The Boob Tube
This is from the New York Times Prescriptions blog:
Nearly $100 million has been spent this year on commercials intended to influence the health care debate, including $30 million in August alone, according to Evan Tracey, founder of the Campaign Media Analysis Group, a research firm in Arlington, Va. In just the last 60 days, 49 different groups have aired nearly 100,000 TV commercials about federal health care policy.
Liberals love to complain that corporations have too much influence over public policy. The $100 million figure cited above will undoubtedly be used as an example of special interests trying to block health reform. But, the money being spent has little to do with corporate power or undue influence. Rather, the activist nature of modern liberalism perpetuates rent-seeking by politicians and defensive donations by corporations at risk of having their ox gored.
let’s hope all this money is being wasted.
The Obama folks are going to flood the airwaves with TV commercials — trying to sell Obama Care the Madison Avenue sells soap. Expect $150 million from the drug companies and millions more from the AMA, AHA, and the insurance companies.