Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies, an affiliate organization to the Karl Rove backed American Crossroads PAC, is out with a new web video insinuating that the Obama administration is rewarding unions who pushed for the health care law with expeditions from that same law.
The video frames the issue somewhat like an action movie trailer, utilizing ominous music and rapid scene cuts to introduce the “union bosses” who “shoved healthcare down our throats.” And it features quick shots of semi-socialist symbols, such as a Canadian flag and a red clenched fist spliced between shots of chanting union members.
From there, the ad leaps to “one year later,” and rolls audio of Obama lauding unions for standing with him, layered over footage of a money-laden suitcase and palm greasing.
“If unions don’t have to comply with Obamacare, why should we,” the screen then reads as the ad comes to a close.
The waiver controversy is the latest frontier in attacks against the health care law — and one that has already been thoroughly debunked.
A Daily Caller article earlier this week alleged cronyism, citing that a large percentage of waivers had been given to businesses in Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) home district, a claim that was then echoed by both Sarah Palin and presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty.
Crossroads spokesman Jonathan Collegio told TPM that the organization launched the video because they were unsure what criteria, if any, the Obama administration was using when granting the waivers.
“Until [Health and Human Services] specifically declares the criteria upon which they are basing these waivers, no one really knows if they are being given to the politically connected, or if there is an objective criteria for how these waiver are being given,” Collegio said.
He also noted that Crossroads GPS had previously sought information from the government about the criteria used in granting waivers and, when they received no response, sued for the information.
On Monday, the White House posted a statement clarifying the waivers, saying that they are a short-term solution to help businesses transition into the new health care law, and that they will not be granted past 2014.
Crossroads GPS was a major player in last year’s elections, dropping over $17 million to help elect Republican candidates, according to Open Secrets. And because the organization is registered as a 501c, it is not required to disclose its donors.
Watch the video below:
