By Nitya

Aug 21, 2009 6:00am

Conservative Group Attacks Vacationing Obama

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: A leading conservative group that’s opposing President Obama’s health care plan is meeting the Obama family at the beach.

Conservatives for Patients Rights is launching a new ad that will air on television in Boston and on Martha’s Vineyard next week, tweaking the president for taking time away from Washington in the middle of the national debate over health care.

“The beach is nice this time of year. But while President Obama vacations, concerns mount about his health care plan,” the voice-over says, according to a copy of the ad provided to ABC News. “Mr. President — when you go back to DC, drop your government-run public option plan. Let’s get on with real reform to lower costs, and protect patients’ rights.”

The ad says Obama’s plans “could lead to government-run health care” and “lead to higher taxes on everything from paychecks to soda,” and would “add a trillion to the deficit.”

An official associated with the conservative group said more than $150,000 will be spent on the ads, bringing the group’s total ad spending in opposition to the president’s plans above $4.5 million.

The ads are only set to run while the president vacations with his family on Martha’s Vineyard. The official added that the ads will run on New England Sports Network while the Boston Red Sox play a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox — the president’s favorite team.

Watch the full ad here:

User Comments

Conservatives for Patients Rights don’t give a squat about patients. They should be renamed Conservatives for Profiteering Racketeers. This right wing lobbyist group is a joke…of course so are most ‘intellectuals’ in the republican party.

Posted by: mummblemouth | August 21, 2009, 7:27 am 7:27 am

Conservative group attacks vacationing Obama….hmmm what would that headline be if we still had president Bush…
While on vaction AGAIN democrats run commercials on his ridiculous agenda and his constant vacations…

Posted by: samhiguchi | August 21, 2009, 7:41 am 7:41 am

Oh, that’s rich!!! Bush was the most vacationed president in the history of the country, and they have the GALL to attack Obama for taking a week off when congress isn’t in session?

Posted by: Mike | August 21, 2009, 7:43 am 7:43 am

Where were these “citizens” when Bush was taking vacations – every other week … Pulling tumbleweeds and playing “cowboy” when the wars, spending, and the start of this economic crisis needed attention? … None of these “citizens” would be able to do the presidents job, understand the weight, or have any clue as to what it takes to lead a country outside of their own narrow interests and ideas … If they’re “so worried” about “vacationing” polititians – then they need to tell their own senators and congressman to get back to Washington, and to work.

Posted by: 1enlightened | August 21, 2009, 7:44 am 7:44 am

Y’all act like this is his first vacation since in office LOL…he’s always off somewhere with the family, possibly more than Bush! Are ya blind?

Posted by: samhiguchi | August 21, 2009, 7:52 am 7:52 am

Term limits!! We have a government that is out of control!! What we need is health insurance reform not a total destruction and rebuilding of the current system. Too much government regualation and ambiguity in the current. Too many opportunities for abuse by those in charge. READ THE BILL. And by the way it is not okay for the president to ask religious leaders to endorse his policies from the pulpit. If any republican president had dared to even think this he would have been crucifieid in hte media.

Posted by: MJ | August 21, 2009, 7:54 am 7:54 am

Yep, Obama’s team/plan is falling apart–finally!!

Posted by: lyineyes1956 | August 21, 2009, 7:58 am 7:58 am

Obama’s presidency is turning out to be more of a disaster than I anticipated but no one can say the man is lazy.
There isn’t much he can do about health care while Congress is in recess so why not take a vacation? Presidents take working vacations anyway.
Let the kids enjoy a little time at the beach. Besides, he doesn’t screw up nearly as much when he’s making sand castles and watching sea gulls.

Posted by: Oonogil | August 21, 2009, 8:03 am 8:03 am

All I can do is laugh at these “conservatives”. Only fools fall for their obvious nonsense. All they do is put out negative ads. It’s no wonder people associate “conservatives” with anything negative.

Posted by: KsDevil | August 21, 2009, 8:24 am 8:24 am

I believe Bush vacationed at Hyenas Port!

Posted by: Bill in NC | August 21, 2009, 8:28 am 8:28 am

This is very sad, they are not for patients only for the insurance companies.
All presidents take vacations. Running this ad while he is there shows how shallow minded these people are.

Posted by: Randy | August 21, 2009, 8:48 am 8:48 am

Obama’s presidency is turning out to be more of a disaster than I anticipated
==========================================
If it wasn’t for Obama’s steady hand this country would be a deep depression right now. I have actually heard from conservatives (my brother) that would not have been such a bad thing since it have forced severe government cuts….It is hard to argue against such asinine thinking…And that is the problem Obama is having with healthcare..Thank god McCain\Palin weren’t elected!

Posted by: indy_voter | August 21, 2009, 8:49 am 8:49 am

Being negative is the easist thing to do. Being constructive, now that is hard. Perhaps that is why conservatives are so negative.

Posted by: Thinking | August 21, 2009, 9:02 am 9:02 am

…are they planning to attack by land, or by sea?

Posted by: gus amaral | August 21, 2009, 9:09 am 9:09 am

the individuals in the group must have way too much free time. maybe they can volunteer at a shelter, a low income health clinic…

Posted by: gus amaral | August 21, 2009, 9:11 am 9:11 am

On face it may seen that commercials to deface healthcare reform by attacking the President on vacation is ludicrous. The more disturbing truth is that corporate america will do ANYTHING to try to continue to make profit off the misfortune of citizen’s illnesses.
There is unlimited conservative backed money to spread propaganda against healthcare reform. The attempted demoralization of the current democratic administration by using the conservative base dislike of an African-American in the White House in just one way. Cleverly filthy: The GOP & conservatives are masters.
Healthcare reform is really the control of corporate Heathcare fraud. Corporate healthcare is suuported by the wealthy in this country, who continue to pocket the money robbed from the poor and ill.
All of us are getting the short end of the stick from corporate run-free-market healthcare. People’s health cannot be a marketed product to be bought and sold.

Posted by: gus | August 21, 2009, 9:27 am 9:27 am

This is just another CPR attempt to kill any kind of reform. CPR has probably spent more money on these ads than it would cost to insure every person in the USA.

Posted by: George | August 21, 2009, 9:28 am 9:28 am

I hope these conservatives have plenty of money, in case they step on some glass at the beach, get a cut infected with a flesh eating virus and their insurance refuses to cover because they forgot to mention they once had acne.

Posted by: Amy in Maine | August 21, 2009, 9:44 am 9:44 am

Cheap shot, but then what do you expect from groups like this?

Posted by: BachisBest | August 21, 2009, 10:07 am 10:07 am

As a nurse practitioner who worked in a Medicaid clinic, if you seen what I have seen with government controlling the costs, you would not want the public option as gateway to a universal system.

Posted by: Downwithsocialism | August 21, 2009, 10:26 am 10:26 am

As a registered nurse, I am appalled. These idiot conservatives have a lot of nerve talking about patient’s rights when they are doing everything they can to make sure healthcare reform does not take place. This reform is desperately needed. It’s a shame that most Americans seem to be incapable of thinking for themselves, asking questions to find out the truth. Instead they listen to these idiots. You’ll all get what you deserve..problem is, so will the rest of us.

Posted by: leogorky | August 21, 2009, 10:32 am 10:32 am

Every President since I was born went on a vacation during his term. Now..it’s an issue! @Thinking – Amen!

Posted by: Gerald | August 21, 2009, 10:48 am 10:48 am

I’m a “senior” and despite all the negative, inflammatory, erroneous and self-serving rhetoric out there, I am solidly behind health care reform. I want the President to know that and stand cool and steady despite the endless attacks and lies. We CAN and we WILL get this job done despite the naysayers. We must do this now.

Posted by: Susan | August 21, 2009, 11:11 am 11:11 am

Enough with the vacation BS! It was stupid when it was done to Bush and it is equally stupid with Obama…the president of the United States does not truely have vacation. Their entire team travels with them and there isn’t a day that goes by that the President doesn’t work. That said…his big gov’t policies are terrible and he needs to listen to the American public and realize we do not want government competing in the insurance business! Enjoy your “vacation”.

Posted by: Curt | August 21, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am

Allow me to make some truthful commments here. The democrats are in charge of the Whtie House, the House and the Senate. The Republicans dont control anything at this time. Why, oh why, cant the health care “plan” go through? What is the problem? The dems have everything their way, but all I here from Nobama is the “Republicans are being disingenuous”, they are being basically liars, the media is at fault. Excuses, excuses, excuse. The real meat of the matter is that, this country is basically conservative, and this is why the health care “plan” cannot go through. People are seeing this “presidency” for what it is: a socialist at best, darn near communist dictatorship. Stop making excuses and lead Obama, please.

Posted by: gtc1838 | August 21, 2009, 11:44 am 11:44 am

Love the ad. It is dead on and to the point.

Posted by: PotatoeGater22 | August 21, 2009, 11:57 am 11:57 am

Are you kidding me? Where was the outrage from these conservative IDIOTS when Bush disappeared to that stupid ranch in Texas? He took more vacations than any modern presidents. Hypocrites.

Posted by: G | August 21, 2009, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm

I haven’t been a big fan of either the president or the health care bill but I also don’t criticize either with stupidity. He’s done a pretty good job and the ideas behind the bill aren’t nearly as extreme as they’re made out to be. And the funny thing is some of the parts of the bill most criticized by Republicans are either Republican or bipartisan. Sometimes in a debate you have to look at who is throwing out the more absurd arguments to know who has the weaker position. With perhaps the exception of the “death panel” absurdity this is about as weak as it gets.

Posted by: WhatDaBlah | August 21, 2009, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm

At least he didn’t resign his position, stop everything to fix what was wrong in washington, or not tell his staff and leave the country. Republicans are so funny!!!

Posted by: Chuck | August 21, 2009, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm

Google Conservatives for Patients Rights is a Lobbyist PR Firm these people are mostly Responsible for the Lies about Healthcare reform they are Lobbyist for the Health Insurance company Google Rick Scott! he is the Head of it

Posted by: Angie in Pa | August 21, 2009, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm

angie in pa…who is the presidant and who controls congress?this is a democrat problem and the american people have already weighed in. nancy pelosi and obama cannot be trusted and the govt option is dead and the american people dont want it. reform the rest of it for those of us who actualy pay taxes and insurance but get on with it. I AM STILL WAITING FOR JOB GROWTH. HOW ABOUT ONE JOB

Posted by: catman | August 21, 2009, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm

angie in pa…who is the presidant and who controls congress?this is a democrat problem and the american people have already weighed in. nancy pelosi and obama cannot be trusted and the govt option is dead and the american people dont want it. reform the rest of it for those of us who actualy pay taxes and insurance but get on with it. I AM STILL WAITING FOR JOB GROWTH. HOW ABOUT ONE JOB

Posted by: catman | August 21, 2009, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm

so what if he is on vacation!bush was the worst president in the history of all presidents,and the most stupid.obama deserves avacation,mind you he is workig all the time!enjoy ur vacation MR.PRESIDENT!

Posted by: ismail | August 21, 2009, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm

The Revolution is coming, and not a shot will be fired. 11/2/2010 will be the second revolution. Your elected leaders no longer hold (or ever did) your best intrest above all, they are it it for themselves, VOTE THEM ALL OUT. Right, Left, Center, Liberal or Conservative. If you want to find the crooks in Washington, just follow the money trail.

Posted by: Gunnerv1 | August 21, 2009, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm

bush was tortured during his vacations. bush had shoes thrown at him during press conferences.i am no bush fan, but micheal more , george soros , ted kennedy and nancy pelosi dogged him day and night. now the shoe is on the other foot and sympathy is not an option given the precedent your party created over the past 8 years. my mom always told me what goes around comes around.being in charge and a majority is much harder than being in the minority party.this is democracy in action.

Posted by: catman | August 21, 2009, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm

perhaps another speech from the berlin wall or one with faux grecian colums will save things.i think someone has cried wolf to many times already and the people know it.

Posted by: catman | August 21, 2009, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm

To: All Responsible, Hard-Working, Tax-Paying American Citizens
1. Our Goal is fixed and firm; the path to the goal is flexible.
2. The Goal: The removal from office of EACH AND EVERY loony-left d-crat socialist and the restoration of a fiscally responsible government that respects and represents the views of the American people and is based on American values.
If the d-crat socialists continue to ignore the views of American citizens and unilaterally enact their horrific and hugely expensive plan for the nationalization of the American healthcare system and creation of government-controlled, limited and rationed healthcare, THEY WILL BE COMMITTING AN ACT OF PERFECT POLITICAL SUICIDE!
Thus, they will, in effect, be supporting the above Goal of real Americans, and we should all hope that they proceed with their insane effort.
So get some popcorn, sit back and watch as the d-crat socialists in congress BUCKLE-UP and carry out their version of David Carradine’s final performance.

Posted by: ALEX H | August 21, 2009, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm

My God you conservatives have gone insane. What else can you complain about? Did you take a vacation…did any of you stay in town to work on anything? Did you enjoy time with your families? Every president since I can remember takes a vacation and if anyone needs one,,,it is President Obama. He has had to put up with nonesense of the so called christian conservatives since day one. He is being a good father and spending some quality time with his children. As christians you should understand this. He does not want to have to look back years from now and realize he missed their youth. I think many of you need to go back to church and listen to the preacher. I wonder how so much hate can be in your hearts for anyone. If Sarah Palin did this you would say she is being a good mother.He is being a great father.

Posted by: talmag | August 21, 2009, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm

Ahhhhh, now we know who these people are. They’re the ones who banded together to “defile” a Viet Nam hero. Where were their concerns when Bush in August spent 31 days in Crawford in 2002, while our troops were fighting the “unprovoked” war he ‘made’ up. Where was the concerns when Bush was again spending 17 days in Crawford, while a Whole U.S. city drowned. These are the same ones who wear three-piece suits, to hold all the “loot” from the Healthcare Industry…..I am soooo tired of this.

Posted by: tychisum | August 21, 2009, 5:37 pm 5:37 pm

Amen……… if these “aliens” were really concerned about the American people…….. and not about “profits” from these Health Insurance companies…. why don’t they run clinics for the American people that can’t afford to LIVE…..but deserve it more than they.

Posted by: tychisum | August 21, 2009, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm

They seem to forget that Cindy Shehan is there protesting the war.

Posted by: 'Un-American' | August 21, 2009, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm

REMEMBER HOW BUSH was treated ? What goes around comes around. ENJOY !

Posted by: Ron | August 21, 2009, 7:44 pm 7:44 pm

Isn’t it amazing how all the war protesting news reports suddenly disappear now that BO is pres…… Hey ABC why are you ignoring Cindy Sheehan protesting outside BO’s compound?

Posted by: reprovemedia | August 21, 2009, 8:23 pm 8:23 pm

I am so glad he is on vacation. Maybe since he will not be on TV everyday his poll numbers will go up some. Everytime he opens his mouth his numbers go down.He will say one thing and then 2 days later he will say something different. It all depends on what group he is talking to.

Posted by: kk | August 21, 2009, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm

At least he worked the first 8 months and passed the Ledbetter bill so that women can earn the same as men, the children’s health care plan (this one o.k. with you cynics) gave veterans money to be educated when the come out of the war, believe it or not passed a bill to allow guns in national parks Hey you gun owners…remember this? Bush didn’t do as much in eight years.

Posted by: talmag | August 21, 2009, 11:10 pm 11:10 pm

That’s a very deceiving headline. I thought the family was physically attacked by my people (you know, the angry un-American, astroturf white mob. I can remember during the Bush years people protesting in front of his vacation home.

Posted by: Donna | August 21, 2009, 11:33 pm 11:33 pm

Y’all act like this is his first vacation since in office LOL…he’s always off somewhere with the family, possibly more than Bush! Are ya blind?
Posted by: samhiguchi | Aug 21, 2009 7:52:17 AM
_______________________________________
now this is the kind of stuff I love. Do you do your homework before you open your mouth? Do you watch the news or try to stay informed at all? The numbers for days off aren’t even close between the two. Bush took more time off than ANY OTHER PRESIDENT EVER!!!!!!
I guess this is another one of these times when one must just say DUH!!!!!

Posted by: orca | August 22, 2009, 2:40 am 2:40 am

This ad says it all: let’s get on with REAL reform. Obamacare throws the baby out with the bathwater. It lacks any common sense. It WILL lead to a government only run plan. It WILL lead to much higher costs, ie taxes for ALL. It is not only conservatives who do not want to go down this road; it is Independents and Democrats! If you are for a government run healthcare system, try living in a country where they offer this now! I have, for eight years, and you will not want it, for yourself or your children.

Posted by: Renee | August 22, 2009, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm

Real leaders in both parties know that the status quo is too costly to survive in either its private or its public forms. We can choose our big changes in both of these, but neither can avoid deep change. Real leaders also know that large and enduring majorities support at least three changes– near-universal coverage and contributions, fair insurance, and lower costs– no matter how many crackpots whine about the first and last of these. This is a democracy; the public is paying attention; these things will happen. The Republican leaders have spent their careers on other priorities, and their followers today are undercutting them by supporting entertainers over statesmen who can make deals, so the Democrats are getting the first crack at this, almost alone, and the resulting draft looks very Democratic. It will become law, because majorities rule in this country. But there will be other elections, and when their turn comes, Republican leaders will make reasonable changes that will reflect actual experience with today’s rough draft. That’s ok. That’s the way it works. Nations evolve or die.

Posted by: thingsarewhattheyare | August 25, 2009, 3:17 am 3:17 am

Does that reform really effectives for the benefits of the people…. Group Health Insurance Plans

Posted by: Group Health Insurance Plans | August 31, 2009, 6:22 am 6:22 am

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