Power and Discourse Case Study – Health Care Reform - Strategic

Communications

Review the following headlines and reflect on what you have experienced as you have heard the
discourses surrounding health care reform.

From a strategic communications point of view:

• How is the discourse on health care reform being produced?

• How is power used in this debate? How is it productive? How is it dominating? How is it
institutionalized?
 MSNBC Headlines on Health Care

June 17, 2009

What does health care reform mean to me?
A consumer's guide to potential changes in coverage

Aug. 10, 2009

Health reform idea: Put down the doughnut
Critics say consequences of individual choice missing from reform debate

Aug. 29, 2009

GOP accused of health reform ‘fear-mongering’
Letter says Republicans ‘might’ face discrimination when seeking treat

Sept. 8, 2009
Fines proposed for going without insurance
‘Gang of Six’ meets to discuss Baucus’ new proposal

Sept. 16, 2009

Small businesses want, fear health care reform
Entrepreneurs concerned about skyrocketing costs and mandates

Sept. 29, 2009

TV ads on health care battle top $100 million
Big spenders include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AARP

Oct. 13, 2009

Health care reform clears a Senate hurdle
President praises Republican Olympia Snowe for her support

Oct. 23, 2009

AP: House health care bill exceeds $1 trillion
Cost over a decade much higher than target President Obama has set

Nov. 11, 2009

Catholic bishops shape health care bill
Representatives were key in adding abortion measure to House version
Dec. 2, 2009
Breast-screening debate splits along party lines
Republican lawmakers call medical guidelines a type of ‘rationing’

Dec. 21, 2009

Senate Dems eye finish line for health bill
Obama, American Medical Association praise legislation after crucial vote

Dec. 22, 2009

Several prosecutors probing health care deal
They question the constitutionality of ‘Nebraska compromise’

Feb. 5, 2010
What’s the big deal with insuring across states?
Republican remedy expected to play a role in any bill that passes

Feb. 8, 2010
Obama's health care summit: Just for show?
Bipartisan forum could yield productive debate or mere political theater

Feb. 17, 2010

GOP sees possible upside in health care summit
Republicans seek to emphasize costs at televised bipartisan forum

Feb. 14, 2010

No health overhaul would bring more problems
Experts see big consequences if lawmakers fail to address problems

Feb. 18, 2010

Obama report warns of health premium spikes
Double-digit increases sought by insurers in at least six states
 Health Care Headlines
July 22, 2009
Beck: "The health care bill is reparations. It's the beginning of reparations." Fox’s Glenn
Beck Program:

August 27, 2009

Study: Health Care Reform Mandate Will Punish Employers, Kill Jobs
Under the provision, known as the play-or-pay mandate, another 10.2 million employees will
face stunted wages and the loss of their benefits as employers try to find ways to fund the
mandates.

September 1, 2009
Fox’s Cavuto Covers Health Care Reform By Attacking African Americans For “Playing
The Race Card”

September 08, 2009

Obama Betting Magnetism Enough to Counter Health Care Reform Opposition With
President Obama set to deliver a major speech on health care reform, the question that will be
answered in the coming weeks is whether his magnetism can overcome public discontent and
break the partisan gridlock in Washington

September 12, 2009

Congress Gears Up for Final Battle Over Health Care Reform FOXNews.com
A top Senate Democratic negotiator on health care reform said he's moving forward with
President Obama's chief domestic initiative next week -- with or without Republicans

October 23, 2009

Fox's John Stossel To Rally Against Health Care Reform
John Stossel of Fox News will join a conservative activist group for rallies designed to build
opposition to health-care reform. Americans For Prosperity (AFP) has announced that Stossel, a
"renowned health care reporter and analyst," will participate in three "Health Care Town Halls,"
starting next week in Arkansas. In a press release, AFP says that the events will be designed in
part to "discuss the dangers of government-forced health care." The news comes at a time when
the White House has aggressively challenged Fox's legitimacy as a news organization.
October 30, 2009
Democrats' New Health Care Bill: 'Historic Moment' or 'Monstrosity'?
It happened, the big unveiling of the health care bill, and it was a big unveiling, House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leadership rolling out this 2,000-page bill. Speaker Pelosi calls
the bill, complete with a government-run public option, an historic moment. House Minority
Leader John Boehner -- he calls it a monstrosity. He went "On the Record."

November 02, 2009

Abortion Part of Health Care Reform Still in Question
The unexpected absence of a key lawmaker could profoundly impact the ongoing debate on
abortion access encompassed in health care legislation being weighed this week in the U.S.
House.

November 11, 2009

Blue Dog Democrat Votes Against Health Reform
NEIL CAVUTO, HOST: Costs the biggest reason my next guest voted against the House bill.
He's now taking heat back home for it. Does he regret it? With us now, Democratic
Congressman, chairman of the so-called Blue Dog caucus, Jim Matheson. Congressman, you're
in — in deep mud, I guess, over this, but — but why did you take your stand?

January 15, 2010

Health Care Battle: Was Nebraska Bought?
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: Is Nebraska for sale? Nebraska Senator Ben
Nelson has been slammed by critics for the sweetheart deal he cut for his state. So what does the
other senator from Nebraska think about this deal?

January 18, 2010

Is Obama Setting a Trap for the GOP?
Laura Ingraham on whether Obama's bipartisan health care summit is a sham – video.

January 29, 2010

Health Bill 'On Life Support' After Obama Appeal
Obama urged lawmakers in the State of the Union address not to abandon the effort on what was
once his top domestic priority. But his enthusiastic words left lawmakers little better off than
before.

January 29, 2010

Palin to Obama: Stop the Fingerpointing
PALIN: Well, what President Obama has made the mistake of doing is pointing fingers at the
Republicans, at the opposition party, and accuse them of not wanting to work with him, when it's
proven that -- take health care. The Republicans have had common sense solutions that they
wanted to bring forward and have considered, with liability reform and erasing state barriers so
that there's competition in health care insurers. And the president has pointed fingers and said,
Oh, they don't want to come to the table and work with us.
You can go to Healthcare.gop.gov and you can see some of the solutions that have been
proposed. So what you don't do is what Obama has been doing. That's pointing fingers, kind of
creating more contention and division than needs to be. And that way, gosh, human nature is a
desire to work together and get things done, these elected officials. They know who they're
working for. The people who are their bosses, their voters, they sent them there expecting
common sense solutions, just get the job done.

February 08, 2010

Republicans Come to Health Care Table Willing to Negotiate
Republicans say they have no idea yet who will be invited to join President Obama later this
month to discuss health care reform but they have plenty of ideas if Obama is sincere about
wanting to work together.
The president's recent outreach follows a loss last month of the crucial "60th vote" needed in the
Senate to prevent Republican filibusters of Democratic packages. The victory of Scott Brown in
Massachusetts to replace Sen. Ted Kennedy was quickly followed up with a visit by the president
to a House Republican meeting 10 days ago in Baltimore that was covered on live television.

February 19, 2010

Obama Writing Health Bill to Skirt GOP Filibuster
The president reportedly is working on health care legislation intended to reconcile differences
between House and Senate Democrats that could be attached to a budget bill and pass with only
51 Senate votes.
Both parties have used reconciliation rules in the past. But Republicans have practically dared
Democrats to do so on health care, citing polls showing significant opposition to the legislation.
.