Ads Seek To Sway Opinions On Health Care

5013485This post was written by Prerana Swami.

With Congress set to debate an overhaul of health care system, groups such as Moveon.org and Conservatives for Patients' Rights are releasing advertisements across the country encouraging Americans to take a stance on the issue.

Moveon.org Political Action released a new radio spot today that focuses on the importance of public health insurance as an alternative to privatized insurance. Using PacMan sounds to signal "game over" for the current health care system, the advertisement takes the MoveOn message to key senators' home states.

"President Obama and seventy percent of voters support health care reform that includes a public health insurance option to contain costs, increase competition, and guarantee coverage" the advertisement claims.

In the spot, an announcer asks listeners to call on their senators to suggest reform that includes publicly-provided insurance.

NBC, meanwhile, is set to air a 30-minute infomercial on Sunday, after "Meet The Press," that is funded by Conservatives for Patients' Rights. The infomercial, which opposes a public insurance plan, has ruffled the feathers of many left-leaning groups.

Two such groups, Democracy for America and the Service Employees International Union, have called on supporters to sign a letter to NBC demanding it not air the infomercial.

The ad "will be false, deceitful, and a distortion," an SEIU attorney wrote in the letter. Were the infomercial to contain fabrications, CPR faces a fine from the Federal Communications Commission, Politico notes.

In response, CPR spokesman Keith Appell said that such complaints are to be expected.

"It's no surprise that they would try to block the public from seeing any information about the dangers of government-run health care," Appell said, according to Politico. "This program is full of compelling first person accounts that every American should hear."

Congress is expected to start debate on the issue upon members' return from recess in September.