Anti-Health Care Bill Ads Are Set To Erupt On Our Airwaves…

Thursday, March, 11, 2010 by Mel Phillips.

This explosive story line banner in USA Today is fairly straightforward - Health care ad cyclorama to clog airwaves…My first thought after reading that subtle headline was that USA Today beat me in using cyclorama in a story but then I came to my senses. Hundreds of business groups today launch a multimillion-dollar ad campaign in an effort to stop health care legislation and fire back at White House efforts to win support for a plan President Barack Obama says would expand insurance coverage to 31 million people. It’s not that people don’t want a health care bill, they just don’t want this health care bill…

The health insurance industry will begin airing ads of its own on cable TV networks but their message will surely spread to radio and other media forms. “Doctors, hospitals, medicines and tests” drive up health care costs, not insurance companies” - that’s their mantra. The group is not saying how much its spending on the ads beyond saying it’s at least $1 million. The business ads by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and nearly 250 other organizations will air on national cable networks. Those ads will target members of Congress and will air in 17 states where House members at one time or another either opposed the legislation or are on-the-fence…

With widespread opposition to Obama’s health care plan, ads will be spreading quickly and radio will gladly accept any part of the revenue windfall with open arms…  

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1888] The Blizzard of ‘88: Referred to as ‘The Great White Hurricane”, the blizzard shuts down communication and transportation along the Atlantic Seaboard and more than 400 will die…
2. 1901] Man of Steel: U.S. Steel is forged when industrialist J.P. Morgan purchases the Carnegie Steel Corporation. The sale makes Andrew Carnegie the world’s richest man…
3. 1927] Debuted on this date: Samuel Roxy Rothafel opens the world-famous Roxy Theatre in Manhattan…1930] President William Howard Taft becomes our first president to be buried in Arlington’s National Cemetery…1969] Levi-Strauss begins selling bell-bottom jeans…1989] The reality-based “Cops” debuts on Fox where it still resides on Saturday nights…
4. 1942] Big Mac: With Japanese forces advancing in the Pacific during WWII, General Douglas MacArthur leaves the Philippines for Australia vowing “I Shall Return“. He does…
5. 1986] Stick it: Popsicle announces its plan to end the traditional twin-stick Popsicle for a one-stick model. How do you split one stick?…
6. 1993] Confirmation day: Janet Reno is confirmed by the Senate to be the nation’s first female attorney general…
7. 1995] Picabo, I see you: Picabo Street becomes the first U.S. woman to win a gold medal in downhill at the world championships in Spain…
8. 1996] Cleveland sits Shiva: The city of Cleveland mourns the decision made by NFL owners to allow Art Modell to move the Browns to Baltimore where they become the Ravens. Cleveland gets revenge by keeping the Browns name, a new team to replace the original one and a lifetime supply of gift-certificates to Modell’s…
9. 2002] Lighting up the night: Two columns of light reach to the heavens from ground zero in Manhattan as a temporary memorial to the victims of 911. The search lights could be seen in all 5 boroughs. What a sight!…
10. 2004] Terror in Spain: Bombs explode in quick succession across the commuter rail system in Madrid killing 191 and wounding more than 2,000 as terrorists linked to al-Qaeda strike…

Music Memories:

• 1968] Gold Standard: “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay“ - Otis Redding…
• 1970] Released on this date: “Deja Vu” LP - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young…
• 1997] A good knight: Paul McCartney is knighted by the Queen of England.  Sir Paul recently appeared on “The View“…

Commentary:

Sorry to hear about my friend Joey Reynolds who will be replaced April 5th by George Noory’s “Coast to Coast” on WOR from 1 to 5 am. Joey, who has been in radio for almost 50 years, will remain on the air through April 2. “I’ve been able to do a lot of great things on this show over the years. I don’t think of this as being fired. It’s an economic thing - which everyone has to do these days.” Joey will be missed but will surely show up somewhere on radio and he should. David Hinckley of the New York Daily News has more…

WRKO Boston was launched 43 years ago, March 13, 1967. WRKO - The Launch, a chronological history of the birth of this legendary radio station will be linked to MPN&T tomorrow. The link will contain links to newspaper articles, music surveys, disc jockey lineups, photos, air checks and other memorabilia to mark the anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest top 40 radio stations of all-time. Look for it tomorrow… 

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“: Terrence Howard (41), Lisa Loeb (42),  Cheryl Lynn (53), Joey Buttafuocco (54), Nina Hagen (55), Bobby McFerrin (60), Antonin Scalia (74), Sam Donaldson (76) and Rupert Murdoch (79)…

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until Daylight Savings Time, 9 days until spring, 18 days until Passover, 25 days until Easter, 25 days until Opening Day (Red Sox & Yankees at Fenway)…

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