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Healthcare advocates spending big to advertise lawmakers' votes for House bill
Healthcare reform advocates will spend about $1 million in the coming days on television spots thanking vulnerable lawmakers for supporting the healthcare bill that passed the House on Saturday.
Americans United for Change (AUFC) plans to air two sets of advertisements in local media markets on Wednesday, totaling about $350,000.
The first portion of ads, also sponsored by AFSCME, thanks Democratic Reps. Christopher Carney (Pa.), Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.), Zachary Space (Ohio), Steve Driehaus (Ohio), Baron Hill (Ind.) and Brad Ellsworth (Ind.) for "standing up to insurance companies" and voting for the House's bill. (Here's an example of the advertisement running in Rep. Carney's media market.)
Ultimately, AUFC's goal seems to be securing these lawmakers' votes for
the Democratic leadership's bill once it reaches the conference stage and returns to the House.
Many of the congressmen targeted in this week's slew of advertisements have faced serious Republican pressure in the days since they voted with their party on healthcare -- pressure that is likely to intensify as debate rages on and the 2010 election draws closer.
But AUFC's effort arrives on the heels of another souped up media campaign, launched by Health Care for America Now (HCAN) this morning. Their ads similarly urge voters to call and thank 20 Democrats for their votes. The list includes Rep. Jim Himes (Conn.) and Carol Shea-Porter (N.H.), both considered vulnerable.
“It takes courage to stand up to the lies and scare tactics. It's imperative voters understand the important role these Members of Congress have played in taking an historic step, voting yes, and siding with constituents instead of the health insurance industry,” Richard Kirsch, national campaign manager for Health Care for America Now, said in a statement.
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