Cronkite aids push by group opposed to new Medicare law [View All]

[Robbien]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Opponents of the new Medicare prescription drug law have recruited Walter Cronkite for a campaign that highlights what they see as the law's shortcomings. Cronkite, the 87-year-old broadcasting legend, appears in and narrates an 11-minute video that the non-profit Families USA plans to send to 10,000 senior citizen centers and retirement communities to explain changes in Medicare.

"Instead of doing a tax-financed 30-second political ad that uses actors, we use one of the most respected journalists in America and provide detailed information about the new law," executive director Ron Pollack said in an interview.

Families USA plans to spend $500,000 on the campaign, which also will include events in two dozen cities, Pollack said. The group worked closely with congressional Democrats who tried to defeat the Medicare legislation last year.

The Bush administration is spending more than $12 million on a television, radio, newspaper and Internet campaign in support of the law and an additional $10 million on a mailing to each of the nation's 40 million older and disabled Americans.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-02-25-cronkite_x.htm