Obama's Creative Clippings
Selective, embellished and out-of-context quotes from newspapers pump up Obama's health plan.
Summary
Obama's ad touting his health care plan quotes phrases from newspaper articles and an editorial, but makes them sound more laudatory and authoritative than they actually are.
It attributes to The Washington Post a line saying Obama's plan would save families about $2,500. But the Post was citing the estimate of the Obama campaign and didn't analyze the purported savings independently.
It claims that "experts" say Obama's plan is "the best." "Experts" turn out to be editorial writers at the Iowa City Press-Citizen – who, for all their talents, aren't actual experts in the field.
It quotes yet another newspaper saying Obama's plan "guarantees coverage for all Americans," neglecting to mention that, as the article makes clear, it's only Clinton's and Edwards' plans that would require coverage for everyone, while Obama's would allow individuals to buy in if they wanted to.
Analysis
Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama's ad on his health care plan has been running in Iowa. A hat-tip to The Washington Post for first revealing some of the twists in this 30-second spot.
Obama Writes His Own Reviews
The ad flashes a line credited to The Washington Post that says the Illlinois senator's health care plan would cut costs, "saving $2,500 for the typical family." But the Post didn't say that; the Obama campaign did, and the Post reported it as the campaign's estimate. The fuller citation from the May 30, 2007, article reads:
Washington Post:The senator's aides estimated that his plan would save the average family $2,500 per year and would allow those without insurance to buy it through a new health-care option that would resemble the one federal employees can choose.
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Member Comments
Posted By: dboy2004 @ 02/13/2008 6:37:06 AM
Comment: Obama should appeal to everyone who remembers the dishonesty of the Clinton era!!! Hillary puts on a good show when needed ( a small tear in NH) to get votes. She is transparent and vindictive. Why hasn't Edwards given his votes to either candidate? Does he want to cover his butt when Congress returns next year? A true politician! B;ack, white,yellow or whatever color or gender should have no bearing on getting elected. Neither should your religion. Electing the Clintons would just give the country more of the same as we have had the last 16 years. What a disappointment GW has been to the grand ole party.
Posted By: dustbunny @ 02/06/2008 8:19:15 AM
Comment: Why is Obama saying he's African-American when he's really bi-racial ? Doesn't he want to be white or does he think it will get him more votes if he's black?
Posted By: maris01 @ 01/11/2008 5:03:32 PM
Comment: I've noticed that ever since one bad thing about Obama came out, everyone is on the Obama camp is shaking in their knees. Listen, if it's true then the entire voting public, not just Chicagoans need to know before they vote. This is why WE MUST VOTE FOR SOMEONE ON THE ISSUES that's all. And, for those trying to skew information about Hillary by blaming her for her husband ill judgment, I think that is slimey. Same thing with Obama, saying anything about him being Muslim or Christain radical is unfounded. Let's stick to facts and be civil please. The guy obviously lied, and I will tell you for one, I know there is more on him. But, why, oh, why would I want to give Republicans the fuel they need to run an aggressive campaign against any of our candidates? People stop posting slime links, educational information like congressional voting record, actual change delivered and what kind...cool. No politician is squeaky clean, so let's focus on what IS IMPORTANT the issues they stand for. But, I'm glad to see that the media is beginning to keep each other in check. That's how it should be, we don't want to be mislead.