AL GORE: New DNC Ad Focuses on Patients’ Rights
Continuing to hammer away at the health care issue, the Democratic National Committee last week released another ad touting Vice President Al Gore's prescription drug plan while bashing opponent Texas Gov. George W. Bush (R) for the plight of health care in the Lone Star State. Titled "Judge," the 30-second spot focuses on a federal judge's ruling last week that Texas must improve its Medicaid program for children lacking health coverage. The new ad states: "George W. Bush says he has a plan for children's health care. But why hasn't he done it in Texas? Texas ranks 49th out of 50 in providing health care coverage to kids. It's so bad, a federal judge just ruled Texas must take immediate corrective action." The ad continues: "The judge's findings: Bush's administration broke a promise to improve health care for kids. ... Texas failed to inform families of health coverage available to a million children. The Bush record. It's becoming an issue." The ad is set to air in nine states -- Arkansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin (Samuels, NationalJournal.com, 9/6). To view the ad, please click here. Note: You will need RealPlayer G2 to view the ad.
Patients' Rights on the River
Moving from prescription drugs, the Gore campaign released another ad last week touting the vice president's support for a patients' bill of rights. Titled "Bean Counter," the 30-second spot was filmed in Bellevue, Iowa, during Gore's post-convention riverboat trip down the Mississippi River. The ad features Gore, who states: "If your doctor says you need a particular specialist or some treatment, if you've got an HMO or an insurance company, a lot of times some bean counter behind a computer terminal, who doesn't have a license to practice medicine and doesn't have a right to play God, will overrule the doctor's orders." Gore continues: "I'm telling you we need a patients' bill of rights to take the medical decisions away from the HMOs and insurance companies and give them back to the doctors and the nurses." Although the campaign would not indicate where the ad would run, previous Gore ads have aired in 17 key battleground states (Braverman, NationalJournal.com, 9/5). To view the ad, please click here. Note: You will need RealPlayer G2 to view the ad.
Backed by Special Interests?
Although he released his health care plan yesterday, Bush still has to fight attacks on his health care record in Texas. Another ad released shortly after the Republican National Convention argues that special interests "won at the convention by giving money" to the Texas governor. Sponsored by American Family Voices, a group established with funds for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the ad states: "The convention's over, and look who won. The insurance industry. They've invested millions in George W. Bush who vetoed a patients' bill of rights in Texas. Nursing home operators? They've given over $100,000 to Bush who weakened nursing home laws in Texas while patient complaints doubled. The big drug companies: They've kicked in millions for Bush ... who joined them in opposing guaranteed Medicare prescription coverage." The ad concludes: "Tell Bush when special interests win, America's families lose." The ad ran in Philadelphia, Detroit, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. (Braverman, NationalJournal.com, 9/5). To view the ad, please click here. Note: You will need RealPlayer G2 to view the ad.