California Nurses Association/Physicians for a National Health Care Program

"Speechless"
Three 30-second ads run Sept. 26, 2007 during the MSNBC Democratic debate in NH and on NECN and in DC metro area; also run in IA in lead up to the Democratic debate.

Small Business Owner: I'd like to expand my business, but I can't afford more employees' health insurance.  So why are we wasting 31 cents out of every health care dollar on administrative cost.

We need real reform that cuts out greedy insurance companies and creats a single payer program that guarantees health care for all Americans.

Where's the leadership on this, Senator Edwards?

Female Announcer: The longer nobody talks about single payer guaranteed health care for everyone, the longer we're going to wait to get it.

 

 
 
 
Woman: We never dreamed that we'd face bankruptcy over our medical bills.  

Increasing premiums, $2,000 deductibles, drug costs and all the co-pays, and still the insurance companies fight us over every penny.

It's not good enough just to be better than the Republicans on this.  

We know Medicare works for seniors.  So why can't we have single-payer guaranteed health care for every American, Senator Obama?

Male Announcer: The longer nobody talks about single payer guaranteed health care for everyone, the longer we're going to wait to get it.

 

 
 
 
Regena Ellis, Registered Nurse: Nurses know 50 Americans die every day because they don't have health coverage.  

Insurance and drug companies spend millions on lobbyists to keep control of the system.

Medicare is a program that works.  We need Medicare that covers everyone.  I don't want to be forced to choose between which patients get the best care, between who lives and who dies.  Do you, Senator Clinton?

Female Announcer: The longer nobody talks about single payer guaranteed health care for everyone, the longer we're going to wait to get it.

 

 
 
 
Notes: Here is the press release:
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          CONTACT: Paco Fabián 202-822-5200

September 26, 2007                                                     pfabian@fenton.com 

Eliza Brinkmeyer, 202-822-5200

ebrinkmeyer@fenton.com 
 

Nurses and Doctors to Air Ads Blasting Top Democratic Candidates on Health Reform Plans During Tonight's NH Debate

Health care professionals say current plans maintain status quo by including for-profit insurance

Washington, DC - Television ads critical of the Democratic candidate's health care plans will air tonight during the Democratic debate in New Hampshire.

The three ads by the California Nurses Association (CNA)/National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC) and Physicians for a National Health Plan (PNHP) will air in the New England and Washington, DC media markets. 

The two groups are pushing for guaranteed health care coverage for all Americans through a Medicare-style based system. Proposals by top Democratic presidential hopefuls Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barak Obama and John Edwards maintain the current system's inclusion of private insurance companies. 

"Being better than the Republicans on health care reform is simply not good enough," said Rose Ann DeMoro, Executive Director of CNA/NNOC.  "All the candidates' proposals keep the insurance companies at the apex of power, and the health care industry uses their enormous wealth in lobbying and campaign contributions to corrupt the public debate."

The three "Speechless" ads feature regular Americans describing the costs, burdens and financial pressures that the current health care system is putting on them to one of the leading democratic candidates.  They then ask the candidate what she or he is doing about it. The camera cuts to a card board cut-out of Senator Hilary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama or John Edwards, with a voice-over that says, "The longer nobody talks about single payer, guaranteed health care for everyone, the longer we are going to wait to get it." 

"As physicians, we see what happens to people without health care every day," said Quentin Young, M.D. of PNHP. "It is time for the Democratic candidates to show us a real, comprehensive plan for guaranteed health care that includes everyone." 

CNA/NNOC and PNHP are part of the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care, a new umbrella group for labor, advocacy and healthcare professionals committed to working to pass legislation that will guarantee access to health care for all Americans.

 For copies of the ads, please contact Eliza Brinkmeyer or Paco Fabian at

202-822-5200 
 

About California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee: Founded in 1903, the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee today represents over 75,000 members nationwide.  It is the largest and fastest-growing organization of direct care Registered Nurses in the country and is dedicated to providing a voice for nurses and a vision for healthcare.

About PNHP: Physicians for a National Health Program is a single issue organization advocating a universal, comprehensive single-payer national health program. PNHP has more than 14,000 members and chapters across the United States.