Being forced to pay for abortion because of the secrecy of coverage is anti-choice – and, really, it’s also un-American. A new social media event seeks to highlight this and bring about change.
“Tell @Sebelius to #BeTransparent. Why won’t #Obamacare tell us which plans include #abortion?” says the sample tweet that is one of many for the Oct. 30 event, TweetFest: Tell Sebelius to #BeTransparent about Abortion Coverage in Obamacare, which takes place at a computer, tablet or smartphone nearest to you between 9 a.m. and noon next Wednesday.
In 2013, one of the surest ways to draw attention to an important issue is by tweeting. Those sometimes silly #hashtags are a powerful media tool, often reaching millions of people, like an interwebs rainstorm. This social media phenomenon is one reason “tweetfests” are growing in popularity.
Tweets like the one above are created to draw attention to the deception shrouding abortion coverage in the Affordable Care Act, aka ObamaCare. Sponsored by the Life Blast Prolife Social Media Project, and hosted by a number of pro-life agencies, this event is demanding transparency for the public on the issue of abortion coverage in ObamaCare, so that pro-lifers have a choice on which exchanges to purchase.
The tweets focus on Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, as well as a bill before Congress, “H.R. 3279: Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2013,” which would require “disclosure of extent of health plan coverage of abortion and abortion premium surcharges” so everyone will know if his or her health insurance plan purchase is specifically being assessed an abortion surcharge.
It’s disappointing that we have to have congressional bills to allow true freedom of choice, but organizers of the tweetfest are hoping the social media effort will help pass the bill. Pro-choicers constantly demand choice as the highest value that exists, and this tweetfest highlights the need for choice – for pro-lifers. Real choice means that everyone has one.
It’s easy to be involved, and Life Blast has even crafted tweets and listed handles so it can be done automatically.
The hashtag for the event is #BeTransparent, and the goal is to get this trending – where it shows up as the most popular hashtags – on Twitter so that the media and public notice what’s happening. Seeking to be in the top-10 hashtags, they need your help. Though the event itself is next Wednesday, it’s important to start promoting it now. Share the event on social media. Organizers are asking people to tell their friends, notify their e-mail lists, do whatever they need to to ensure widespread involvement.
Here are some sample tweets, given by the event coordinators, which you can view on Facebook and read more about as well.
If u want to pick an #Obamacare plan without #abortion, 2 bad b/c the exchanges won’t give you that information #BeTransparent
If u buy a plan with #abortion, must pay an abortion surcharge, but #Obamacare won’t tell you which plans include abortion #BeTransparent
Tell Congress to #BeTransparent & pass #HR3279 so consumers can find out if they have to pay a #Obamacare #abortion surcharge
#Obamacare exchanges hide #abortion surcharge. Why won’t @Sebelius #BeTransparent?
Why is @Sebelius refusing to #BeTransparent about which #Obamacare plans include #abortion coverage?
It’s hard enough to use the website, why won’t you say which plans cover #abortion? #BeTransparent
Why do I have to buy my plan to find out what’s in it? Just tell me which ones cover #abortion! #BeTransparent
600 million for a website and you can’t even tell me whether #abortion is covered?! Was that extra? #BeTransparent
What’s the big secret? Just tell us which plans include #abortion! #BeTransparent
Most transparent admin. ever? Then why won’t you tell me whether my plan covers #abortion? #BeTransparent
Wondering to whom these tweets should be directed? The event also lists some people to tweet.
@Sebelius
@HHSgov
@Obamacare
@MarylandConnect
@WAplanfinder (Washington)
@HealthSourceRI (Rhode Island)
@DCHealthLink (District of Columbia)
@CoveredCA (California)
Twitter handles for Insurance Exchanges: http://bit.ly/HIX-Twitter
The event hosts include:
– Americans United for Life
– Susan B. Anthony List
– Stand True Pro-life Outreach
– Pro-Life Action League
For more information and to keep up with what’s happening, join the event on Facebook.
