Conservative group targets Obama's vacation
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/21/art.ad.cnn.jpg caption="A new ad is directed at Obama while he vacations on Martha's Vineyard."](CNN) - If President Obama wants to catch the White Sox-Red Sox games next week while he vacations in Martha's Vineyard, he'll probably see the latest ad to attack his health care reform proposals.
Conservatives for Patient's Rights, a group founded earlier this year by former health insurance executive Rick Scott, says it will spend close to $150,000 next week to air a 30-second television spot in the Boston media market coinciding with Obama's vacation in the area.
Video: Rick Scott wades into health care debate
Among the stations the group plans to air the ad on is NESN, the network that will broadcast the four-game series next week between Obama's Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox.
Called "Surf's Up," the ad's narrator appears to mock Obama's beach vacation "while concerns mount about his health care plan."
"The beach is nice this time of year," says the female narrator. "But while president Obama vacations, concerns mount about his health care plan. Mr. President, when you go back to D.C., drop your government-run public option plan."
The group has spent upwards of $4 million on combating the Democrats health care proposals this year.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs brushed aside the ad at Friday's daily briefing.
"I don't think the American people begrudge the president taking some time with his family that's well earned and well deserved for a few days to see and spend time with them," said Gibbs.
(Updated at 11:55 a.m. ET with Gibbs response)
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Alright – i see you have that little epithet filtered. LOL
Conservatives in general are becoming annoying – like mosquitos. Perhaps it's time to spray.
It's hilarious, because more options is better for everyone. Not only will the plan be competitive, it will lower existing plans, that you and I have right now. Companies that no longer wish to carry 3rd party plans, will then have to pay in just as much into the government one, so there is no incentive for a company to do this. Government plans such as Medicare, VA, Seniorcare, are all great programs, but it seems Republicans want to get rid of them entirely. Why? Because they are Socialist? It is absurd how far these people will go. Have fun paying for 3rd party plans with no affordable government options available. No Medicare. No VA. No nothing. You guys rock.
Seems like some people forgot the LONG vacations our last president took while he was in office. The man takes a few days off when he's been at it non-stop since he got in office, next you'll be arguing over what beer he drinks....oh, that already happened!
Hi, I'm a Republican. I don't like change and I don't like things that are good for me. I get frightened and easily swayed by Rush and Sean Hannity because I can't think for myself. That's why I voted for another 4 years of George Bush!
If some one has that much money to spend on a single ad, just think of the amount of money they have in the bank insted of trying to fix something that you don't like start up a free clinic, but no people want to complain about it and have some one else take action insted of them taking action them selves. I have seen what happens when just a few people take action to help a group of people it changes lives.
so insted of just pusing money into a 30 second tv ad, put that money to work in some thing that will last longer than 30 seconds and change a life right now.
If only they would spend that money on someting productive . . .
politics is definitely at a standstill in america if lobbyists are taking out ads against obama's vacation plans. how ridiculous, and what a waste of money!!
This is really pathetic..These people seem to stop at nothing with their ridiculas attacks on out Great President..Its really a shame because they could have used this money they spend on these type of ads toward something more productive like HealthCare...Strange, how they still don;t seem to get the point that we are going to have Healthcare Reform whether they like it or not !!!! Go President Obama, YOU ARE THE CHANGE WE CAN REALLY BELEIVE IN !!!!! And keep the pressure on regarding the Public Option....
I hate this kind of mean spirited thing when it comes form the right or the left. The president is never on vacation. It is not relevant to the issues. Both sides need to sit down and really look at the issues. There are many things that could be compromised. Neither Democrats or Republicans are impressing me on this issue.
Why does Rick Scott have any credibility when his company defrauded the Medicare system and paid $1.6 billion in fines?
So, a guy who pocketed million$ in profit$ by selling insurance at EXCESSIVE rates wants to run an ad against the man who wants to CUT rates and provide insurance for the poor, the negected, the forgotten and the young. Wow, you would have thought?!?
Will you conservatives ever get an idea instead of just saying NO. 77% of the American people want this option. We shop around for auto insurance and home owners insurance i think shopping around for health care insurance will break up these monopolies and keep these crooks from jacking up prices on us. Stop letting these special interest groups keep you from voting and supporting programs that will help you.
People need to be informed of what type of organization is sponsoring this ad campaign. Go to Wikipedia and search for the article on "Conservatives for Patient's Rights".
Just for the record, google 'the president with most vacation days'.
This is a lot of money to waste on a negative ad. Why not pay for someones health care. The GOP are hypocrites
Where were these ads and this group when George Bush spent vacation for the entire month of each August during his presidency?
If you aren't allowed into his town halls and he has Robert Gibbs making fun of people who want to voice their opinion I guess the only way you can reach him is when he is endulging in his luxurious vacations.
The Public Option will be in the Legislation. Sorry to bust this former Ins Executives ad right of the bat.
Everyone that has insurance should maybe give their carriers a call and tell them that they have just be told they have a terrible disease...bet that would ALL be truly shocked at what they will find out from those loving Insurance agents that sold them a policy stating that they never had to worry again, the policy covers everything....yeah right . Takes their money for insurance for years and years and then when its needed they get a "I'm sorry, you really needed a special policy for that coverage, we will not be able to help you" Think I'm over stating this, call them I Double Dog Dare You...FOR PORFIT INSURANCE regarding Health Care shouldn't be legal PERIOD. Greed Greed Greed will be these "don't care about you, just what kind of bonus I'll get next year" peoples down fall.
GO PRESIDENT OBAMA show them who is really In Charge Now. You are and have always been on the Right Side of History.
Here's the key piece of information:
"Conservatives for Patient's Rights, a group founded earlier this year by former health insurance executive Rick Scott, says it will spend close to $150,000 next week to air a 30-second television spot..."
Why is the health insurance industry spending millions trying to defeat the Public Option?
No matter what President Obama does or doesn't do, the Republicans and Conservatives are there to criticize, criticize, and criticize because they have no ideas, no solutions, and no ethics. They're the ones who got us into this mess in the first place.
Mr. Scott is hardly a credible spokesman for the opponents of health care reform. He definitely has a huge conflict of interest. He is heavily involved in the health care industry and his former company was fined billions of dollars for health care fraud when they overbilled the government for unbelievable amounts of money. Rick Sanchez disclosed all of this during a very telling interview with Mr. Scott a few weeks ago so it is true. Mr. Scott's new group, Conservatives for Patient's Rights, certainly has ulterior motives.
Republicans up to their old dirty tricks again! Wonder where they got the money for a 30 second TV spot? The health insurance industry maybe?
I far as I can see Mr. Obama has been working 7 days a week since BEFORE he took office. These people give him grief for taking a week off when the Previous Occupant of the White House regularly took not only all Augusts off, but also had the record of any presidental vacation time.
These people must be kidding, right?
WOW...just think what good that money could do instead of broadcasting more hate and lies...it could buy desperatly needed classroom supplies for local schools...
The ads are a smart move. Run them now before Obama orders the FCC to threaten any network running them during the campaigns next year. The only "public option" Obama and the Democrats are in favor of dropping are the public options called "Town Hall Meetings" and "The 2010 and 2012 Elections"