Days after President Obama and members of Congress said they were
confident they can pass health care reform this year, Obama’s former
campaign manager warned supporters Saturday that opposing forces are
lining up to “torpedo” the plan.
David Plouffe, the man who ran
Obama’s historic and ultimately successful run for the White House,
wrote in a fundraising e-mail to Obama’s massive supporter e-mail list
that the same operatives behind the swiftboat campaign that helped end
Sen. John Kerry’s (D-Mass.) quest to unseat President George W. Bush
are regrouping to target Obama’s healthcare efforts.
{mosads}Rick Scott,
who helped fund the swiftboat ads during Kerry’s run, is helping to
fund a new group that is targeting what he and some Republicans
consider an effort by Obama to socialize medicine.
“As we
speak, the same people behind the notorious ‘swiftboat’ ads of 2004 are
already pumping millions of dollars into deceptive television ads,”
Plouffe wrote. “Their plan is simple: torpedo healthcare reform before
it sees the light of day by scaring the public and distorting the
president’s approach.”
In his e-mail through Organizing for
American, Obama’s semi-dormant campaign operation at the Democratic
National Committee (DNC), Plouffe asked supporters to donate money and
organize to urge Congress to act on legislation.
“The swiftboaters are once again trying to sell the American people
short,” Plouffe wrote. “As during the election, we deserve a serious conversation — not
fear-mongering and deceit. You and I see the importance of healthcare
reform every day.”
Plouffe
was spotted recently at the White House when his beloved Philadelphia
Phillies were honored by the president for winning the World Series
last year.