The White House Finally Has Found Their Healthcare Enemy: Insurance Companies

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy PR firms representing the nation's insurance companies have certainly been busy during the health-care reform process that has taken place over the last year. However, this week has brought new challenges, as President Obama has used some of his most aggressive language to date in order to get health-care reform passed. "He's trying to isolate the insurance companies now," said CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer on "The Early Show" this morning. "...not running so much against Republicans, as he's running against the insurance companies. And this is the shift: this is what is different now." Patrice Tanaka, Co-Chair and Chief Creative Officer at CRT/Tanaka, an agency which counts a number of health-care industry clients told PRNewser, "I applaud President Obama for taking on such an important issue that affects all Americans. And, I agree with his statement, reported in today's New York Times that, 'We can't have a system that works better for the insurance companies than it does for the American people.' I think many of us know someone who was denied health-care coverage by an insurance company because of a 'pre-existing condition.'" Not everyone agrees. Peter Pitts, former associate commissioner for external relations at the FDA and now Partner and Director of Global Health at Porter Novelli said Obama's messaging is "thin." "I don't think you can market something good by using a negative message. The American people are confused and want to hear good news in times of stress and by trying to paint one industry as cause of nations woes is thin...and not going to work," he said. Pitts said Porter Novelli currently doesn't represent any insurance companies, although the agency previously has. Regardless, the administration faces another front on the health-care debate, as former Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) is now claiming he was kicked out of the house because he planned to vote against the health-care bill. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs called Massa's comments "ridiculous."

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The White House Finally Has Found Their Healthcare Enemy: Insurance Companies

Joe Ciarallo

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