Senator Calls Out Frank Luntz From Senate Floor

It's not every day that a sitting senator takes to the floor to call out a GOP strategist. But on Wednesday, Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley did just that, whacking messaging guru Frank Luntz for writing a blueprint for demonizing health care reform and Republican officials for dutifully following his lead.

"Now, you may think that I'm raising this document before you, this -- this plan for how to kill health care, and that maybe it doesn't have any bearing on the real debate," said Merkley, a freshmen Democrat, from the floor, waving a thin set of white papers in his right hand. "But it absolutely does. These talking points are being echoed in this very chamber in order to kill health care."

What followed was a point-by-point comparison of Luntz's 28-page memo, distributed to congressional Republicans, to some of recent talking points coming straight from the mouths of GOP leadership. Said the Senator:

Here we go. Frank Luntz's memo, that's his memo on how to kill health care, came out in April. It says - talking point number five - "Health denial care horror stories in Canada and other countires do resonate, but you have to humanize them. You notice we recommend the phrase 'government takeover' rather than 'government run' or 'government control.'" Why? Because government takeover sounds even scarier.

So what did we hear in the chamber from our minority leader just recently? I quote - "Americans are concerned about a government takeover of health care and for good reason." And it goes on. So recognize that that is a point that's coming from a document about how to kill health care, not a responsible debate about the plan we have in front of us.

Merkley's remarks represent a new line of political debate about the reform process. The extent to which Democrats can establish that opposition to greater government involvement in health care is driven by poll-tested talking points, as opposed to legitimate ideological disagreements, could go some ways towards affecting the legislative process.

To be certain, progressive health care advocates also have well-tuned talking points and polling data at their disposal. But the conventional wisdom going into the upcoming reform battle has held that the Clinton-era effort at an overhaul was, in part, derailed by massive and correlated effort between private industry actors and sympathetic Republicans.

There is little public appetite for that happening again. Hence the benefits in putting Luntz at the center of the debate.

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Comments

[Periwinkle]

Just yesterday I emailed my Rethuglican senator and asked him to ignore the Frank Luntz memo because it was absolutely foolish. If they want to oppose humane healthcare, they should at least do it on an honest playing field. This is my Canadian healthcare story: Here in the US, as an uninsured American, I stayed in bed for 3 weeks after having a gallbladder attack that led to pancreatitis. After finally going to a doctor, he was ready to admit me to the hospital and call a surgeon until I said the magic words: No Insurance. Suddenly my treatment amounted to a blood test and a few more weeks in bed to "see what happened." Several months later a Canadian woman was visiting my neighbor and had the identical illness happen to her. They took her to the hospital and she was transferred to a major medical center an hour away. Doctors called Canada to authorize treatment, but since the patient was stable, the Canadian healthcare system chose to FLY A PRIVATE JET WITH A MEDICAL TEAM to the U.S. hospital, pick her up and care for her in Ottawa. She recovered quite nicely. I still have chronic pancreatitis.

[LogicalLib]

Frank Luntz - - he is that bad toupee wearing slick-willy rethuglican who regularly does his stint on guess what news channel..? Fox - where he is a specialist in rethug talking points and focus groups...

P L E A S E ...

[joplin]

They don't want to be told they're too old for surgery...­.What about unwanted surgery and procedures being forced on the elderly?

My 86-year-old father recently called his healthcare provider about a pain he had and the next thing he knew an ambulance was at his door, he was taken to a hospital and given tests he did not want. Not one person there asked him if he'd like them to call a family member. We found out the next morning he was in the hospital when he didn't answer his phone or his door. We were told the hospital didn't call us because he was of sound mind, but when he refused to let them give him a bone marrow test (a painful and probably very expensive procedure) they said he wasn't of sound mind and couldn't make those decisions on his own.

Stop reading talking points and start listening to your constituents Congress.

[cowboyjerkface]

The question no one in the media ever asks of our elected leaders is this...

Why are our elected officals entitled to use tax payer money to fund their health care plan but working class Americans are not?

Why are members of the republican party who detest socialism involved in sucking on the teat of government provided healthcare and yet decry tax paying Americans the same right to healthcare as them?

Why are republican voters so stupid to the fact that the people they vote into office do not feel the American taxpayer is entitled to healthcare that is provided free of charge to the republican senators and congress personnel?

[Macready]

totally agree with you . . . the MSM are really lazy go-alongers . .. they question nothing, investigate nothing . . . . they are useless . . .

[BlueFloyd]

tho they are questioning alot more now that obama is in office. they woke up and grew gonads when bush left office.

[Havnagudtim]

IF IT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR CONGRESS IT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ALL OF US.
Name them and SHAME them!!
We are NOT FOOLING, CONGRESS.

[ROBOT8]

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, THE TRUTH IS THE GREATEST ENEMY OF THE STATE." -- Joseph Goebbels, German Minister of Propaganda, 1933-1945

[Zebro]

Hmmm, I like this guy. This is what the Dems need. A guy with some balls that calls the repubs on their BS derailing of incredibly important issues.

I'm sick of the 'so called' Dems that are bought and paid for. Its time to mount some serious Primary fights and get the leadership America needs.

I'm Canadian and I guarantee every American will be on the public health plan if they're given the option. When I hear about people shelling out 10's of thousands for health care I just shake my head. We pay very nominal taxes for our health care and there'd be a bloody riot if it was taken away.

[jukesgrrl]

Thanks. Please keep talking about this. So many Americans think public healthcare is a horrendous experience. We never hear any good stories and they need to be told.

[bobh]

I have Cadillac private coverage and my wife has Medicare. Hers is the better, more user-friendly coverage. No physician has refused her coverage, no test has been refused payment, I have never had to get on the phone to Medicare. I can't wait to reach 65 when my private coverage vanishes and I go on Medicare.

[billyboil]

ok - here's another two - from Australia.
1. My 78 year old mother - 2 hip replacements in 18 months - cost to her?
Zero.
2. Me - living in the US - hernia operation - price to fix it in the US (same-day surgery)?
US$6000.
Cost in Australia - $300 (private patient).
All anecdotal, but why is america the only western world country where public health care doesn't exist?
Guess it's 'cause most americans are stupid!
After all, they did re-elect bush in '04.

[SangZe]

I've experienced Canadian health care firsthand, and under very serious circumstances. There is no comparison to what passes for care in the U.S. and my treatment there, and the cost was so low I thought there was an error in the billing. It is definitely a superior system, something the U.S. badly needs.

[up2uamerica]

Wow that was refreshing, my hope is returning

[ChelseaC]

I hope this is the genesis of a trend--to pile on the tough talk against these lying THUGS and their fearmongering ilk.

[RichardDG]

I`m from Montreal Canada, when I see people like Mr Merkley, I`m so happy that America is really changing for good. Here we`re not scared going to the hospital cause we know it won`t cost us a penny at the end. All the retuglicans did last 8 years is scares us, they are still trying to, it`s like they went to the same school of hate and scare.

[mizerello]

Oh how I wish I still lived in Oregon! Thank you Jeff Merkley for actually doing your job! If only Senators Cantwell and Murray in Washington state would learn from Sen. Merkley's example. These two women don't seem to do much as far as I can see.

[houseafire]

I live in Oregon and I'm very proud and pleased with both Wydon and Merkley as my represenatives :)

[WestCoastWoman]

I am so proud to be an Oregonian! I am even prouder of the man himself - hats off to Senator
Jeff Merkley! All the campaign calls I made were well worth it. I knew he was a good man.... but I didn't know he would be this GOOD! Keep it up Senator! You not only make Oregonians proud but many in America! Dems and Progressives will be counting on you! Thanks!

[IowaKid]

I'm not from Oregon but I agree with you we need more Jeff Merkley's in congress.

[Joe Renouard]

Since the health care debate is now front & center, this clip of Oregon's new senator is particularly interesting and compelling.

[tailgateshirts]

keep it up Merkley!

[gawd]

I voted for him :)

[WestCoastWoman]

Me too! Hello Oregon!

[returnofthejedi]

That was great. This leaves no doubt that the republicans in this government take their orders from the likes of Rush and the far right. What happened to the will of their constituants? This is how they do it in kangaroo puppet governments, and it should have no place in this republic.

[bandillero]

Lucky Oregonians. We in Washington are unlucky to have 2 women senators - Patty Murray and Cantwell that nobody hears a peep about. Can wait to have better challengers to throw them out. We don't need benchwarmers representing ups

[levibatgirl]

The important thing is how they cast their votes on issues.