“Obama is cutting $700 billion in Medicare WASTE. He is not cutting benefits, period.” “Republicans want you to think Medicare benefits are being cut and that is a lie.” [THEN, IF TIME PERMITS: The claim that Obama “stole” from the Medicare Trust Fund is an outrageous lie (and someone like Ed Gillespie should know better). In fact, some of the savings is being used for Medicare beneficiaries to fill the “donut hole” in drug coverage, and to make free preventive care available. These have already gone into effect, and 16 million seniors have already taken advantage of that. Some is also being used to extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund. To say that benefits are being cut is a lie. These were unjustifiable costs, including a Republican giveaway to insurance companies that President Bush signed.”

The key is to get that first two sentences in. Republicans are hitting that falsehood heavy, and Democrats need to shoot it down quickly in commercials. Commercials need to hit the “lie” part of it hard, too — not just defend, but counterattack very big. Behind the scenes, journalists should be getting the full court press on shooting this down as well.