WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Family Research Council is launching a television ad attacking a public health insurance option as a plan that will shortchange seniors and increase access to abortion, as social and religious conservatives ramp up a pushback against President Obama's health care reform package.
The group said it plans to buy air time in five states with moderate Democratic senators, most of whom are considered possible swing votes on health care: Pennsylvania (Arlen Specter and pro-life Bob Casey), Arkansas (Blanche Lincoln), Alaska (Mark Begich), Louisiana (Mary Landrieu), and Nebraska (Ben Nelson).
In the ad, an elderly couple is shown sitting at their kitchen table. "And to think that Planned Parenthood is included in the government-run health care plan and spending tax dollars on abortions," a man says to his wife. "They won't pay for our surgery, but we are forced to pay for our abortions."
The voice-over tag line: "Our greatest generation denied care. Our future generation denied life. Call your senator. Stop the government takeover of health care."
The current bill does not contain any provision for taxpayer-funded abortions. Instead, the current House version of the package would create a panel that would weigh what procedures might be covered - an approach White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has said is the best way to take on the issue. Gibbs told reporters earlier this month that when it came to abortion - or other, less controversial coverage questions - it was "better left to experts in the medical field to determine how best and what procedures to cover."
President Obama has largely tried to steer clear of the thorny debate, but has acknowledged the concerns of abortion opponents. "I'm pro-choice, but I think we also have the tradition in this town, historically, of not financing abortions as part of government-funded healthcare," he told CBS News last week. "My main focus is making sure that people have options of high-quality care at the lowest possible price."
The administration's hands-off approach has not been enough for abortion foes, who say that in the absence of language explicitly prohibiting the use of taxpayer dollars, the procedure will be included in a government-run health care plan - a development which would have to be squared with the Hyde amendment, which bars the use of federal funds to pay for abortion services. So far, efforts to insert that prohibition into the plan being considered by Congress, including a push last month by a group of House Democrats, have been unsuccessful.
From CNN Politics
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Any public option should not cover abortion. Although I'm pro-choice, I think abortion will kill this bill in it's tracks. However, I think in extreme circumstances when the birth endangers the mother's life, the public option should cover that.
Obamacare:
Federal funding for abortion.
Reduction in medical research & development.
Reduced care for the elderly.
A killer at the beginning and end of life cycles.
This is ridiculous. I'm so sick of right-wing threats and scare tactics. Using terrorist tactics, holding Americans hostage unless their demands are met.
I can't wait for Jesus to come back and rid the world of these people. Then we can start to live in peace and harmony.
Aren't you people sick of the lies and innuendo?
Get an education and wise up to these political ads that are filled with lies and half truths.
Americans are dumb.
can any good come from this?
The Family Research Council should be considered part of our war on terror. Fear is a very useful tool for the far Reich. Slick.
This is just more Republican lies. A public option would not shortchange seniors or promote abortion.
From their track record Republicans cannot call themselves conservative on any level, neither fiscally nor socially.
this is pathetic...
and what's even more pathetic will be the people who see this crap and believe it.
already, my boss has hung a picture of Obama dressed as a native American 'medicine man' across from my desk (just to irritate me)
What kind of Christian principles this Family research Councile teaches about? What kind of Jesus this family councile preach about??What moral ground of a Christian Organization like Family Research Council , while they millions from companies and millionaires .?? Health Care reform is to make it affordable to all that inclueds the one who can not afford it and and for all who dont have it. But Family Research Council here is trying to protect multi-billion Insurance companies and Higher Health coverage, and continue deny the basic rights for thos who dont have it, or for those who cant afford it, the where is Jesus in your teaching? What kind of teachings of Jesus you Preach about? what kind of morality You preach about? what kind of family principle you teach about? Ultimately Healthcare reform is for the families who cant afford
Abortion legal – OK, government programs to pay for abortion – NOT OK. This is yet another reason that we should not have the government involved in providing health care or health insurance.
It’s Nancy’s and Harry’s culture of corruption democratic party.
Here we go again. Fear, intimidation and outright lies. Nothing in the President's plan denies any services to the elderly (Rush's lies to the contrary). Nothing. Although hopefully it will stop Doctors from duplicating tests, ordering unnecessary tests and performing unnecessary procedures. As for abortion, does your current health plan pay for abortions (bet it does) ? Your premium is based on everyone's coverage and usage. Like it or not, abortion is a LEGAL medical procedure. Stop the lies. Stop the fear mongering. Do something helpful for the American people by passing true health reform.
The depth that the religious right wing nut jobs will go seldom surprises me.
"The current bill does not contain any provision for taxpayer-funded abortions"
Not that facts influence the religious nutters.
"an approach White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has said is the best way to take on the issue. "
And who cares what Gibbs thinks? He is a talking dog for the President. Gibbs is told exactly what to say and what not to say. He has no impact on policy. He is not allowed to have an opinion. When Gibbs says it is the best way, he is saying that because the President told him to say that.
So just say that the President thinks this is the best way.
Nobody should pay any attention to organizations going against the singler payer health care system. Health insureres are so scared of a single payer health program they're throwing money at congress and the senate to vote it down. They don't care about American, they care only about profit. The republicans use abortion to get people to the polls and now the Health Insurance giants are using it too. All they want to do is distract. Single payer is hands down the best way to go. Don't be fooled by the republicans or the for profit insurance companies.
So, how does the FRC (doesn't that spell farce?) support these claims? Oh, that's right, they don't need facts...
*deeply tired of every debate of any significance hijacked by single-issue loons*
Haven't you people already promoted your agenda sufficiently in _Kansas_?
Quote from the ad: "Our greatest generation denied care."
I would like to point out "our greatest generation" already has government run health care.
I think the Family Research Council should take the sage advice of Sarah Palin: "Stop making things up"
The proposed bill doesn't say anything about euthanizing seniors either, so absence of language explicitly prohibiting the use of taxpayer dollars apparently means the procedures will also be included in a government-run health care plan.
Now THAT will make a great follow-up TV spot. They can even use the same actors.
Is anyone surprised that the FRC ad contains outright lies and distortions? These "holier than thou" hypocrites make me ill.
The abortion debate will never be resolved by these tactics.
But let's face it, the FRC and its like minded creationist, flat earthers will be around as long as the likes of Limbaugh and Beck are considered climate scientists and health care experts.
72% of Americans want a public option. So I suggest that for every politician that votes against health reform with a public option that we band together vote these people out of office. We have to demand change to our health system. To many people are suffering because of health industry and it's time to take action. I used to work at an insurance company and we had people dedicated to reviewing medical records looking for pre-existing conditions. This is how insurance companies increase profits. They accept premiums from consumers and then deny claims based on pre-existing conditions or they just will not insure you. A public option eliminates the clause in a health policy where they can deny claims based on pre-existing conditions. This is the most important part of the public option. I encourage people to call a health insurance advocate and have them explain their health policy. Then tell me if you are one illness away from bankruptcy. People need to stop listening to rich people who try to scare you. These people are working for the insurance industry.
A mother's womb should be the safest place for an unborn baby to be.
God created life, and we celebrate that fact... and praise him for the
wonderful gifts that he gives to us. Let us find ways to greatly reduce the number of abortions, rather than ways to encourage them. Planned parenthood is not doing it's job in educating women, because it is not profitable for them to do so. Education will prevent women from having to go through the trauma of an abortion experience, and the guilt that should accompany ending a pre-born
infant's life. God bless America, and help us to end this tragedy.
No way shape or form should tax dollars be paying for the killing of an unborn child.
think about your mom or dad being told they can't have the care they need. this is really pretty profoundly scary.......
this is disgusting. abortions are just a tiny fraction of the needed services planned parenthood offers to all people, not just those with insurance.
More doubletalk from the fringe.
Wow..Using the brutal issue of Abortion to deny American Citizens affordable Healthcare.
Our congress is denying the American people the healthcare THAT THEY GIVE TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN.
Can you even comprehend that? "Yes...We love our healthcare and our children are kept healthy by it.....But for you people...NA...Won't work for you!".
EVIL...Just pure and utter Evil.
Soo...they'll use lies and suppositions to derail the bill...I mean, why not – it worked with Prop 8 in California, right?
This is why America can't get ahead , just like the republicans now this group constantly tries to stand in the way of progress , the smart thing to do is come up with solutions to our problems ( healthcare is everyones's problem in Americas ) they need to stop wasting money trying to derail the process and learn to help the process , and that partly the reason for our problems....
The Family Research Council is the biggest contributor to stagnation, lies, corruption and incompetence in Washington. They were big supporters of Bush and every one of his innumerable FAILED POLICIES. These cretins need to be audited, investigated and thrown in jail. Their 'activism' is far more detrimental to America than Acorn ever was.
Muslim extremists, Christian extremists - they are all the same – DANGEROUS! This fringe of the America populus refuses to acknowledge what is becoming ever more obvious – that overpopulation of the Earth threatens everybody.
Want to shut these extremists up? Ask any one of them how many abandoned and/or orphaned children live in their homes and you'll almost always get the same answer – NONE, BUT!
Enough said!
Let's see. They say the bill will "shortchange seniors and encourage abortions". Why don't we add encourage gays, encourage terrorists attacks, raise taxes, and ban the Bible.
And maybe they can think of a few more reasons to oppose something that this country needs desperately.
This is no surprise. Don't mention the good that Planned Parenthood does and the counseling they provide that attempts to persuade young women to NOT have abortions. Just play to people's emotions and do everything you can to stop progress.
So instead of just pushing to change the law, now the anti-abortionists want to take the choice away from low-income and under-employed women.
Tell you what – let all the anti-abortionists start a fund to help pregnant women pay for education, health care, homes, and food for all these "unborn children"
The political left embracf a hatred of humanity long ago, and their insanities havent changed much no matter what ideological guise they wear at any given moment. It is their hatred of all that is human that defines them. They denounce waterboarding our enemies and say its against Americas morals and values. Yet they champion killing the unborn and elderly at taxpayers expense. May God save the USA from this kind of leadership putting the country on a very steep, very slippery slope.
curious thought....where is the conincidence with the Mad Scientist (pun) and this funding?
It would be wise of the Governement to clearly spell out that funding is NOT to be used for the purposes of abortion but for the purposes of reducing, eliminatling abortion. It's time has come..look at the true history of abortion and it's intent...it had no moral basis other than to control racial, ethic, and status. If you really researched the issue you would surely oppose the issue of abortion....it's not really a 'woman's right'...becuase in the woman more woman have suffered not only physically but emotionally...it has drained their spritis..their hope.
That couple looks very much like "Harry and Louise", don't they? And they look a little old to be worrying about an abortion, don't they? Oh, yeah, I get it...it's some other woman's health that may depend upon an abortion that they are "concerned" about.
Just a question...does the health insurance that they have NOW pay for abortions?
This is the reality of 0bamacare, people. First we are forced to pay for the murder of unborn innocents, then we are forced to comply with government euthanasia through the euphemistically-named "health care rationing."
If there's anything that should be aborted, it is this TRILLION dollar boondoggle that does nothing apart from legitimizing state-sponsored medical murder.
The GOP and company are putting out so many out right lies to defeat ther health reform needed to avert future fiscal disaster
GWB and company knew that if they left the nations finances in a shambles it would ham string any efforts to do the right thing by future administration for decades to come.
This amounts to treason............
More lies. There is nothing in the bill about abortion. The "Family" C Street cults sadly give real conservatives a bad name with their dishonesty.
This right-wing propaganda is desperately stooping to the worst fear-mongering LIES threatening seniors when nothing could be further from the truth.
This legislation would actually improve healthcare for all Americans if we don't get derailed by the "Family" circus. Unreal.
This ad is disgusting and not just misleading but a flat out pile of lies.
Nice try. Won't work. Real seniors (like my mother-in-law) worry more about a catastrophic illness wiping out their savings. I know for a fact that one of my mother’s friends had to sell his house to offset open heart surgery. He is too “rich” for Medicare, but his insurance refused to cover the cost of his problem.
Big Pharma, the insurance companies and the fat-cats in the medical industry, along with the right-wing senators – who are all multi-millionaires – don’t give a rat’s behind about our crappy health care system. They aren’t going to get away with it this time. They can spent all they want on “scare tactic” ads – Nice try. Won’t work.
What's the big deal about abortions? We send more troops to war every day – why not stop that first GOP?
This is just part of the disinformation campaign. Seniors will NOT lose covered services as part of the plan. Pass it and pass it soon. I do not want it re-hashed ad nausium during the 2010 campaigns.
Americans will fall for this, because they're naive. When it comes to paying for health care you disapprove . . . that happens with private insurance as well. If you pay premiums to XYZ Health Insurance Company . . . your premiums will end up paying for someone else's abortion . . . just like their premiums might end up paying for your bone fracture. Each of us pays for a wide variety of someone else's care. In that regard, private insurance and government insurance are the same. Get used to it. Deal with it.
The "Freedom Restriction Council" is nothing but a profit making lie machine for the RNC.
More stirring up of the fear in the hearts and minds of the ignorant republican base. Hey, It's worked for them in the past. Have a nice day!
Sick lies and GOP dirty politics...again. Just like the big lie that came out at the President's town hall yesterday. The government is going to "kill" the elderly...yes, literally. I don't know about the rest of you, but it is so obvious what the party of "no" are up to. They have known since the the primary season that if Obama wins, and if Obama's policies are inacted, they are screwed and out of power for years to come. Period. It is all lies, fear-mongoring and brainwashing. There are alot of sickos out there who would love nothing more to see our President defeated and quite frankly GONE. And I mean that in the worse case scenerio sense. God bless the Secret Service. They really have to provide top-notch security and due diligence to protect this President. And God Bless President Obama.