of Pelosi is perfect. I cannot believe the Blue Dogs voted for her after the last time. They must have been feeling invincible, but now are in a panic as they are hearing from the people back home.
Couldn’t believe when the lone RAT of our OK delegation voted for that huge stimulus when calls in his district were running 10-1 against. Now Dan Boren is worried and is voting with the GOP. His true colors came out when he voted for Pelosi and then the huge stimulus. Now he is trying to save his seat.
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