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The Cincinnati Beacon
Targets of SCHIP Ad Campaign Grow as Cost of Ad Buys Alone Reach Nearly $1.5 Million
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Posted by Media Release
Twenty-Four Total TV, Radio Ads in 20 Key GOP Congressional Districts Unveiled Today for First Time, Including Previously Unannounced Targets, as Part of “Campaign to Save Children’s Healthcare”
AFL-CIO, AFSCME, SEIU, MoveOn.org, Americans United for Change, USAction, and True Majority Action Expand Effort to Convince Enough Members of Congress to Vote to Override Bush’s Veto of Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act.
View National AUFC TV Ad “Abby” Here:
View Targeted AUFC Ads Here:
View Targeted SEIU Ads Here:
View Targeted AFSCME Ads Here: http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/schip_afscme
View the Targeted USAction/True Majority Action Ad Here:
Washington, DC – Following last week’s launch of the “Campaign to Save Children’s Healthcare”—a major, multi-million dollar paid media and grassroots field campaign to override President Bush’s veto of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act and health care for nearly 10 million kids – the coalition of groups leading the effort, including AFL-CIO, AFSCME, SEIU, MoveOn.org, Americans United for Change, USAction, TrueMajority Action, today unveiled television and radio ads targeting key Republican Members of Congress, including previously unannounced targets, that will begin airing this week and will run through the expected override vote in the U.S. House on October 18th.
The twenty-two targeted TV spots and two radio spots, which are designed to pressure key Republican lawmakers to stand up for families and kids in their districts by immediately changing course and voting to override the President’s veto, largely mirror the message of the ad “Abby” that Americans United for Change launched on Monday on national cable with support from AFSCME, SEIU and MoveOn.org. The advertising program just for the next two weeks now totals nearly $1.5 million.
Last week, AFSCME announced plans to begin airing TV ads this week targeting the following: U.S. Reps. Marilyn Musgrave (CO-4), Sam Graves (MO-6), John “Randy” Kuhl (NY-29), Thomas Reynolds (NY-26), Timothy Walberg (MI-7), Joe Knollenberg (MI-9), Steve Chabot (OH-1), and Tom Feeney (FL-24). You may view AFSCME’s ads here: http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/schip_afscme
Similarly, SEIU announced plans to begin airing TV ads this week targeting U.S. Reps. Greg Walden (OR-2), Rodney Alexander (LA-5), John Boozman (AR-3), Kay Granger (TX-12), Thelma Drake (VA-2), Robin Hayes (NC-8), Barbara Cubin (WY-AL) John “Randy” Kuhl (NY-29), Thomas Reynolds (NY-26) and radio ads targeting Reps. Michele Bachmann (MN-6) and Robert Aderholt (AL-4). You may view and hear SEIU’s ads here:
In addition to the targeted AFSCME and SEIU spots, Americans United for Change also announced today plans to begin airing similar TV ads beginning tomorrow targeting Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-5), Michele Bachmann (MN-6), Ric Keller (FL-8), and Dean Heller (NV-2). You may view AUFC’s Ads Here:
USAction and True Majority Action also announced plans today to begin airing a local version of the “Abby” spot beginning Friday targeting Rep. John Peterson (PA-5). View the USAction/True Majority ad here:
“This is the biggest fight we have had on a domestic issue since the showdown over President Bush’s plan to privatize Social Security,” said Chuck Loveless, Legislative Director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which is running eight targeted television ads. “President Bush has essentially told American kids to drop dead, and we are not going to let that happen.
“It is time for all of us to decide whether we are going to stand up for what’s right, or stand by while sick children are abandoned,” said Anna Burger, International Secretary-Treasurer for SEIU which is running nine targeted television spots and two targeted radio ads. “Congress must fix what President Bush has broken and override this indefensible veto. If they do not, they will answer to the American people.”
“Even as President Bush was vetoing a modest, $35 billion expansion of the children’s healthcare insurance program, he asked Congress for nearly $200 billion in additional funds for Iraq,” said Brad Woodhouse, President of Americans United for Change, which is running the national television ad “Abby” and ads targeting four member of Congress. “After spending half a trillion dollars in Iraq, the President chose to deny healthcare funding for millions of children in need when, the fact is, for the amount spent in just one week in Iraq, 800,000 children could get health insurance for an entire year. The needs of our children and other priorities here at home, like education and prescription drugs for seniors, have been shortchanged for far too long while this President spends billions and billions each week in Iraq. The President’s ‘yes men’ in Congress need to stand up to Bush and stand up for families who work hard but simply can’t afford insurance and can only pray each night that their kids don’t get sick or hurt.”
“Americans are united in our support for the bipartisan plan to increase funding for the popular and successful children’s health program,” said Alan Charney, Program Director for USAction which is running one of the targeted television spots. “As Congress prepares to vote to override the president’s veto, USAction affiliates will hold dozens and dozens of events featuring the voices of health care providers, teachers, faith leaders and other groups to demand that lawmakers stand with the children and working families in their communities in opposition to the president’s unconscionable decision. USAction affiliates comprise the grassroots backbone in the fight to protect America’s priorities. All across America, from ads like the one we are running in Pennsylvania to the field work of our affiliates, members of Congress who support the president’s SCHIP veto can expect unprecedented pressure to reverse their stance and support health care for our children.”
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