Sausage party!
In case you needed any more evidence of how campaigns coordinate their messages with the national party -- and there are rules on this kinda thing, you know -- an email erroneously forwarded by the John Raese senatorial campaign this afternoon takes you right into the sausage factory.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee has been using a report today in Politico on the possibility of increased Medicare Advantage payments to hammer Democrats who supported health care reform. The NRSC sent one out on Joe Sestak to Pa reporters, and the spokesman for John Raese sent out an almost exactly similar one to reporters covering the WVa race.
One difference -- Raese's spokesman Kevin McLaughin left in the back-and-forth with high-level staffers at the NRSC on how they wanted the news release structured. There's nothing really bad in there ("I would like to find the biggest number [of enrollees] possible for us to use with a straight face," McLaughin writes at one point), but if you're reading a politics blog at 5:30 EST on a Wednesday, it's the kinda thing you'll probably think is interesting.
It also puts another spin on that notorious "hicky" ad from the NRSC, which the Raese campaign swore it had nothing to do with.
The list of characters includes McLaughlin, who's on leave from NRSC head John Cornyn's office; Mitch McConnell aide and former RNC rapid response team leader Josh Holmes; another former aide to the Senate Minority Leader, Webber Steinhoff; and NRSC staffer Valerie Mack.
Like with all forwarded emails, please read from the bottom. Full text after the jump.
MANCHIN ENDORSED OBAMACARE WILL COST WEST VIRGINIA SENIORS
Obamacare To Result In “Increased Out-Of-Pocket Costs For Seniors”
Medicare Chief: Obamacare “Will Result In ‘Less Generous Benefit Packages’ For Medicare Advantage Plans”
“A Medicare Official Concedes That Seniors May Have To Dig Deeper Into Their Wallets Next Year Thanks To The Health Care Law.” (“Medicare: Reform Will Cost Some Seniors,” Politico, 10/13/10)
- “The New Analysis Obtained By POLITICO Finds The Health Care Overhaul Will Result In Increased Out-Of-Pocket Costs For Seniors On Medicare Advantage Plans.” (“Medicare: Reform Will Cost Some Seniors,” Politico, 10/13/10)
- “Richard Foster, The Actuary For The Centers For Medicare And Medicaid, Also Tells Senate Republicans That The Overhaul Will Result In ‘Less Generous Benefit Packages’ For Medicare Advantage Plans Next Year.” (“Medicare: Reform Will Cost Some Seniors,” Politico, 10/13/10)
Over 70,000 West Virginians Have Medicare Advantage Plans
71,267 West Virginians Are Enrolled In Medicare Advantage. (Kaiser State Health Facts, Accessed 10/13/10)
Fire.Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
From: Webber Steinhoff < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:08:07 -0400To: < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >Cc: Mack, Valerie< This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >; Josh Holmes< This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >Subject: Re: medicare doc - let me know if this what we wantwe are going to shoot this out unless you all have objections.
On Wed, Oct 13, 2010 at 3:24 PM, < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. > wrote:
I think we use it.
Kaiser is reputable.Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
From: "Mack, Valerie" < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:23:45 -0400To: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >; Holmes, Josh< This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >; Webber Steinhoff< This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >Subject: RE: medicare doc - let me know if this what we wantOhio 620,138
Kentucky 113,633
Virginia 155,855
Pennsylvania 854,489
From: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [mailto: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ]
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 3:22 PM
To: Holmes, Josh; Mack, Valerie; Webber Steinhoff
Subject: Re: medicare doc - let me know if this what we want
What are #'s for other states?
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
From: "Holmes, Josh" < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:20:44 -0400
To: Mack, Valerie< This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >; Webber Steinhoff< This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >
Subject: RE: medicare doc - let me know if this what we want
Seems like a lot to me.
From: Mack, Valerie
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 3:20 PM
To: Holmes, Josh; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; Webber Steinhoff
Subject: RE: medicare doc - let me know if this what we want
If we want the numbers:
There are 71,267 West Virginians enrolled in Medicare Advantage. (Kaiser State Health Facts, Accessed 10/13/10)
From: Holmes, Josh
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 3:14 PM
To: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; Webber Steinhoff; Mack, Valerie
Subject: RE: medicare doc - let me know if this what we want
I’m good with this w/ or w/out numbers.
From: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [mailto: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ]
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 3:09 PM
To: Webber Steinhoff; Holmes, Josh; Mack, Valerie
Subject: Re: medicare doc - let me know if this what we want
This is good, but can we find out how many west virginians are on medicare?
Would it be the 7169 #?
We can round it off and say something like "as many as 7169" wv srs or something.
I would like to find the biggest number possible for us to use with a straight face.Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
From: Webber Steinhoff < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:19:11 -0400
To: Kevin McLaughlin< This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >; Josh Holmes< This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >; Mack, Valerie< This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >
Subject: medicare doc - let me know if this what we want
MANCHIN ENDORSED OBAMACARE WILL COST WEST VIRGINIA SENIORS
Obamacare To Result In “Increased Out-Of-Pocket Costs For Seniors”
Medicare Chief: Obamacare “Will Result In ‘Less Generous Benefit Packages’ For Medicare Advantage Plans”
“The Obama Administration Concedes That Some Seniors Will Have To Dig Deeper Into Their Wallets Next Year Thanks To The Health Care Law.” (“W.H. Admits Health Law May Raise Seniors' Costs,” Politico, 10/13/10)
- “A New Analysis Obtained By POLITICO Finds The Health Care Overhaul Will Result In Increased Out-Of-Pocket Costs For Seniors On Medicare Advantage Plans.” (“W.H. Admits Health Law May Raise Seniors' Costs,” Politico, 10/13/10)
- “Richard Foster, The Actuary For The Centers For Medicare And Medicaid, Told Senate Republicans That The Overhaul Will Result In ‘Less Generous Benefit Packages’ For Medicare Advantage Plans Next Year.” (“W.H. Admits Health Law May Raise Seniors' Costs,” Politico, 10/13/10)