White House gives advice on protests

WASHINGTON - Top White House officials counseled Senate Democrats yesterday on coping with disruptions at public events on health care, officials said, and they promised that the party and allies would respond with twice the force if any individual lawmaker is criticized in television ads.

Fresh polling suggests that an emphasis on issues such as barring insurers from denying coverage because of preexisting conditions is a political winner, these officials also told skittish senators, and could increase support for health-care overhaul among independents, women, seniors, and rural voters.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to discuss details of the closed-door session that took place hours before senators headed home for a month's vacation.

In the week since the House recessed, several town-hall-style meetings have been disrupted by noisy demonstrators. The episodes have drawn wide attention, and Republicans have seized on them as well as polls showing a decline in support for President Obama and his agenda as evidence that public support is lacking for his signature legislation.

Pushing back, Democrats have accused Republicans of sanctioning mob tactics, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) accused protesters of trying to sabotage the democratic process.

The Republican Party says it is not behind the protests, but Reid scoffed at the notion the protesters reflect grass-roots sentiment, and he held up a piece of artificial turf.

"These are nothing more than destructive efforts to interrupt a debate that we should have, and are having," he said. "They are doing this because they don't have any better ideas. . . . They're taking their cues from talk-show hosts, Internet rumor-mongers . . . and insurance rackets."

Republicans answered back.

"All the polls show there is serious concern, if not outright opposition, to the president's health-care plan," said Antonia Ferrier, spokeswoman for House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R., Ohio). "Democrats are ginning up this cynical shell game."

Also yesterday, the AFL-CIO said it would mobilize labor activists to attend town-hall meetings in 50 congressional districts this month to counter the conservative protesters.

White House aides David Axelrod and Jim Messina traveled to the Capitol for their presentation to Democratic senators. Senators saw videos of disruptions at events held by House members, and were told to organize their events more carefully as well as work with labor unions and other friendly groups to generate enthusiasm.

They also were urged to use these events to stress insurance reforms such as a limit on out-of-pocket expenses for people by insurance, a ban on coverage cancellation for the seriously ill, and protections for small businesses.

Messina, the deputy White House chief of staff, also said that any advertising attack would be met with a bigger response, these officials said.

White House aides distributed briefing materials explaining to senators how to answer commonly asked questions.

"It's a challenge, no question about it, and you've got to get out there and make the case," Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D., Conn.) said. "This is not the time for the faint-hearted."