Obamacare Rules The Airwaves (Wizbang)

And it's not doing any good...

Jacob Sullum at Reason's Hit & Run, points out these numbers from The New York Times:

Interest groups on all sides of the debate have spent more than $57 million on television advertisements in six months, most of it in the last 45 days, said Evan Tracey, chief operating officer of the Campaign Media Analysis Group, which tracks television advertisements.
"It's the most we've seen this quick," Mr. Tracey said. "If it goes on all year, we're looking at one of the biggest public policy ad wars ever."

Supporters of Mr. Obama's plan to overhaul the system have outspent opponents, with $24 million worth of advertising, compared with $9 million from opponents. An additional $24 million has been broadly spent in support of overhauling the system without backing a specific plan.

As Sullum points out, "In other words, advocates of a bigger government role in health care are outspending opponents by more than 5 to 1."

For that money you'd think they'd be getting more traction. I guess it goes to show you can only polish a turd but so much...

Comments (15)

It's a whole new ball game.... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by jim m | August 19, 2009 11:36 PM | Score: 9 (9 votes cast)

jim m:

It's a whole new ball game.

Used to be you could control the message by controlling the MSM and the big 3 networks.

But today you have as many channels on TV as there are members of congress. Add to that talk radio and the internet and there is no longer the ability to saturate all forms of media like you once could (subtract out the dead tree press because few people read them anymore).

Spending vast amounts of money can get your message out, but it cannot drown out the opposition like it used to.

While the money is not entirely wasted, it does not have the effect it once did.

Which gets me to thinking: Our current seniority system in congress means that lobbyists and others seeking to influence government need only use their largess to influence a handful of members. Term limits would flatten the seniority ranks and it would greatly disperse the effect of financial influence. You'd have to pay a lot more money in campaign contributions etc to get the same effect.

Posted on August 19, 2009 23:36

But this can't be true (the... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by GarandFan | August 19, 2009 11:55 PM | Score: 9 (9 votes cast)

GarandFan:

But this can't be true (the ad $ numbers). According to Obama there is a VAST NETWORK of organizations out there spending all kinds of money to KILL HIS PLAN. You know, the dreaded VESTED INTERESTS IN THE STATUS QUO!

Next thing you know, Barry will be saying how 'cheap' they are.

Posted on August 19, 2009 23:55

Whatever Obama says must be... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by jim m | August 20, 2009 12:04 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

Whatever Obama says must be true since he is now a "partner" with God "in matters of life and death."

Apparently abortion is no longer above his pay grade. However God may be below Obama's pay grade.

Posted on August 20, 2009 00:04

Yep, our health care system... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by GarandFan | August 20, 2009 12:37 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

Yep, our health care system is "broken", 'cause Barry says so. That makes it FACT!

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20090819/LIFESTYLES03/90819012/CDC++U.S.+life+expectancy+at+all-time+high

Posted on August 20, 2009 00:37

These numbers don't take in... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by davidt | August 20, 2009 1:42 AM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)

davidt:

These numbers don't take into account the efforts of the Democrat News Media to push Obamacare. Factor in the ABC infomecials and the biased 'reporting' and it is probably closer to 10 to 1 more spent by the pro-Obamacare forces.

Posted on August 20, 2009 01:42

Did you license that toon?<... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by James H | August 20, 2009 7:06 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

James H:

Did you license that toon?

Posted on August 20, 2009 07:06

Huh. For as much as they ar... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by Les Nessman | August 20, 2009 9:18 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

Les Nessman:

Huh. For as much as they are going to end up spending, they could almost cover the 5% or so of Americans that can't afford insurance that this debate is all about.(Excluding the illegals and people who can afford insurance but choose not to get it etc).

Scrounge up a few more bucks to cover these people and, gee, maybe we don't have to scrap our entire healthcare system.
Maybe then we could just enact a few needed reforms to tweak an existing pretty good system.

Posted on August 20, 2009 09:18

Maybe it's just a timing th... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by bobdog | August 20, 2009 9:31 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

bobdog:

Maybe it's just a timing thing, but I suspect that a heck of a lot more money is being thrown into the public debate bonfire than is reported here.

For example, it seems like I remember reading recently that George Soros alone is spending $50 million of his own money for ads to push (ahem) "Insurance Reform". To say nothing about all the PACs, industry groups, lobbyists and unions.

We've heard from the American people. Now kindly step aside to hear what real money can do. Since you all won't cooperate, it's time you were MADE to understand.

SUBMIT, peasants!

Posted on August 20, 2009 09:31

"I guess it goes to show... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by Victory is Ours | August 20, 2009 10:16 AM | Score: -3 (5 votes cast)

Victory is Ours:

"I guess it goes to show you can only polish a turd but so much..."

I've come to rely on this blog for the state of the art on "turd polishing"...

Vic

Posted on August 20, 2009 10:16

I've come to rely on this b... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by GarandFan | August 20, 2009 11:48 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

Your intelligent comments are always welcome Vic. When are you planning on posting one?

Posted on August 20, 2009 11:48

Spending this much on adver... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by JustRuss | August 20, 2009 11:53 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

JustRuss:

Spending this much on advertising a program that people do not want (by a narrow margin admittedly) goes to show that this is not about Health it is about Control!

Its been a slow progression toward Govt control since the 60's.

Posted on August 20, 2009 11:53

There's only so much lipsti... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by Andy | August 20, 2009 12:29 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Andy:

There's only so much lipstick, y'know.

Posted on August 20, 2009 12:29

Oh, and Vic, regarding your... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by GarandFan | August 20, 2009 12:44 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Oh, and Vic, regarding your regurgitation of Dem talking points:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090820/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/us_economy

How's those Obamanomics theories working out?
Can you see 'the light at the end of the tunnel' yet?