The PBS Newshour is doing a series on the swing states in the 2012 election, focusing this week on the challenges the Obama campaign faces in Florida.
They outline different elements of that challenge including the foreclosure crisis and unemployment, and in particular the ACA, 'Obama's health care law'.
They spoke with a group of canasta playing women on Florida's Atlantic coast, where one skeptical woman demonstrated her level of disinformation and suspicion, and the challenge Obama will face to win this state.
The interview starts at approximately 1:40.
Watch Obama Campaign Faces Challenges in Wooing Florida Voters on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.
JUDY WOODRUFF: But a few hours away on Florida's Atlantic coast, canasta-playing women friends were skeptical.
SANDY LEVINE, Florida: I don't care for his health plan.
JUDY WOODRUFF: What is it about the health plan that bothers you?
[Pause]
SANDY LEVINE: I'm not quite sure, to be honest with you. There's just something about it that I don't care for.
She has no idea why, but she knows she just doesn't care for that healthcare law.
At last a reporter asks the question, not letting the speaker get away with 'I just don't like it'. Clearly, the woman doesn't know anything at all about it, but she 'just knows' she doesn't like 'something' about it. She can't even come up with a single word or two to make it sound like she has a hint of a clue. And what she may know has probably been formed by the GOP smear campaign during the 2010 elections.
Maybe she doesn't know how much she and her friends have saved on prescription drug costs.
Over 5,254,000 seniors and people with disabilities have saved $3.7 billion on prescription drugs since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. In the first five months of 2012, 745,000 people with Medicare saved $453.3 million on prescription drugs in "donut hole" coverage gap for an estimated $651 in savings, according to date released from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Maybe the commercial that I've seen run on my local TV station to check in with
www.healthcare.gov to find out how the ACA is helping people like her, isn't running in Florida or she doesn't watch TV. Otherwise she'd know that
Seniors on Medicare are now eligible to obtain certain preventive services, like mammograms and colonoscopies, potentially with no out-of-pocket cost. See a list of preventive services that will be covered without part B deductibles or copays.
Seniors on Medicare can now get an annual wellness exam from your participating physician or health professional for free. Speak with your doctor for more details.
Seniors who fall into the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the donut hole will receive a 50% discount on covered brand name prescription drugs and lower copays for generic drugs. You don’t need to take any action to receive this benefit.
You may be able to receive care from health teams that will coordinate your care so you won’t have to see multiple doctors who don’t work together. For more information, ask your doctors if they’re part of a team of providers or have otherwise taken advantage of Medicare’s options to promote patient-centered care.
If you’re enrolled in traditional Medicare, the changes from the law could save you more than $3,500 in health care expenses over the next 10 years.
Maybe she just doesn't need any of that. But she 'just knows' she doesn't like something about it.
The segment goes on to interview a political science professor about the issue. Clearly the scare tactics that Democrats would take away seniors' Medicare, and create death panels, were very effective and have settled in the minds of voters like these.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Florida Atlantic University political science Professor Kevin Wagner says that sentiment is widespread in Florida.
KEVIN WAGNER, Florida Atlantic University: He can't change his record. He has to live or die with the Affordable Care Act. So, that's going to be something that he has to try and change the perception of, especially among older voters.
Perception is one thing, but actual benefits should trump perception, and benefits have started to kick in.
Nonetheless, the President is addressing these issues in his appearances in Florida. Hopefully the canasta playing lady will set aside her disdain long enough to find out why she might like that healthcare plan after all.
JUDY WOODRUFF: The president did defend his plan before an audience of seniors in Palm Beach last week.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: But imagine if you had been unlucky and ended up getting laid off at the age of 55 or 57, and you lose your health insurance or because of a preexisting condition you can't get it, or it costs so much you could never even afford it.
That's not right. That's not who we are. So that's why we passed the Affordable Care Act. It was the right thing to do.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)