Doctoring Up Fear

It’s August recess for lawmakers, but the health care debate isn’t taking a break.  Our analysis of media coverage shows fear is fueling both sides of the argument and the cost to keep that fear going isn’t cheap.

First, a Capitol Hill analyst with the Wall Street Journal says money is part of the reason Americans are afraid of health care change overall.

“The health care system is not just a health care system, it’s a health care industry and it’s the biggest industry in the country, it produces 14 million jobs and is the fastest growing part of the economy, and so, as result, there are a lot of people who have invested interest in system, so it may be lousy, but a lot of people have interests in that system as it is right now.”

CBS News points out a political push by conservatives to make their message clear across the country – citing online and phone campaigns.

“The crowds are partly the result of conservative web sites asking for turnout at town halls, including three tonight in Virginia, Mississippi and SC, hundreds of events by both democrats and republicans are being targeted in every state, but the turnouts also reflect real fear over the increase taxes, ‘stop spending our money.’”

The Daily Show takes that a big step further, simply saying Republicans’ are fear mongering.

“... Also the small business exemption may be unworkably, oh F*** it, you’re all gonna die!”

But NPR looks at how Democrats are using Americans’ emotions to push reform through.  The reporter says that even though insurance industry leaders have come to the negotiating table, the Obama administration is going after them: why? Because Americans will likely fall for it.

“The new talking points came during a week when several polls showed declining support for Mister Obama’s health care efforts, presidential scholar Steven Hess of Brookings Institution suspects president and his top lieutenants done homework, “I have a feeling that at some point, Axelrod or others, did some polling, who do you like? Doctors, We like doctors, nurses, we like nurses, well how about the insurance industry? Well no body likes the insurance industry.”

So what is all this back and forth costing?  A writer with NationalJournal.com calls it a 2-million dollar a day ad war.  He talks to the founder of a nonpartisan group that tracks political spending, who says when it comes to a technical issue like health care, both sides should be going after the heart – and they are.

"To do this effectively, you have to rely on emotional reactions, in some cases irrational emotional reactions…You can't have those UPS white board ads for health care reform."

So do you think fear is being used to push political sides, and is it worth the price?