Yesterday I posted a letter to Joan Walsh asking how she felt about Michelle Bernard appearing on Hardball with Chris Matthews and not being questioned about the breast cancer video ad her orgainization, The Independent Women's Forum, is now running.
In following up, I have discovered something very interesting. Chris Matthews does NOT refer to Michelle Bernard as being affiliated with the Independent Women's Forum, he only refers to her affiliation with Independent Women's Voice.
In the following clip, you will hear Bernard asking, "what IS IT?", when referring to the healthcare bill on August 14, 2009.
Just days later, beginning on August 19, the IWF was doing television appearances regarding their new healthcare ad campaign. In this clip with Dylan Ratigan of MSNBC, Bernard states that the IWF ad campaign is directed towards women and is an attack on the labor unions and their responsibility for the American auto manufacturing collapse. Ratigan does state that Bernard is with the IWF.
Bernard, herself, does not go out and do the dirty work. Instead, Heather Higgings, Chair of the Independent Women's Forum, goes on FOX News the VERY next day to share the breast cancer ad on the Glen Beck Show with forty-four year-old, breast cancer survivor, Tracey Walsh.
Anybody else think all of this smells bad?
If you missed the orignial video ad, dedicated to terrifying women with breast cancer, please CLICK HERE. (video will not embed)
One line from that ad really stands out:
"More American women are going to die of breast cancer if you and I surrender to President Obama's nationalized healthcare onslaught."
Is Michelle Bernard, the President and CEO of an organization that would even SAY something like that, much less run it as a television ad, really the kind of person whose opinion you would seek on the current issues our country is facing? Who is Michelle Bernard, REALLY? Is she an articulate, reasonable counterpart to Chris Matthews or is she a closet neocon, just a wolf in sheeps clothing?
And my question remains - if MSNBC is willing to call out the ad (via the Rachel Maddow Program), are they willing to call Bernard out on the ad and place responsibility for it on her shoulders? OR - will Chris Matthewscontinue having her on as a guest analyst and continue referring to her as being from the Independent Women's Voice, not the organization airing that disgraceful ad, the Independent Women's Forum?
***** (from my comment below)
The Independent Women's Forum shares its premisis and resources with AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY whose Chair & Founder is dirty energy king, David Koch. AFP was one of the lead organizations behind the Tax Day Tea Party protests April 15, 2009. Its Director is Art Pope, an ex-legislator who has been called "The Knight of the Right" and "North Carolina's Karl Rove."
In mid 2009, Americans for Prosperity launched an advertising and advocacy campaign opposing U.S. health care reform named Patients United Now.
Remember "Patients First"?
"Patients First" Rally in Jax: Death Panel a No-Show by Jodi Kasten
Yhea - those guys.
Nice.
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Why are they afraid to call this woman out? And if I may ask, why hasn't Joan responded? Did you PM her, Ann? I mean, I'm sure she can't read everything here and may have totally missed your prior post. I'd be interested in her take on it, both as a sensible politically-savvy analyst and as a woman.
It's going to take bloggers like us to dig deep and see who has their hands up these people's keisters in order to move their mouths. THAT is hardball.
(thumbified with DigDug sounds - bloop! bloop! bloop!)
Heather R. Higgins - Chairman
Mary Arnold
Carol T. Crawford
Jennifer Ashworth Dinh
Randy Parris Kendrick
Larry Kudlow
Joanne T. Medero
Directors Emeritae:
Lynne V. Cheney
Midge Decter
Kimberly O. Dennis
Wendy Lee Gramm
Elizabeth Lurie
Kate O’Beirne
Louise V. Oliver
Nancy_Pfotenhauer
R. Gaull Silberman
...... UGH ... NANCY PFOTENHAUER ... I KNEW SOMETHING SMELLED BAD ... more on that later ...
I picked the wrong day to try to do this ... busy, busy, busy!
BUT ... how interesting ... Lynne Cheney ...
ALSO ~~~ IWF shares its premisis and resources with AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY whose Chair & Founder is dirty energy king, David Koch. AFP was one of the lead organizations behind the Tax Day Tea Party protests April 15, 2009. Its Director is Art Pope, an ex-legislator who has been called "The Knight of the Right" and "North Carolina's Karl Rove."
In mid 2009, Americans for Prosperity launched an advertising and advocacy campaign opposing U.S. health care reform named Patients United Now.
REMEMBER JODI"S POST ... on the group that came to Jacksonville???
http://open.salon.com/blog/jodi_kasten/2009/08/27/patients_first_visits_my_town
Boy ... I think I'm starting to see things a little more clearly!
REMEMBER RACHEL MADDOW -
Patients United Now may not be busing people around to serve as mobile anti-health care reform crowds, but both groups are part of Americans for Prosperity. So, you can see the Americans for Prosperity/Patients First bus out in your town, say, or you can use the Americans for Prosperity/Patients United Now Web site to, like, watch videos, like this clip from FOX Business Channel that they labeled "Government Health Care Plan Not Necessary." Or this one that's just called "How Obama Will Ruin Health Care."
With either Patients United Now or Patients First, it's really Americans for Prosperity, which is located at-on the 1700 block of M Street, right smack in the middle of downtown Washington, D.C.-you know, where the grassroots grow.
The man who runs Americans for Prosperity, its president, is Tim Phillips. And he will join us live in just a moment. Mr. Phillips has made a career out of, to my mind, creating the impression there is grassroots support for the agenda of his corporate clients.
~ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32330219
"See the poor people, Little Simba? We eat the poor people. But then, the poor people clean our pools, so we are all part of the Circle of Life."
Then the one sided debate goes on to the government getting in between the doctor and the patient. Well that won't hold water. One of the biggest reasons for reform is that the insurance companies are already in between the Doctor and the patient and refuse treatments and drop coverages. WTF?
These videos are ripe with fear tactics. Why should I be surprised? As far as Bernard is concerned, I'm done with that snake in the grass. I watched Rachel Maddow last night waiting for some mention of Bernard's affiliation with the IWF. It never came. That was very disappointing to say the least.
That said, I do like the fact that MSNBC usually gets guests from both sides of the aisle, but usually you can tell who is who. Bernard has had me fooled for a long time. Shame on me.
I_Am One_Irritable_Papa? too!
I'm so behind and sing:`Merrily!
Merrily! Merrily! Merrily! okays!
I'll watch a sunset and shush ups!
Of course ~ hush up respectfully!
I can't _ process crank_eat sushi!
O You know my heart_ain't pure!
I try to convey no rude animosity.
You Momma & Dadda_had a sex?
No answer & we a_glad You here!
I am lame & no know what to say!
A given. O watch a Moon tonight!
Soon it will be sunset. O Merrily!
Oh aim to be not too lame? okay!
This is not my bailiwicks. Thanks!
I am happy You sense what's evil!
We are inter-are and do our best!
No use (!) excessively? okay O try!
Let's all hock wed jewelry?
Oh, buy wine to be happy?
tease.
I hocked my ring long ago!
Be sober. Be happy! okays!
Maybe this is too irritating!
Where are all our Liberal Celebrities Who Want To Make A Difference? Where are Oprah and Ellen and Dr Freakin Phil??
Where are the counter-ads? I get that Breast Cancer dot orgs don't want to risk offending potential contributors (don't care where the $$ comes from as long as there are no strings). But why aren't they making clear a position that ANY health care plan MUST and WILL prevent breast cancer and provide treatment?
It's Swift Boating (no relation!) all over again. Only the Dark Side spends money to attack reasonable solutions and scare the hell out of people.
You're a wonder, Annie. Maybe you and Jodi are onto something... "they say" bloggers have so much power... how about we test that theory on this outrage?
Monte ;-)
But God, am I EVER furious about this. More outrageous, disgusting lies from the Right Wing. May it explode in their faces like an outhouse that just met a jet engine turbine.
The President's mother and grandmother both died of cancer, he's a husband and a father to two girls. Not ever a man to deny a woman cancer treatment in any form.
Mr. President, I think it's time you REMINDED everyone of this!