According to recent evidence, the prescription drug bill/scam isn't helping Bush as expected. However, much like the brazen exploitation of Homeland security photo ops, Bush is using public money to "inform" seniors about their new benefit. In total, 22 million dollars are being used to flood the airwaves in FL. You can just add that, I supopse, to the total being spent by his actual campaign, since the Medicare bill was supposed to be the legislation that delivered Florida. Thankfully,
fewer and fewer people are buying.
"The commercials themselves seem to have more propaganda value than information value for seniors," said Pete Sepp, vice president for communications at the National Taxpayers Union, a conservative advocacy group that urged the administration to pull the ads. "The ultimate irony here is that the taxpayers are paying millions of dollars on ads that promote a program that will cost them billions or trillions down the road."
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"When I go to condo meetings in my district, I ask people if they have seen the commercials. In each of the meetings, 95 percent raise their hands, which indicates they [HHS officials] have completely swamped South Florida with their advertisements," said Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton. "It's in direct relationship to the importance of Florida to President Bush. The idea that taxpayer dollars would be used to run a commercial for the president is plainly wrong."
"For some, it will mislead them. Unfortunately, most seniors will learn they are not eligible for any meaningful benefit. For others who are informed and well read, it will further inflame their anger."
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More than half, 55 percent, of senior citizens surveyed last month by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation said they had an unfavorable impression of the drug program, 17 percent had a favorable impression, and 28 percent had no impression.
"No question, the big shock to the president was that this legislation was supposed to be a win, particularly among older voters, but the combination of things has led to negativity," said Robert Blandon, professor of health policy and political analysis at Harvard University. "Seniors have heard that it will cost them more money. They've heard that the benefits are not good, and now they are hearing about a cover up. And when they hear it costs the government so much money, people say, `That's a deal with the pharmaceuticals.' We may see a backlash in the election."