Mis-Communicator of the Week: Indiana Republican Party

If you think the future of the NHS is contentious - a debate mired in mistruths and a sensible way forward blocked by entrenched beliefs - have a look at what's going on in the United States.

After last year's elections the US has never seemed so polarised, arguably since its disagreements resulted in a long and costly civil war.

Now rifts run deep over the actions of President Trump and his bid to overturn much of what President Obama introduced during his time at the White House.

Traditional or, as its critics refer to it, mainstream media, cover the debates from their own points of view while a constant chatter on social media stokes the fires and ramps up the heat.

The Indiana Republic Party sought to take advantage of this and use the power - if not necessarily the wisdom - of the crowd to provide case studies to back up their bid to wipe away President Obama's time in office.

The push to highlight the failings of the Affordable Care Act - known as Obamacare after its chief sponsor - comes at a time when the Republicans are attempting to get their own healthcare bill passed in America's upper chamber.

The tactic, a direct response to those who oppose the changes, who have been providing a succession of powerful case studies of people who either benefitted from Obamacare, or would lose out if the Republican law was passed.

Let's be honest a compelling story of cancer survival trumps some gout ridden senator arguing for efficiency savings.

In posts on Facebook and Twitter they asked:

"Did you lose a doctor you liked? Have your premiums gone up? Did your insurer leave the exchange? Let us know your Obamacare horror story."

As with many of these attempts by campaigning organisations it has backfired badly. Many of the respondents flooded them with stories about how the healthcare law has positively affected their lives.

Subsequently this response has been picked up by the national media as well as becoming a rallying point for many on social media. It's embarrassed the Republicans as the vote on the law change draws near and undermined other campaigning efforts.

Which all adds up to making the Indiana Republican Party my Mis-Communicators of the Week.

Mis-Communicator of the Week is written by Edward Staite.