Google Searches For 'Death Panels' Trigger New Ad War

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Weeks after Sarah Palin coined the term, "death panels" to refer to a proposal in the House health reform bill, the term is among those helping to generate the most active internet advertising spree ever linked to a public policy issue, the Los Angeles Times reports. President Obama's own grassroots campaign has bought ads that appear when users perform Google searches for "death panels," as well as "Obamacare," "socialized medicine," and "Obama Muslim." The ads link to sites that attempt to dispel rumors or counter attacks by critics.

Other groups are getting in on the mix, too. Moveon.org has purchased ads for it's site that addresses "five healthcare reform lies" that appear when users search for "euthanasia" and "section 1233," both terms linked to the "death panel" line of attack. The AARP, Health Care for America Now, and the conservative Club for Growth were all buying ads from Google that are targeted to specific searches (Wallsten, 9/4).

The Los Angeles Times separately published a list of some key phrases users interested in health reform are frequently searching (9/4).

This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org.

© Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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