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White House Makes 'Viral E-Mail' of Its Own
August 13, 2009 7:00 AM
Feeling victimized by misinformation spread virally through the Internet, the White House Thursday is launching its own "viral e-mail" for supporters to spread.
With the subject line: "Something worth forwarding," the e-mail -- from senior White House adviser David Axelrod -- seeks to combat "the viral e-mails that fly unchecked and under the radar, spreading all sorts of lies and distortions" and invites Americans to "start a chain e-mail of our own."
The e-mail outlines 24 points -- eight ways the Democrats' health care reform measures will, in Axelrod's view, "provide security and stability to those with or without coverage," eight "common myths" about reform, and eight reasons why reform is an urgent matter.
The e-mail also features a Web video from White House health care reform czar Nancy-Ann DeParle in which she refutes an opposition viral e-mail sent to one of her White House colleagues from his father, a physician.
DeParle then proceeds to refute points in the email (which, it appears, has made its way into Pat Boone's in-box), claims such as "the government will have direct real-time access to bank accounts," that all doctors will be paid the same regardless of speciality, and the notion that employers must enroll employees into the government run plan.
"This is probably one of the longest e-mails I’ve ever sent," Axelrod acknowledges at the beginning of the message. He explains that "it could be the most important."
This is just the latest attempt by the White House to combat opposition to health care reform, some of which is rooted in false information such as the "Obama 'death panel,'" that former Gov. Sarah Palin wrote about last week, painting a picture of a bureaucratic care-rationing board that would withhold medical treatment from seniors and the disabled.
This week, for instance, the White House set up a webpage "RealityCheck" "to knock down the rumors and lies that are floating around the Internet," Axelrod said.
The eight "common myths" are: that reform will lead to rationing and will mean a "government takeover" of health care; that reform is unaffordable; that it will encourage "euthanasia"; that it will limit veterans' access to the health care; that it will hurt small businesses; that it will be paid for by cutting Medicare benefits; that health reform will force Americans out of their current insurance plans or force them to change doctors; that it will mean the government will be in charge of Americans' bank accounts.
Some of the "myths" are clearly false -- that euthanasia is part of reform, for instance.
Others are matters of some dispute. Will health care reform really not lead to any American being switched from one insurance company to another, or one doctor to another? No, as President Obama has acknowledged, he cannot stop a private company from doing so -- though, he emphasizes, private companies are dropping coverage altogether for millions of Americans. But wouldn't the creation of this less expensive government-run plan lead to some employers opting for that coverages? Estimates of how many Americans would go from private to public plans range from two million Americans by the Congressional Budget Office to an estimate of tens of millions by analysts at the Lewin Group, a group that asserts editorial independence but is owned by UnitedHealthcare.
Axelrod goes on to argue the eight reasons for reform, among them that "36 percent of those who tried to purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company in the individual insurance market" were either unable to do so because of a pre-existing condition in the previous three years or they were dropped from coverage when they became seriously ill.
Other reasons for reform, Axelrod says, are that employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled since 2000, that those in rural areas have less access to health care, that nearly one-third of the uninsured are employees of small businesses, and that projections suggest that the number of uninsured Americans will rise to about 72 million.
The eight ways health reform will provide security to those with or without coverage include provisions in the health care reform bills working their way through Congress that would prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against those with pre-existing conditions; yearly caps on how much companies can charge for out-of-pocket expenses; and prohibitions against charging women more than men.
"Right now, someone you know probably has a question about reform that could be answered" by the viral e-mail, Axelrod writes. "So what are you waiting for? Forward this e-mail." He signs it: "Thanks, David."
- jpt
August 13, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (204)
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Dear Mr. Axelrod.
I have yet to see a more blantant liar than you, ecept Barrack Obama. The intent of this Admistration is to make this a socialist nation. Your everyday attempt to destroy anyone, who disagrees with the Administration is just like what dictators try to do, stiffle anyone, so they can have false harmony.
If you were a real American, you would want to hold on the Our Values.
You quack like a duck, you walk like a duck and you act like duck, communist duck, so you must be that kind of duck. Who do you think you are fooling, other than yourself.
Sincerely,
George
Posted by: George L. Randle | Oct 20, 2009 11:51:20 AM
That's a good thing, our goverment must be present on internet too!
Posted by: bank owned houses | Aug 21, 2009 1:50:39 PM
Oh also Gary of oregon LIFE ISN'T FAIR!! get over it and take some responsibility for yourself.
Posted by: mj | Aug 17, 2009 1:54:17 PM
"we need our government to take our country back..."
Gary Davis of Harbor Oregon - The Government is made up of people we the citizens elect and they are not looking out for our best interest. We the people need to take our country back. I personally do not need the Government to run every minute detail of my life. Why do you not get up and take responsiblility for your own happiness and wellbeing???
Posted by: mj | Aug 17, 2009 1:52:56 PM
Maybe Obama is president in name only: Read the article in the NY Times by
PETER BAKER and JEFF ZELENY about
Rahm Emanuel
Posted by: Anvil | Aug 17, 2009 9:06:20 AM
Thanks David,
Just a note, remember someone campaigned that he wasn't going to put with lobbyists...well
Posted by: Anvil | Aug 17, 2009 8:00:39 AM
How much longer are the major news companies going to keep their heads in the sand? Personally I am tired of news with smile I just want the news...
Now we have e-mails coming from the White House unsolicited.I never gave them my e-mail did you? And the "fishy list" what about that?
Complain about Fox and Palin all you want but it least they seem to back up what they report instead of vanilla ice cream tainted with everything is OK folks. Go to sleep now and wake up while your country gets hijacked.
I am not anti-Obama but I would like the cold hard truth.Bush was not correct in many things but it seems this administration is adopting and kept many of the past administration's policies except we are now much poorer and jobless.And is still pushing for more before they lose a majority in Congress.
Are you choking yet? ..I am ..Congress is not even reading what they stuffing down your throat.What happened to due process? Is that why we wrote the Constitution and fought all these wars through the years, right? Remember Hitler..the Revolutionary War...people died for what we have ...or losing.
Americans need to demand we slow down and organize together ..together meaning all Americans.
Posted by: Anvil | Aug 17, 2009 7:55:35 AM
Don't be fooled by Obama. He is playing into the hands of the health care industry. No politician dares to truly take on the most powerful industry lobbyist group in America with over 2000 health care lobbyists. If Obama realy wanted to offer a solution he would address the number one problem with US health care - capping health care prices by drug companies and HMOs.
Posted by: David | Aug 16, 2009 1:46:34 PM
If the word "Palinism" means to achieve political ends by any means. In a battle between Palinism and Socialism,I would choose Socialism.
However, now that the old folks have finally come out against socialism--- I guess to be far to them, we should skip worrying about the millions of uninsured and put a stop to government intervention in this field once and for all. SO LETS put health care on hold--while we repeal medicare and medical. Obviously, on purely anti-socialist grounds, one can not be for medicare for the old folks, while being against general health care for the young--- can they?
Posted by: JRC903 | Aug 16, 2009 1:05:41 PM
From yesterday: Angiline said,"If you would do some research this catastrophe actually began in the Carter Administration"
Angiline - it actually started with the Johnson Administration & the creation of Medicare. That act is what started us on the path of where we are today and is one of the root problems.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | Aug 16, 2009 10:48:25 AM
The proof in the pudding is that if this proposed health care overhaul is good for us, it is also good for "them". "Them", being those who are trying to get it through.
I want the entire congress to stand up and say "we'll go on this program too".
Lotsaluck.
Posted by: Curt Benton | Aug 16, 2009 7:23:16 AM
The greatest evidence that exists against this bill is what the bill says, as opposed to what Obama and minions including ABC tell you it means.
I don't have cable news so I just read the bill and let Obama tell me it doesn't mean what it says.
If it doesn't mean what it says then it was written by idiots and should be scrapped anyway. If it does mean what it says the it should be scrapped to preserve our freedom.
In either case it needs to be scrapped. So Mr. Obama park AF-1, quit burning all that JP-4 and stop trying to sell us a costly bill as being revenue neutral with no rationing.
Posted by: Ed Taylor | Aug 15, 2009 7:56:16 PM
Axelrod's "viral email" program won't work. He's an accountable bureaucrat and will be hobbled by having to more or less tell the truth about the health care program. The oppositional emails come from corporate-sponsored PR firms that operate under no such strictures. They can distort and lie as much as they want. It's free speech. Anyway Axelrod's emails will not reach the people who most need to read it.
Posted by: Robert Maxwell | Aug 15, 2009 3:00:58 PM
@Bet Noir
Speaking of truly stupid. Obama's point about diabetes patients was that preventive care is cheaper. Not that Doctors are looking to cut off feet for an easy buck.... My God people. Quit trying so hard to be offended.
If Doctors want an easy buck they over charge Medicare and pad insurance bills in general. That's Fact.
Posted by: Dassin | Aug 15, 2009 1:03:42 AM
mareen mcgrane |...48 million of Americans without healtcare are composed of 18 million illegals, young people that are healthy an don't want a healthcare, and those who work on their own.The numbers of those in need is a lot smaller that what the liberals want to portray. Everyone is entittle to emergency care by law.So what is the fuzz ? First was the gay marriage, then bailout to the banks, Insurance, Wall Street, the croonies of Chicago and now Healthcare.Don't be so naive, someone is waggin the tail and many of you fall for it.This administration along with Pelosi and Reid want to run and put mandates on our lives and that my friend is socialism, Obama's grew up leaning toward the socialist ideals. There are plenty of interviews were he expressly emphasized on those ideals.Hannity, Rush and those alike have no bearing on this.Obama has a socialist agenda period.Maybe you need to research a little about his up bring and see the truth.Last but not least ,2012 Change you can believe on!!!
Posted by: Frank | Aug 15, 2009 12:20:43 AM
I've been looking for a copy of this email, including header. But, all I find on it is a quotation. I'm not saying it's a fake. I know email though and would like to see it for myself. Maybe because for every one email I get from someone I know I get 500 spam. Anyway, anyone know where a person can see pic of the full email?
Posted by: Dassin | Aug 14, 2009 11:03:05 PM
Axelrod could save himself a lot of time and effort by just sending his 'viral' email to flag@whitehouse.gov
Posted by: Kelvin | Aug 14, 2009 4:17:45 PM
Axelrod's worried about, "the viral e-mails that fly unchecked and under the radar, spreading all sorts of lies and distortions"
So he what...would prefer that all e-mails be first captured (be "in the radar"), then "checked" for "rightness", and then suppressed if found unacceptable or contrary to the administration's undisputedly biased position?
With proposed legislation providing ever-increasing governmental internet monitoring powers and free-speech limitations, Axelrod's unintentional slip sends up warning flags all over the place.
Posted by: darkspace | Aug 14, 2009 3:59:21 PM
Obama admitted during the campaign (but now blatantly lies about it) that he supports a single payer system, i.e. Socialized Medicine; and, his "Government Option" is designed to force private insurers out of the market in order to achieve precisely that goal. As Obama said: "I don't think we're going to be able to eliminate employer coverage immediately. There's going to be potentially some transition process..." Barney Frank then unashamedly admitted that Obama's "Public Option" was simply a Trojan Horse for surreptitiously introducing full blown Socialized Medicine. The American people have astutely spoken loud and clear that Socialized Medicine is anathema; but, Obama's Marxist psyche prohibits him from accepting free market reforms which should begin with shutting down illegal immigration and Tort Reform, both of which Obama unconditionally rejects. Obama's ACORN is busily registering illegals; and, Trial Lawyers are among his principal campaign contributors. But the most insidious part of Obama's plan is the coming bureaucratic denial of life saving procedures for the elderly. As Obama says: "Take an aspirin" and just wait to die. ( Pg 30: SEC. 123. HEALTH BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE of HC bill - THERE WILL BE A GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get. AND, PG 430: SEC. 1233. ADVANCE CARE PLANNING CONSULTATION Lines 11-15 The Government will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life.) The elderly should revolt over Obama's health care proposals. He learned from his wife Michelle that considerable sums of health care funds could be saved by the practice of "patient dumping" which Michelle employed in Chicago. Facts that are precisely why Health Care legislation, that HAD TO BE DONE BY YESTERDAY, does not take effect until 2013, i.e. AFTER the next presidential election when voters will then be blindsided by a pending disaster. And, just remember that Obama and his Congressional colleagues have EXEMPTED themselves from compliance with their own proposed health care debacle. Greg Neubeck
Posted by: gneubeck | Aug 14, 2009 2:54:01 PM
Big Brother stay off of my computer
and stay out of My Life!
Get this through your Thick Sculls
Mr Obama and his supporters in
Congress:
We Don't want a "Public Option" as part
of Any Healthcare Reform Bill!
Portability, removing pre-existing
condition denial and expanded coverage
for the un-insured who want coverage
can be achieved without changing the
coverage of those who are satisfied
with their healthcare.
Reform, Not Nannycare!
Posted by: reaganfan | Aug 14, 2009 2:22:32 PM
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