Team Obama Needs To Do A Better Job Explaining That $716-Billion "Cut" To Medicare

[stopbush]

They are using words that go right over the heads of most people, words like "providers," as in, "we took that money away from providers and insurance companies and put it back in the program."

Wrong!

Team Obama needs to be very clear about this, and they need to start by explaining the boondoogle of Medicare Advantage that was sucking money away from actual treatment for seniors and was being used instead to line the pockets of insurance company execs, who then turned around and made huge campaign donations to Rs. They need to explain how roughly $200-billion of that $716-billion (over 10 years) was a Republican-devised direct subsidy to already wealthy insurance companies, paying them $1.20 in TAXPAYER money for ever $1 of services they provided. They need to explain to the public how the Rs came up with a way to direct taxpayer funds to insurance companies who couldn't compete with Medicare because of Medicare's low overhead, and how the Rs are now complaining that Obama has taken away their subsidy to the insurance companies.

Team Obama needs to make this clear, the way Obama made it clear in interviews back in 2009. Saying that "Ryan's budget cuts the same amount from Medicare as Obama's" is NOT the way to make the case for what actually happened in the ACA.

Team Obama should produce an itemized list that shows precisely what was in that $716-Billion, how it was being spent pre-ACA and how it is being spent NOW, post-ACA. They need to show how they are putting a stop to the overcharging and gouging of the system that hospitals and doctors have engaged in for decades.

The whole thing could easily be boiled down to a 30- to 45-second sound bite.

[tridim]

1. People on medicare know it's not true.

[HiPointDem]

3. they just "know"? what?

[tridim]

7. They know the fraud and wast savings didn't result in a cut to benefits.

Even my Republican parents know that.

[stopbush]

9. My wife spent most of yesterday at her salon listening to her elderly on-Medicare customers

complaining that "Obama cut $716-billion out of the Medicare I had already paid for."

[HiPointDem]

10. how could they know what hasn't happened yet? as i understand it, the savings are still in

the hypothetical stage -- about the future.

[stopbush]

4. That might mean something if only people on Medicare were voting in 2012.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

11. x2

[doc03]

23. Sorry but you are wrong. I have heard a good many seniors say Obama

cut Medicare. I have heard some (claim) they know someone that was turned down for a service because of
Obama's cuts. Faux has been working on convincing seniors Obama cut Medicare for two years. I think the Republicans have been planing that strategy ever since 2010. I have received countless mailings since 2010 from my (R) Congressman telling me how Obama cut Medicare and how he plans to save it. I have also been getting calls inviting me to join in a telephone town hall with my (R) Congressman for the last two years. The last few months I get a call from my (R) Congressman at least once a week for a telephone conference. I think the Republicans may have caught us flatfooted on this. They have had the plan all along and have been sewing the seeds for it for months. Like Ryan siad they welcome the fight on Medicare, they think they can win it.

[still_one]

2. Actually they have explained it very well, so much so that even the MSM is pointing out to the

Romney camp that it did not cut Medicare, only the fraud and waste

and I have seen surprisingly the media during interviews point that out in their questions to the repuke surrogates

[Rosa Luxemburg]

6. They have, but the majority of voters just hear sound bytes

they listen to the lies of R$R

[stopbush]

8. I'm sorry, but the phrase "cutting fraud and waste" has lost all meaning these days.

It's a dodge that has no specifics attached. In fact, Rs use the phrase just as often as do Ds.

The public hears that phrase and thinks, "yeah, you all say that, but where are the results?"

Let's face it, if all the fraud and waste politicians said they were going to be eliminating over the past 3 decades has actually been eliminated, there would be no fraud and waste left to eliminate.

[louis-t]

5. Obama needs to seize the $716 bil figure back from R & R.

He needs to use the figure and not shy away from it. "We saved $716 bil by eliminating fraud and waste, without affecting benefits." Then, every time rumnuts says the figure, he is reinforcing what Obama has said.

[doc03]

20. Sounds like the best option to me. n/t

[Dokkie]

12. Tell me about it

I say if they believe they really going to cut that much fraud and waste, then they better cut it first before cutting out the funding. Anyone in the medical profession will tell you that most medicare fraud is not something you cut in future, it is cut in the now. So do whatever you need to do, cut the fraud, show everyone the savings and then put the saving into AHCA.

Because doing it this way will result in cutting peoples benefit when the cut in fraud and waste fails to materialize.

[Myrina]

13. Yep, the nutters on my local newsrag's website are in fits ...

... talking about socialist Obamacare cutting everyone off Medicare except for illegal aliens ...

I got a headache just wading thru the cesspool ...

[mfcorey1]

14. I agree. The president needs to hold up his own white board and correct the lies

that Mitt just displayed and the media let him get away with.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

15. They've explained it in plain language. Now the media needs to, and so do we.

They did a good job on the NBC nightly news two nights ago. Plain and simple. No cuts in services.

Now we have to counter the Rights lies. As usual.

[stopbush]

16. Why say "No cuts in services" when the ACA has ADDED FREE Services, like wellness check-ups?

"No cuts in services" is actually a very bad thing to say, because it isn't qualified.

Example: one could say "no one has lost their driving privileges," but that statement alone means nothing. Suppose the economy was so bad you had to sell your car? You still had your driving privilege, but you had no car to drive. Suppose the economy was so good you were able to purchase a better car?

Team Obama needs to make the case that they were able to ADD Medicare services by redirecting that $716-B. That's much more effective than saying "everything stayed the same," because nobody believes that things "stay the same" if a massive cut in funding has been made.

[nenagh]

18. +10

At least

[Lone_Star_Dem]

19. I don't think your driving analogy works.

Cutting services in Medicare means the end users of the program feel the cuts.

In the context of the news report I mentioned, they pointed out Ryan's plan would cut services, not just dead weight. Unlike what Obama's has done.

[nenagh]

17. Team Obama needs to improve messaging because Rove has led in framing the discussion..

Seniors don't understand ..

And per Rove: 'the GOP's Medicare Advantage in the WSJ.. He understands the messaging..and why..

Here in Ontario, the OHIP plan for seniors.. streamlines Rx medications covered. and there are regulations regarding what the Ontario Govt will pay for re Medical procedures... at certain ages...

This is what Rove wants to avoid... Better to let the whole Medicare system crash into a voucher program..that would still allow free rein on medical procedures.

[Bluenorthwest]

21. Anyone with insurance knows what 'providers' means, kid.

Theories that are based on 'I'm smart but all others are too stupid to understand the coverage they pay for' are getting to be old and tired.
The right says 'the common people just don't understand' and then the left says the same thing in essence. You are typing that 'most people' don't understand the word 'providers'. I can not take you seriously.

[stopbush]

25. This "kid" turns 58 next month, and the crowd I hang with isn't the Gen Xers.

I can only report what I hear from people who supposedly understand what Team Obama means when they talk about providers.

[NCTraveler]

22. I think the difficult part of getting the explanation to stick...

is that no one believes it when a politician says anything about cutting fraud and waste.

[Ruby the Liberal]

24. Did you see todays Pic of the Moment?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101749184

[julian09]

26. Now, they tell us, where was that in 2010?

that 714 billion, was not cut in one shot. It is an ongoing process, a few days ago I saw where they were large fines paid because
of fraud and abuse of medicare. The money they recover or save goes in Obama's case to more medicare or health care benefits such as, plug donut hole, no co-pay for annual physical exams. Ryan's 700 billion cut goes for tax cuts for rich.Obams's savings stays in the health care sector.

They are not taking money out of benefits, but will not spend 714 billion on subsidized medicare plus ,a plan; fraught with fraud by doctors, hospitals , labs etc.

[vaberella]

27. I agree. But Obama said they're SAVINGS not cuts. n/t

[Motown_Johnny]

28. The guy likes to keep his powder dry, this is one for the Debates.

He will allow the ads to run and for both Rmoney and Ryand to tie themselves to the lie. Then, when the entire country is watching he will spell it out in no uncertain terms.

I'm not worried about this in the least.