Luntz to GOP: How To Oppose Obama's Health Care Plan

“Are you happy with the insurance industry setting standards of care, instead of doctors who really know what's best?”
—“Are you happy with the insurance industry rationing care, making people stand in line and denying treatment?”
-“The republicans are satisfied with the insurance bureaucrats in charge of healthcare. I want to put the medical professionals in charge, and I want patients as an equal partner.”
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Luntz is so last century.

Luntz has succumbed to the fatal flaw that all pollsters know they must vigilantly guard against and that is trying to find the best way to frame their own assumptions instead of finding out how best to frame the public's perceptions. By starting from his own assumptions, Luntz has failed to account for a decrease in the public's trust of corporate America and an increase in trust in an Obamanized government. Clearly, the GOP still believe government is the problem and private industry is always better. Obviously, that was the dominant sentiment of the past, but in a post economic crisis/madeoff world no so much.

The Republicans have NO credibility with 60% of the electorate only because of the gullibility of 40% of the electorate who fail to see that the "poster child" of Republican social policy is the bastard grandchild of Sarah Palin. Otherwise the Republicans would have 0% credibility.

By the way, my use of "bastard" is NOT an epithet but a precise technical use of the term. Republicans also have trouble associating words with their actual meanings like "Weapons of Mass Destruction" or "torture" or "civil liberties."

Health care in this country reeks. Luntz is providing legislators who benefit from not fixing it with excuses for not fixing it. Meanwhile, "the rich stay healthy and the sick stay poor."

"they want to raise the scary prospects of rationing and of a government board telling your doctor what treatment you can and cannot get."
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KT-how is that different from what people are actually experiencing NOW with their insurance companies?
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That is the flaw in his "argument". Scaring people about (supposed) poor delivery service for less money than the (actual) poor service we are already spending a lot on.

government board telling your doctor what treatment you can and cannot get.
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KT, I know you know this - doctors already don't have the final say on treatment, unless you can walk in with bags of money. P-NNTO is right on target here.

Both parties are entrenched with the insurance industry lobbyists. Unfortunately, most of our mainstream press wants to protect the establishment and the status quo. (See Evan Thomas of Newsweek.)

The Republicans can use whatever wording they want and the Democrats can be frightened by their "scary" rhetoric - but the reality on the ground - the reality for people across America - is our system is broken. Only people in Washington think highly of the for profit healthcare system.

Unfortunately, I don't see a change unless the populace gets off their butts and make their elected representatives do the right thing.

I would hope that the Democrats can make that rather simple point.
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"police activity in the area." That's sounds ominous.

Insurance companies are viewed as the enemy by many patients. People have seen their co-payments rise over time. Unless the Democrats completely drop the ball.
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For many patients, health care is already being rationed. I think many will trust an Obama run system over the insurance companies they are dealing with now. Harry Reid should not be the point person to deliver the health care message, he could screw things up.
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"Health care professionals" are going to be adversely affected whether corporations or the government is paying the bill. At the end of the day, "professionals" will be delivering more care for less economic return.

Thanks, KT. I just got a horrific vision of two police cars parked athwart the tracks, with loud music blaring, a few bear kegs and half-nekkid cops frolicking amidst spent Dunkin Donuts boxes. Not pretty. Not pretty at all.

Harry Reid should not be the point person to deliver anything but cover for The Club.
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Fixed. (Sorry for the derail)

They're trying to scare people that are already scared (and broke) because of the current system. The RW spin machine used to be the best. They were the undisputed masters. Their problem now is that they have lost the trust and respect of most of the voters. It's going to come to the question of "who do you trust?".

Too bad Luntz couldn't give advice like they should accept reality instead of play games with language and rhetoric.
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Looks like Chris Matthews gets it:
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http://thinkprogress.org/2009/05/05/pence-evolution-global-warming/

KT -- Yes, he is acknowledging the public's desire to spend government funds on health care, but the core value of the GOP is still that government is the problem. That government doesn't work and the private sector is better. We now know that not to be true. The short sightedness, and in some cases of outright stupidity of some of these captains of industry makes it evident that the private sector doesn't have all of the answers. Moreover, they are currently witnessing what effective government looks like and rather than coming away with the perception that Obama is trying to do too much, they are left with the impression that this guy can walk, chew gum, and juggle his way out of our problems.

They're trying to scare people that are already scared (and broke) because of the current system
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Yes! Thanks for that.

Here's a clue.
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Anytime anyone uses the phrase "it could lead to" in a sentence they're making s4!^ up.
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Not that I'm immune from using 'slippery slope' arguments myself but I think the argument that people who have power and no accountability will abuse that power is safer than the notion that DC bureaurocrats want to micromanage your relationship to your physician in a way that Insurance bureaurocrats don't.

I'm a physician and between the insurance companies, mega-pharmacies, etc. I have NEVER been in charge of the care of my patients. I fill out 10-15 pieces of useless paper daily because some insurance company wants to switch their patient to a different (i.e. cheaper) medication. And I also see the inequities of this system daily in my practice, with denial . I'm SO ready for a change.

So will the objective media examine these canned lines with the same scrupulous eye they'll apply to a Democratic plan? Or will they be content to describe the plan, quote uncritically any and all hysterical claims in opposition, and let a tragically uninformed public reach random conclusions?

On a broader note-Almost everything benefits from checks and balances, that's why the current state of the republican party isn't healthy for the country, what should the "check" be on physicians?
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The current system is so economically based that the care decisions are skewed towards the bottom line by the insurance industry.
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Would, for lack of a better word, unfettered decisions made by healthcare professionals work? Or even be desirable?

spinmd, I feel your pain. In an academic setting, we often see the patients who wont be treated by other hospitals.
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Here is the AMA's take on the situation:
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2009 National Health Care Policy Agenda
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The American Medical Association (AMA) believes that all Americans are worthy of a fair and affordable health system.
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Today, Americans are faced with a fragmented health system. Millions don't visit a doctor until their illness reaches a serious stage. As a nation, we can and should do better.
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At the center of the AMA's vision is the concept that every American, regardless of means, has health insurance. And every patient maintains the freedom to choose his or her own doctors and health plans, and maintains control over his or her own care. For a senior, this includes having ready access to doctors in the Medicare program. For a pregnant woman, it means finding a physician who hasn't been forced out of business by high liability insurance rates. And for everyone, it means receiving the best care possible. Specifically:
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* The AMA urges lawmakers to implement a system of tax credits to enable individuals to buy health insurance. We have a detailed proposal for this system.
* Under current law, Medicare will make deep cuts in payments to doctors every year until 2015. This policy erodes patient access to care and is a barrier to practice innovations. Congress and the next Administration need to permanently replace the flawed payment formula.
* Medical lawsuits are driving up health costs for everyone and making it hard for many to find a doctor. The AMA seeks reasonable limits on the noneconomic damages juries can award so that doctors aren't forced to move, cut services or go out of business.
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Physicians and other health providers must work with government and private payers on strategies to restrain rising health care costs while maintaining quality of care. Medical science and technology have moved forward at a lightning pace. Patients are ready for the American health system to follow suit. The AMA is committed to:
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* Finding new ways to enable doctors to use promising new technology
* Pioneering new methods to measure and improve the quality of care
* Preventing errors by studying ones that have happened, without the threat of lawsuits
* Directing more resources and effort toward disease prevention
* Helping Americans lead more healthful lifestyles
* Eliminating gaps in care, particularly for racial and ethnic minority patients, the elderly, and low-income families
* Preparing better for large-scale health care emergencies
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Today, patients are forced to endure miles of insurance company red tape and piecemeal policy attempts to solve one problem or another. America's patients will be best served when our country eliminates the disproportionate influence of insurers and government into medical decision-making. These important decisions must be placed in the hands of the patient and the physician.
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Our nation needs a well-trained medical work force, and more doctors in primary care. We must make sure our medical education stays the best in the world, and make paying for it less burdensome. So too must we address the barriers that threaten the viability of many physician practices, such as:
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* Payments that fail to reflect the true cost of providing care
* Health insurers' deceptive business practices
* Antitrust rules that restrict doctors from negotiating with health insurance companies
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As physicians and medical students, we see firsthand every day how urgently our patients need a better health system. Together, we can shape one America truly deserves.