WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. Senate Democrats Thursday attacked a $10 million ad campaign for the new Medicare drug law as political re-election propaganda for President Bush.
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson listened to harsh criticism during a Senate Budget Committee hearing and said he would consider suspending the ads until the General Accounting Office rules on their legality.
A group of more than 70 lawmakers sent a letter to Thompson asking the "Same Medicare, More Benefits" ads be pulled. Democrats are critical one firm in the ad campaign, National Media Inc. of Alexandria, Va., also is involved in the Bush re-election effort. They also are unhappy with language in the ads that tells seniors the Medicare options available now will remain the same in future years but benefits will be better.
"I voted for that (Medicare) plan but it is inappropriate for public money to be spent in a propaganda campaign," said Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota, the ranking Democrat on the committee.
Thompson argued the new law requires HHS to conduct an educational campaign informing Medicare beneficiaries of new benefits.
"I'm sorry to tell you I don't believe this is political at all," he told Conrad.
Thompson said National Media has worked for HHS since 2001, well before Bush's re-election campaign began. He said Ketchum Public Relations obtained the contract in 2003 to run the Medicare ad campaign and subcontracted part to National Media. Ketchum, he noted, is run by Paul Rand, a supporter of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination.
