6A - Tuesday, October 19. 2010 * Jackson County Floridan NATIONwwwJCF AN.com Rare political species: Dems who tout health law WASHINGTON - It happens so rarely, it makes news: A few Democratic candidates have start- ed to run television ads daring to defend President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Most Democrats are trying to avoid campaigning on what should have been the party's signature issue, but the lonely bunch who've stuck their necks out may finally be hitting on a message. Some are using constituents to vouch for specific benefits that only recently took effect, changes whose poll- tested popularity isn't in question. The argument won't stop on Nov. 2. Democrats will have to keep defending the health care law in the next Congress and on into the 2012 presidential and congres- sional campaign. And they badly need to find their voice with a mes- sage that can connect with middle- class voters. "One thing has helped them," said Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster. "On Sept. 23, a bunch of benefits went into effect, and Democrats had something real to talk about as opposed to theoreti- cal. If they don't talk about it, they'll get attacked, so they might as well put out their own point of view." The law's big coverage expan- sion to more than 30 million unin- sured people doesn't come until 2014, along with a complete ban on insurers turning away those with medical problems. But peo- ple now renewing their plan for next year are already starting to see some benefits, including pre- ventive services without copay- ments and coverage for young adults up to age 26 on a parent's policy. There's no authoritative tally of the ads run by Democrats on health care, but a rough count sug- gests that those who voted against the law are advertising it more than those who supported its hard- fought passage. At least a dozen Democrats have taken pains in their ads to remind constituents that they voted "No." Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., labeled the plan "Obamacare," adopting the disparaging term Republicans are fond of. And Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., has a new ad that says "he stood up to (Speaker Nancy) Pelosi and Washington insiders and voted against their health care overhaul." Still, at least seven Democrats have run ads in favor of the new law. Most are in competitive races, and more are cropping up. They have common themes. Almost all attempt to link Republican opponents to the health insurance industry. They focus on benefits already in effect, such as protection for children against being denied coverage because of medical problems, and some use constituents in cameo appearances. A template of sorts is an ad by embattled Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., first aired around the beginning of the month. It hits all the themes, and finishes with con- stituents telling his opponent busi- nessman Ron Johnson: "Hands off my health care." Bring it on, say Republicans. "I'm all for letting Democrats spend their money defending a bill most people don't want," said Glen Bolger, a GOP pollster. "They are talking small-ball stuff, and the American people are look- ing at the big picture and not liking what they're seeing." Bolger says Republicans don't have to back off their "repeal and replace" slogan, even if Democrats are becoming .bolder about the issue. But Republicans may have to tweak the message. "You have to make it clear that there are certain elements of the bill that would be in the Republican plan as well," said Bolger. Translation: Small- ball can win a close game, too. It was eight months ago that Obama and his administration toasted passage of the health care bill - with champagne on the Truman balcony at the White House,- and Democrats boasted that voters would hail the law. The party saw it as an achievement that had eluded scores of presidents, and perhaps cost Democrats con- trol of Congress in President Bill Clinton's first midterms. Space shuttle Discovery leaking BY MARCIA DUNN ASSOCIATED PRESS CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space shuttle Discovery is leaking on the launch pad. If it isn't fixed soon, the small fuel leak could delay Discovery's planned launch on Nov. 1. The flight to the International Space Station will be Discovery's last. Shuttle engineers met Monday after- noon to put together a repair plan. Later Government asking for order delay BY JULIE WATSON ASSOCIATED PRESS RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A federal judge said on Monday that she is inclined to deny a government request to delay her order that immediately stopped the military from enforcing its ban on openly gay serv- ice members. U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips said she would review the arguments from Justice Department lawyers and issue a ruling Monday. If she rejects the request, the Justice Department could move to appeal at what experts say are likely to be more friendly venues: the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco and, ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court. "The further the decision gets from the presentation of evidence in the trial court, the more likely it is. that courts will assume the military must have some critically important interest at stake," said Diane Mazur, a law professor who oppos- es the policy. The military has prom- ised to abide by the injunc- tion against the "don't ask, don't tell" policy as long as her order remained in place. Government attorneys had asked Phillips for the temporarily halt while they appealed, saying that forc- ing an abrupt change of pol- icy could damage troop morale at a time of war. Phillips issued her land- mark ruling on Sept. 9, declaring the policy uncon- stitutional. She said the pol- icy violated due process rights, freedom of speech and the right to petition the government for redress of grievances guaranteed by the First Amendment. At the time, she asked both sides to give her input about an injunction. On Monday, Phillips called the government request "untimely," saying Justice Department lawyers had plenty of opportunity to modify her injunction before she ordered it last Tuesday. Phillips also said the gov- ernment did not present evi- dence at the trial to show how her order would cause irreparable harm to troops. Justice Department attor- ney Paul Freeborne told her the government had no rea- son to respond until her order came down. He said her nationwide injunction was unrealistic. "You're requiring the Department of Justice to implement a massive policy change, a policy change that may be reversed upon appeal," Freeborne told her. Visit us online at www.icfloridan.com Online: NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission pages/shuttle/main/index.html this week, technicians will tighten the bolts on the leaking fuel line. If that doesn't help, they may have to replace four seals or even part of the line. Last week, NASA replaced a cap in the system, but it did not stop the leak. The rocket fuel is used to maneuver the shuttle while it's in orbit , , . * 7~'7~; Special Factory Offer Available for Seniors Without BCIBS $2650 for Two Aids DeRamus Hearing Centers Minutes frm Biloxi And the Beautiful Gulf Coast Schedule an appointment and stave for a vacation! Now Location!, Grand Opening m- j^bie! iC Call Today 1-800-239340 . . . , , ; * . -- I . . .. WE BUY GOLD YOUR TRUSTED JEWELER FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS Expert atSO Expert Jewelry EJRS Watch Repair GEMOLOGISTS Repair Downtown Marianna 850-482-4037 .---