* The National Republican Congressional Committee has a new TV ad blasting Democratic congressional candidate David Gill for wanting to “end Medicare.” Rate it…
It kinda reminds me of the ads in “The Campaign” movie.
Just sayin…
* Script…
ANNOUNCER: Politician David Gill supports keeping the new healthcare law, gutting Medicare.
But Gill wanted to go further.
Forcing each American into government run healthcare.
And to pay for it, Gill supported a new income tax.
DAVID GILL: it would be a two percent tax. We could do away with your Medicare tax, because Medicare would no longer exist.
ANNOUNCER: David Gill. His plan would end Medicare.
Judging by all the campaigning out there, everyone wants to end Medicare. Or no one does. Either way, it seems the politicians are reaching a consensus, lol.
So replace the 1.45% Medicare tax with a 2% tax and everyone can use Medicare now rather than waiting until 65? Sounds like a pretty good deal, actually. And I don’t understand the logic of fearmongering about losing Medicare AND simultaneously complaining about paying taxes for govt-run healthcare. Aren’t those the same thing?
We’s better end “Medicare as we know it” and fast. It’s dead without reform, or will take up such a disproportionate amount of federal revenue we won’t have money for other priorities.
The CBO estimates that if we let the tax cuts for the wealthy expire, it will increase tax revenues by about $678 billion over 10 years or about $68B per year. According to the Obama budget (that failed the Senate 97-0) we have $1.2T budget deficits which never get lower ever over the projected 10 years, so there is no way the Democratic talking point about putting the tax rate back to Clinton rates for the wealthy holds water. If we were to let ALL of the Bush tax cuts expire and return to Clinton rates, that would generate $3.7T over 10 years, where we would have an additional $12T in deficits. Obama further assumed 4% growth rates in GDP (hahahaha).
Or like that Chris Rock movie Head of State, where an ad questions the opponent’s absence at a rally to cure cancer and intones dolefully at the end that the candidate is “for cancer.”
So the NRCC is accusing Gill of being willing to replace Medicare with another government health care plan.
I don’t see this having a whole bunch of bite.
For one, we’re a long way from having the consensus to do something like this.
But maybe it was tested with focus groups. My suspicion is the focus group was getting the interns from the NRCC, Heritage Foundation and AEI together one day and asking them if their supervisors were brilliant or geniuses. And with the results of that focus group, the NRCC decided to drop money on this ad.
I have not discussed it with him, but I think what he may be saying is Medicare for All or something similar to Medicare, for all. That’s been a part of David’s campaign for a very long time. He is a single payer advocate and always has been. Many people find that a strength, so it seems that Republicans feel the need to lie about it. Just means David has to explain what single payer is and why it’s good for America. I think he can do a good job with that task and it will be good for Americans to hear.
To be honest, that the nrcc is even spending money in this race makes me feel slightly better about whatever slight chances the Dems have to take over the house.
It seems everyone wants health benefits and I agree. However at what expense. I have no trouble with ACA, as long as it keeps benefits the same as Medicare. I don’t believe 2% increase is the actual rise in taxes. More likely 10-15% to cover all costs.
Typical talk radio tactic. Accuse the other side of what you are doing yourself. This is a pre-preemptive defense against any ad Gill runs about Davis supporting the Ryan Budget. Now the press will say “both sides accuse each other of attacking Medicare” and any factual difference between the two candidates will be obscured.
The real question here isn’t whether or not Gill wants to destroy Medicare. The real question is where exactly WAS David Gill on 9/11, and why won’t he take a lie detector test?
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 11:16 am:
Judging by all the campaigning out there, everyone wants to end Medicare. Or no one does. Either way, it seems the politicians are reaching a consensus, lol.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 11:21 am:
He is on tape. So this ad is a big problem for Gill.
- thechampaignlife - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 11:36 am:
So replace the 1.45% Medicare tax with a 2% tax and everyone can use Medicare now rather than waiting until 65? Sounds like a pretty good deal, actually. And I don’t understand the logic of fearmongering about losing Medicare AND simultaneously complaining about paying taxes for govt-run healthcare. Aren’t those the same thing?
- 1776 - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 11:37 am:
pretty good ad since you have him on tape… granted they probably cherry picked the line but its @$^# golden!
- sal-says - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 11:39 am:
“* The National Republican Congressional Committee has a new TV ad blasting Democratic congressional candidate…”
“It kinda reminds me of the…”
the pot calling the kettle black.
- Cincinnatus - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 11:41 am:
We’s better end “Medicare as we know it” and fast. It’s dead without reform, or will take up such a disproportionate amount of federal revenue we won’t have money for other priorities.
The CBO estimates that if we let the tax cuts for the wealthy expire, it will increase tax revenues by about $678 billion over 10 years or about $68B per year. According to the Obama budget (that failed the Senate 97-0) we have $1.2T budget deficits which never get lower ever over the projected 10 years, so there is no way the Democratic talking point about putting the tax rate back to Clinton rates for the wealthy holds water. If we were to let ALL of the Bush tax cuts expire and return to Clinton rates, that would generate $3.7T over 10 years, where we would have an additional $12T in deficits. Obama further assumed 4% growth rates in GDP (hahahaha).
Bottom line? We are spending WAY too much.
- Yossarian Lives - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 11:54 am:
Or like that Chris Rock movie Head of State, where an ad questions the opponent’s absence at a rally to cure cancer and intones dolefully at the end that the candidate is “for cancer.”
- Esteban - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 12:02 pm:
Gill shot himself in the foot with his statement
that “Medicare would no longer exist.”
As Rich says: “Oy.”
- Sideliner - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 12:21 pm:
Effective. Taped (key) cherry-picked statements cast him in a very bad light.
- Anon - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 12:24 pm:
Such a dishonest ad…
Wouldn’t Medicare no longer exist, but everyone would have coverage?
And this is coming from the side that wants to TRULY make Medicare not exist?
Despicable.
- Carl Nyberg - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 12:26 pm:
So the NRCC is accusing Gill of being willing to replace Medicare with another government health care plan.
I don’t see this having a whole bunch of bite.
For one, we’re a long way from having the consensus to do something like this.
But maybe it was tested with focus groups. My suspicion is the focus group was getting the interns from the NRCC, Heritage Foundation and AEI together one day and asking them if their supervisors were brilliant or geniuses. And with the results of that focus group, the NRCC decided to drop money on this ad.
- so... - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 12:27 pm:
On a side note, I thought you were great in “The Campaign,” Rich.
- Pot calling kettle - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 12:42 pm:
Gill could run the same ad with a different tone to the voice over and it would be a positive spot.
As noted above, covering everybody for a 2% tax would be a big savings for many people.
The line “Forcing each American into government run healthcare.” in an ad accusing someone of ending Medicare made me laugh.
- Ellen Beth Gill - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 12:44 pm:
I have not discussed it with him, but I think what he may be saying is Medicare for All or something similar to Medicare, for all. That’s been a part of David’s campaign for a very long time. He is a single payer advocate and always has been. Many people find that a strength, so it seems that Republicans feel the need to lie about it. Just means David has to explain what single payer is and why it’s good for America. I think he can do a good job with that task and it will be good for Americans to hear.
- hisgirlfriday - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 1:01 pm:
To be honest, that the nrcc is even spending money in this race makes me feel slightly better about whatever slight chances the Dems have to take over the house.
- Homer - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 1:36 pm:
It seems everyone wants health benefits and I agree. However at what expense. I have no trouble with ACA, as long as it keeps benefits the same as Medicare. I don’t believe 2% increase is the actual rise in taxes. More likely 10-15% to cover all costs.
- J - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 2:45 pm:
It isn’t an honest ad, but at the end of the day, this is on Gill. He never should have said those words.
- Cheryl44 - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 2:50 pm:
I think the NRCC wants to end Medicare too. They just don’t want to replace it with anything, much less anything better for all of us.
- walkinfool - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 3:07 pm:
Now this is more like it. A typical NRCC ad: misleading, unfair, hypocritical, and potentially effective for the underinformed.
- Jimbo (jf) - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 3:47 pm:
Funny, I’m in Michigan and they just ran an add claiming the local Democratic candidate will end Medicare
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 4:01 pm:
Good luck trying to convince voters that a Democrat - and a doctor no less - wants to eliminate Medicare.
It’s like accusing a Republican of wanting to raise taxes on millionaires. Not credible, even by a long shot.
But…thanks for making this election about Medicare, NRCC!!
- Will - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 6:17 pm:
Typical talk radio tactic. Accuse the other side of what you are doing yourself. This is a pre-preemptive defense against any ad Gill runs about Davis supporting the Ryan Budget. Now the press will say “both sides accuse each other of attacking Medicare” and any factual difference between the two candidates will be obscured.
- NorthernIL - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 8:27 pm:
The real question here isn’t whether or not Gill wants to destroy Medicare. The real question is where exactly WAS David Gill on 9/11, and why won’t he take a lie detector test?
Too many questions, David.
- BiBe - Monday, Sep 10, 12 @ 9:17 pm:
OMG. He wants to replace medicare with a government run health care program. I wonder if we are as stupid as they think we are.