April 16, 2010 11:24 am ET filed under Fact Check
Wall Street Front Group, Stop Too Big To Fail, Launches False Ads Against Reform
On April 16, 2010, the Wall Street front group Stop Too Big To Fail scheduled a press conference call to release a new television ad claiming Wall Street reform would lead to "more bailouts for big banks." That is absolutely not true. In reality, reforming Wall Street will make bailouts impossible by safely dismantling failing banks that endanger America's economic stability. The costs incurred will be paid by Wall Street, not taxpayers.
February 09, 2010 1:53 pm ET filed under Fact Check
Countering The Luntz Memo: Financial Reform Edition
In January, Republican wordsmith Frank Luntz published a memo outlining special phrases and talking points conservatives should use to defeat efforts at reforming America's financial system. Like his May 2009 memo on health care reform, Luntz's newest effort is riddled with falsehoods.
July 16, 2009 12:32 pm ET filed under Fact Check
Frank Luntz, Part Deux: Alex Castellanos
On July 7, 2009, Alex Castellanos issued a "GOP Health Care Strategy" memo to "GOP Health Care Advocates." Like the Frank Luntz-issued talking points, the Castellanos messaging has quickly been put into rotation by the GOP. And also like Frank Luntz, Castellanos comes with baggage of his own.
July 15, 2009 3:12 pm ET filed under Fact Check
Rep. Steve King Remarkably Uses Three Luntz Talking Points In A Press Release's Title
On July 15, 2009, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) impressively crammed three Frank Luntz talking points into a press release's title. Dr. Frank Luntz, of course, is a Republican pollster who cashes the checks of the country's largest health insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
July 08, 2009 11:22 am ET filed under Fact Check
Frank Luntz Is Getting Foxxy
In a July 8, 2009 statement on the House floor, Rep. Virginia Foxx regurgitated the Frank Luntz-written GOP talking points on health care reform.
July 02, 2009 10:18 am ET filed under Blog
Frank Luntz Offers President Obama "Advice" On Health Care
GOP wordsmith Frank Luntz specializes in fear-mongering, but he says President Obama needs to stop the "doom and gloom" and "stay on the hopeful."
June 29, 2009 12:26 pm ET filed under Fact Check
Patient Opt Out Relies On Frank Luntz Talking Points
The Social Security Institute's "National Obamacare Opt Out,"(NOOO) a new anti-reform organization, simply rehashes talking points created by insurance industry-funded pollster Frank Luntz.
June 25, 2009 4:37 pm ET filed under Fact Check
CPR "Hammer" Ad Fails To Hit The Nail On The Head
On June 25, 2009, Conservatives for Patients Rights debuted a new ad titled "Hammer" that will run both nationally and in 14 targeted states through the July 4th recess. Evidently out of ideas, CPR repeats overly used (and refuted) talking points on health care.
June 24, 2009 11:00 am ET filed under Fact Check
RNC Ad Is Straight Out Of Luntz's Playbook
On June 23, 2009, the Republican National Committee released an ad regarding the President's plan for health care reform. Rather than substantively contributing to the debate, the RNC's "Bipartisan" ad rehashes talking points created by insurance industry-funded pollster Frank Luntz.
June 19, 2009 2:07 pm ET filed under Fact Check
6 Ways Rep. Shadegg Gets It Wrong On Health Care
In a June 19, 2009 blog post on The Hill titled "Six Reasons Government-Run Health Care is Bad for America", Rep. John Shadegg illustrates at least six reasons conservatives can't be trusted to factually and fairly represent this vital topic.
June 18, 2009 4:27 pm ET filed under Fact Check
Rep. Pence: A Lot Of Wrong In Just A Few Words
On June 18, 2009, Rep. Mike Pence penned a piece - titled "Freedom Can't Be Rationed" - that appeared in the American Spectator. In addition to using the same old Luntz language, Rep. Pence is just flat out wrong on many points.
June 18, 2009 1:36 pm ET filed under Blog
The Real Language Of Health Care
Since the release of Dr. Frank Luntz's health care messaging memo, it has been fairly easy to anticipate what conservatives will say when they are disparaging the efforts to reform health care in this country. However, these overused talking points do not stand up against the fact that health care in America must undergo a drastic change.
June 18, 2009 11:50 am ET filed under Fact Check
Countering The Luntz Memo
On May 5, 2009, a health care reform messaging memo written by Dr. Frank Luntz was leaked to the press. His directions for how Republicans should speak about health care reform have been followed to the letter by various Members of Congress and other conservative pundits.
June 18, 2009 11:28 am ET filed under Fact Check
Rep. Roskam Pushes Frank Luntz Talking Point On Health Care
In a June 18, 2009 blog post on The Hill, Rep. Peter Roskam posted "5 Principles for Health Care Reform." The very first principle was a Frank Luntz talking point.
June 17, 2009 10:00 am ET filed under Blog
Rep. Boehner Has No Original Thoughts On Health Care
It appears that House Minority Leader John Boehner was given an assignment by insurance industry-funded pollster, Frank Luntz: write an essay, using as many Luntz-approved talking points as possible, to prove that the "House GOP Health Plan is Superior." In a June 17, 2009 op-ed for the Pittsburg Tribune-Review, he did just that. Let's see how Rep. Boehner will be graded on this assignment!
June 11, 2009 4:46 pm ET filed under Fact Check
Rep. Boehner Regurgitates Luntz Talking Points
On June 11, 2009, House Minority Leader John Boehner issued a press release criticizing a Democratic proposal to create a public option for health care. As he so often does, Rep. Boehner relied wholly on talking points created by insurance industry-funded pollster Frank Luntz.
June 11, 2009 11:55 am ET filed under Fact Check
Karl Rove Fumbles WSJ Op-Ed
On June 11, 2009, former George W. Bush advisor Karl Rove wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal outlining the "five arguments Republicans must make" against the installation of a public health insurance option. Because he, like the rest of the GOP, is grasping at straws in the argument against reforming America's health care system, Rove's piece misrepresents the facts and repeats oft-used talking points.
June 10, 2009 4:20 pm ET filed under Fact Check
Luntz Tweet Alert: Sen. Jim DeMint
On June 10, 2009, Senator Jim DeMint tweeted a Luntz talking point.
June 10, 2009 1:45 pm ET filed under Fact Check
Tired Talking Points: Rep. Price Rewrites Luntz' Health Care Memo
In a June 10, 2009 blog post at Townhall, Rep. Tom Price repeated worn-out talking points on health care from insurance industry-funded pollster Frank Luntz, and got his facts wrong in the bargain.
June 10, 2009 11:11 am ET filed under Fact Check
Sen. Barrasso: Parroting Tired Republican Rhetoric
On June 10, 2009, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) appeared on Fox News to discuss health care reform. Ever the team player, Sen. Barrasso repeated the same Republican talking point that the Democrats' plan for health care reform is a "Washington takeover."
June 09, 2009 3:36 pm ET filed under Fact Check
Frank Luntz' Health Care Talking Points Take A Trip To The Senate Floor
In a press release on June 9, 2009 detailing a floor statement given on health care, Sen. Mitch McConnell fell in lockstep with insurance industry-funded pollster Frank Luntz' obstructionist talking points.
June 08, 2009 4:53 pm ET filed under Blog
GOP Letter To Obama Written By Frank Luntz, Insurance Giants
Senate Republicans sent a letter to President Obama detailing their opposition to a public health care plan.
June 05, 2009 1:15 pm ET filed under Fact Check
Rep. Rodgers Uses Personal Story To Supplement Luntz Talking Point On Health Care
In a June 5, 2009 blog post at The Hill titled, "Protecting Your Personal Health," Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers used her personal story as a mother to make a talking point from GOP pollster Frank Luntz resonate. But as a member of Congress, Rep. Rodgers enjoys the kind of health care other families can only dream of. Once again, a Republican member of Congress offers empty words and no solutions on health care.
June 03, 2009 2:15 pm ET filed under Fact Check
Sen. McConnell Press Release On Health Care Hits All Major Republican Talking Points
In a June 3, 2009 press release regarding health care reform, Senator Mitch McConnell echoes disproven Republican talking points on "government takeover," banks, and the auto industry bailout, and draws directly on a memo released by GOP pollster Frank Luntz on how to effectively mislead the public on heath care reform. The only thing the press release doesn't include is an original thought.
June 02, 2009 11:30 am ET filed under Fact Check
Rep. Boehner Used Five Luntz Talking Points In One Sentence
On June 2, 2009, House Minority Leader John Boehner issued a press release criticizing a health care report by President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers. The press release was wholly unremarkable and easily overlooked. Yet buried in the second paragraph, Rep. Boehner releases his inner-Frank Luntz by utilizing FIVE talking points in ONE sentence.
May 28, 2009 6:27 pm ET filed under Fact Check
FreedomWorks Release Echoes Frank Luntz's Memo
On May 28, 2009, FreedomWorks issued a press release in which it nearly quoted Frank Luntz's infamous health care memo word-for-word.
May 22, 2009 3:21 pm ET filed under Blog
Should you trust Frank Luntz?
On May 20, the Huffington Post reported that GOP pollster Frank Luntz would not disclose who funded his playbook for fighting against health care reform. When asked who paid him to write the 28-page memo, which Republicans immediately began following, Luntz responded, "It's not relevant."
May 21, 2009 1:15 pm ET filed under Blog
Medical Rights Act: New Legislation Ghost-Authored By Frank Luntz
Reading Frank Luntz's memo over and over is really getting old. On May 20, 2009, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) released an introduction to and an outline of their Medical Rights Act. The Congressmen have clearly structured their outline around the Luntz memo - and, just like the other Luntz parrots, have not actually articulated any real solutions.
May 20, 2009 11:33 am ET filed under Blog
Is The GOP Trying To End Medicaid?
It seems so. Taking away health care from struggling families in the middle of a recession is not only bad policy, it's morally reprehensible.
May 14, 2009 9:36 am ET filed under Blog
GOP Tries Out Luntz's Talking Points...On President Obama
Do House Republicans really think President Obama will fall for Frank Luntz's dirty tricks?
