A new Frank Luntz strategy memo may provide some insight into the Republican’s playbook as the fight over reform enters its final stages.
The memo, which you can read here, is one of many similar memos that have been circulated to politicians and activists over the last several months, including by Luntz himself.
In his previous memo, Luntz warned conservatives not to tie health care reform efforts to President Obama–the President’s name, he warned, helped buoy the overall level of support for reform. Luntz now says that’s not true–but he nonetheless counsels reform opponents not to use the term ‘Obamacare.’
“[y]ou can talk about opposing “President Obama’s Plan,” Luntz writes. “But don’t. While you no-longer [sic] shoot yourself in the foot by criticizing the President, you would do much better to criticize Congress.”
Luntz suggests that, though the public is closely divided on the question of the need for reform, opponents are much more motivated than supporters. A full one-quarter of Americans, according to Luntz’s memo, say they will actively work to defeat members of Congress who vote for reform. Slightly fewer–23 percent–say they “will be much less likely to vote for them.”
By contrast, the memo holds that only 8 percent of Americans will actively work to help re-elect members who vote for reform, and 12 percent say they will be “much more likely to vote for them.”
And, of course, Luntz suggests that reform opponents serve themselves best by reinforcing falsely held notions about the Democrats’ health care plans with the public. “Claims of deficit-neutrality are roundly rejected and even ridiculed,” Luntz writes. “No one believes that the government will enact a massive new entitlement without costing Americans more money.” The CBO has found that the House’s health care bill is a deficit reducer, and the non-partisan agency is expected to conclude the same about the Senate’s bill.
