"The Facts About John McCain's Health Care Plan" a Blockbuster in Swing States

 WASHINGTON, DC -- More than 250,000 copies of the DVD "The Facts about John McCain's Health Care Plan" have been put in the hands of the nation's seniors in recent weeks, courtesy of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The DVD reveals John McCain's shameful record on senior health care, including:

• Voting against helping seniors afford the prescription drugs they need,
• Cutting funding for the senior safety nets like Medicare and Medicaid, and
• Designing a plan that would deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. 

Working with the Alliance for Retired Americans, SEIU distributed the 13-minute DVD produced by Robert Greenwald's Brave New Films in a number of unique ways:

• SEIU's Americans for Health Care chapters went door-to-door to give seniors the DVD and talk with them about the candidates' health care plans.
• SEIU retiree chapters and Alliance for Retired Americans coalitions hosted house parties for friends and family to view the DVD and discuss the election.
• SEIU mailed the DVD to targeted swing-voting senior households across the country.  Senoirs also received calls urging them to consider health care when voting from Cathy Stoddart, a registered nurse from Mingo Junction, Ohio, who is featured in the film. 

"After every house party or coffee event that I play the film, someone always asks me how they can get a copy to show to their friends who are still undecided so they too can understand why our country cannot risk our future with John McCain," said Lisa Tilson, SEIU political and senior coordinator for Florida. "This is probably one of the hottest movies playing in the Sunshine State right now because I'm giving out copies as fast as I get them in."

"With America's economy in crisis, employment rates skyrocketing, home foreclosures rising and retirement savings dropping, the last thing seniors need is to have their health care safety net put in jeopardy," said SEIU Secretary-Treasure Anna Burger. "John McCain is trying to pull the old Washington bait and switch: promise voters tax credits to pay for health care before the election while he hides the massive tax increases and budget cuts he is planning to get it done."

A two-minute trailer of the film can be seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G130votm_5Q.

"The Facts about John McCain's Health Care Plan" DVD is part of SEIU's long-range and widespread campaign to ensure that every man, woman and child in America has quality, affordable and accessible health care.  In the final weeks of this election, SEIU is making sure voters understand the difference between John McCain and Barack Obama's health care plans. On Monday, SEIU began airing a new television ad, "Worried Sick," in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to underscore the deep concerns working families have about health care.  SEIU members are also knocking on doors and sharing a new, side-by-side comparison of the health care proposals as well as reaching out over the phone to one million union and non-union health care workers with information about the candidates' plans.