WRONG AGAIN! MOVEON.ORG TAKES AIM AT MEDICARE

MoveOn.Org's Next Chapter: False And Misleading Attacks Against The Medicare Prescription Drug Program

MoveOn.Org: "We just learned that tomorrow, Congressional Republicans are staging a rally in DC to cheer for their deadline and encourage seniors to play along, rather than speak out for a better system." (MoveOn.Org, Email, "Rapid Response Rally TOMORROW On Prescription Drugs," 4/5/06)

MoveOn.Org: "Can you join us tomorrow, April 6th at 1:45 PM on Capital Hill to stage a counter rally? We'll be demanding a prescription drug solution that works for America's seniors ..." (MoveOn.Org, Email, "Rapid Response Rally TOMORROW On Prescription Drugs," 4/5/06)

MoveOn.Org Has A History Of Running Inaccurate Advertisements And OH And CT TV Stations Have Refused To Air Group's Latest Attack Ad:

MoveOn.Org's Latest Misleading Attack Ads: "In key districts, [the Red-Handed Ad will try to] connect the dots between corruption in Washington and specific representatives. ... The $750,000 we're raising now allows us to do a very big buy, at what media experts call 'saturation level.'" (MoveOn.Org Email, "What The TV Ad Will Do," 3/30/06)

Because Of Distortions, "NBC Stations In Columbus, Ohio, And Hartford, Conn., Rejected The Ads." (Larry O'Dell, "Liberal PAC Launches Ad Campaign Against Drake," The Associated Press, 4/4/06)

February 3, 2006: MoveOn.Org Ad Falsely Claimed President's Terrorist Surveillance Program Violated The Law. MoveOn.Org Ad: "We put a law in place to protect innocent Americans, allowing the president to wiretap for national security, but requiring court approval within days. George Bush is breaking that law." ("TV Ad Accuses President Of Breaking Law By Wiretapping Americans Without Warrants," MoveOn.Org Press Release, 2/3/06)

February 1, 2005: The Nonpartisan FactCheck.Org Declared MoveOn.Org's Social Security Ad "False": "MoveOn.org launched a false TV ad in the districts of several House members, claiming through images and words that President Bush plans to cut Social Security benefits nearly in half."

The Program Will Save Seniors "An Average Of $1,100 A Year On Prescription-Drug Costs." (Rep. Phil Gingrey [R-GA], Op-Ed, "Democrats' Rhetoric On Drug Plan Doesn't Match Reality In The District," The Hill, 3/28/06)

The Administration Estimates Premiums Will Be $25 Instead Of The $37 Predicted Last Year, Saving Seniors $144 A Year. (Robert Pear, "Federal Costs Dropping Under New Medicare Drug Plan," The New York Times, 2/3/06 )

HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt: "[M]edicare's drug coverage will have significantly lower premiums ... as a result of stronger than expected competition in the prescription drug market." (Secretary Michael Leavitt, Subcommittee On Labor, Health And Human Services, And Education, Committee On Appropriations, U.S. House, Hearing, 3/8/06)

More Than 27 Million Seniors Now Get Prescription Drugs Through Medicare: 7.2 Million Seniors Have Signed Up On Their Own - An Additional 20 Million Were Automatically Enrolled. (Kevin Freking, "Feds Announce New Enrollment Numbers For Drug Benefit," The Associated Press, 3/23/06)

416,000 Beneficiaries Are Enrolling In The Program Each Week. (Office Of Strategic Initiatives, The White House, "By The Numbers," Fact Sheet, 4/4/06) "Enrollment Is Now Well Ahead Of Schedule. The Benefit Has Now Almost Met Its Goal Of Enrolling 28 Million Seniors By December 2006." (Office Of Strategic Initiatives, The White House, "By The Numbers," Fact Sheet, 4/4/06)

"When Virginia G. Shores Went To A Pharmacy Here To Pick Up Five Prescriptions, She Thought She Heard The Pharmacist Say She Owed $250, But She Was Wrong. The Cost, With Her New Medicare Prescription Drug Card, Was Just $50." (Robert L. Pear, "For Some Who Solve Puzzle, Medicare Drug Plan Pays Off," The New York Times, 3/26/06)

Shores: "I was flabbergasted. ... I was amazed at the amount of money it saved." (Robert L. Pear, "For Some Who Solve Puzzle, Medicare Drug Plan Pays Off," The New York Times, 3/26/06)

"[B]obby G. Brown, A Retired Letter Carrier, And His Wife, Anna, Both 71, Spent Four Hours With A ... Counselor [To Figure Out The Drug Benefit]." (Robert L. Pear, "For Some Who Solve Puzzle, Medicare Drug Plan Pays Off," The New York Times, 3/26/06)

Mrs. Brown: "It was well worth the time." (Robert L. Pear, "For Some Who Solve Puzzle, Medicare Drug Plan Pays Off," The New York Times, 3/26/06) "[Mr. Brown] Takes 6 Drugs; [His Wife] Takes 18. They Enrolled In Different Plans ... And Their Combined Drug Costs Will Plunge To $4,900 Or Less A Year, From More Than $25,000." (Robert L. Pear, "For Some Who Solve Puzzle, Medicare Drug Plan Pays Off," The New York Times, 3/26/06)

"Mary N. Hooser, 89, Of Sapulpa, Okla., Takes Eight Medications For Heart Disease, Ulcers, Depression, And Early Signs Of Alzheimer's Disease. Her Children Had Been Chipping In To Cover The Cost, $476 A Month, Including $155 For The Alzheimer's Drug. Under Medicare, The Cost For All Her Drugs Is Less Than $100 A Month." (Robert L. Pear, "For Some Who Solve Puzzle, Medicare Drug Plan Pays Off," The New York Times, 3/26/06)

Hooser's Daughter Mary L. Ward: "This is a tremendous help to my mother and me." (Robert L. Pear, "For Some Who Solve Puzzle, Medicare Drug Plan Pays Off," The New York Times, 3/26/06)

"Charlene G. Bandurski, Who Had Polio As A Young Child, Was Not Enthusiastic About The Prospect Of Signing Up For The Medicare Drug Benefit. Indeed, She Said: 'I Looked Forward To It With Dread. We Had Heard That It Was A Mess, And So Confusing.'" (Robert L. Pear, "For Some Who Solve Puzzle, Medicare Drug Plan Pays Off," The New York Times, 3/26/06)

"But Since Signing Up In December, Ms. Bandurski Said, She Has Been Pleasantly Surprised. 'For A Medicine That Cost $120, We Now Pay $20," She Said. "At First, You Don't Believe It. It's Almost Like It's Too Good To Be True.'" (Robert L. Pear, "For Some Who Solve Puzzle, Medicare Drug Plan Pays Off," The New York Times, 3/26/06)

Democrats Politicize Issue Even Though Their Allies Are Spending Millions To Promote Program:

"[Rep. Leonard] Boswell's [D-IA] Stance Illustrates The Great Balancing Act Democrats Are Planning For The November Congressional Elections. They Are Helping Senior Citizens Sign Up For The New Prescription Subsidy ... At The Same Time They Slam It As A Cumbersome Boondoggle That Helps Insurance Companies And Drugmakers More Than Medicare Recipients." (Jay Newton-Small, "Democrats Slam Medicare Drug Plan As They Help Seniors Sign Up," Bloomberg, 3/24/06)

"AARP Spokesman Steve Hahn Said ... The Group Was Prepared To Spend 'Several Million Dollars' On Print And Radio Ads In 44 Cities In Advance Of The May 15 Deadline For Seniors To Enroll In The Drug Program Without A Penalty." (Ben Pershing, "AARP Ads to Boost Drug Plan," Roll Call, 3/28/06)

"AARP's Agenda Has Traditionally Been Closely Aligned With That Of Congressional Democrats ..." (Ben Pershing, "AARP Ads to Boost Drug Plan," Roll Call, 3/28/06)

Rush has been saying for the last few months that the dems are ready to launch a LIE campaign as their only weapon in the next election. And .. it's going to be the usual over-the-top kind of plan - which will backfire on them again - as usual.

I don't understand how anyone can swallow what the left is putting out these days, but I have a family member lost to the dark side and it's very frustrating.

There is one interesting aspect of the left making the charges they do against Bush though. It has caused me to run my own beliefs about Bill Clinton through a certain filtering process.

It hasn't changed anything that I have suspected about Clinton, but it has caused me to ask myself why I believe those things and validate those beliefs with a more discerning eye.

The left would be one comical laugh track if they weren't given so much credibility by people with high visibility, the MSM, movie stars and the marxist members of the scientific community.

The Democratic Party has very little money for this election cycle. They cannot fundraise very effectively anymore.

However, 527s like Moveon.org are ready to take up arms against us (figuratively....if they really took up arms, they would just end up shooting themselves in the butt).

If Rove and Company can create a concise national message for the election, but let each candidate espouse those views personally, these 527s will look like the fringes they are in comparison.

Fox News also had a report some weeks ago on the Medicare Drug plan, Plan D. It seems to be growing in popularity and is providing savings. The only real drawback thus far is its complexity. But that's government for ya!

I'm with the VA. I consulted with my VA physician last week and the VA's plan is either as good as, or better than, the Medicare plan so I'm not going to do anything. The same is true for my primary provider's plan through my wife's health insurance. In either case, I'll incur no penalty if I wait past the May 15th deadline to sign up.

The DimocRats can say what they want, but more and more seniors should be tuning it out.

"The only real drawback thus far is its complexity. But that's government for ya! "

It is not complex! It is very simple! Everyone I talked with was informative and polite!

At one point, I said --I mut be missing something, I've heard how complicated, ill worded, etc.etc., D is. This is not what I'm hearing.

The media - newsprint, cable news, alphabet stations and all the barbiettes and kennetts have done a criminal injustice to everyone!!

Now..... if I had my rights would I choose Medicare for my medical care - no! I would want options of picking and choosing my care. I think the Government should have stayed out of health care way way back. Leaaving the window open for the poor.

hillary did not start this but hillary will finish it with national health care. Leaving what was the best the worst!

hillary and family will not be a part of national health care - she will have options we will not have!

It is the same old patronizing. The public is too stupid to know. If it is confusing to have lots of companies competing for our business to keep the prices down, then you are talking to a socialist who wants to engineer things him/herself. I trust Walmart and Walgreens for everyday low prices over HIllary, anyday.

Remember the "school lunches" bit. If you throw out enough lies like the Democrats do, eventually one will develop a life of its own. Eventually, some of those big, self-sustaining ones get debunked, though the damage is usually done by then. In the end though, if that changes the Republican strategy, Republicans will never implement their agenda, ever.

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