Party sat down and looked at his voter base. I also covered demographics. American america is becoming majority minority country. The republicans found out that there voter base was lacking minorities. They sat down over the last couple of president ial elections and tried to come up with a plan to make their party more attractive to africanamerican, hispanic, and asian voters. Because historically africanAmerican Voters start out in the Republican Party. Started out with the Republican Party. They now want them to come back so they are out doing Grassroots Efforts to attempt to bring these voters back to the republican polls. Host that is in terms of numbers courtesy of the Census Department and published by the organization a growing black vote and in a comparison to what we saw in 2000 with 13 million casting their ballots in a president ial election in the 2,012th approaching 18 million growing. Guest right. One of the reasons behind that was the historic candidacy of barack obama but we are also seeing a growing number of minority voters and not in that election years so if things right now that the number of minority voters in america is increasing overall. And the Republican Party wants to get those votes on its side. The majority are going to dedicate the gop is making an effort to bring some of these votes to the republican side. Its still to be seen how effective these efforts are going to be. Host according to the Associated Press he mentioned and 2008 and 2012 when barack obama was leading to ballot through the overwhelming majority in 2012 and 90 and 23 voting for Democratic Candidates slightly less but still strong back in 200493 of the africanAmerican Voters cast their ballots for the democrat in that case and john kerry in 2004. Guest ever since the movement in the south, when the dixiecrat went from republican to democrat to republican ever since then, the africanamerican vote had been majority democrats. There are still black republicans out there. They are still out. They are active. But the overwhelming approach that we have is that most African Americans vote democrat and its going to be a difficult time right now for republicans to get change especially coming behind president barack obama speak ive candidacy in the white house. Now i went out with some republican candidates in georgia and they are starting at the grassroots level. They are going to churches and Community Centers to the black and hispanic businesspeople. They are starting basically from scratch and hoping to build up from the bottom. But that going to be a yearlong effort. Its not something that is going to change overnight. Thiovernight. Its a bit hard to see their efforts to be Effective Immediately in this upcoming midterm elections. One of the things we did see especially if you look at the Mississippi Republican primary where thad cochran was trying to win the gop Nomination Committee of africanamericans did turn out and vote in the primary. The question that we are not able to answer yet is dead they come out to vote republican or just to vote for mr. Cochran but we did see a high increase in the number of africanAmerican Voters in the primary. Host just tuning in or listening on cspan radio the guest covers the rate cut at the city and rate, fsb and demographic issues for the Associated Press. The question we are asking this morning apart from the economist can do a gop rule and forget American Voters annals of africanamerican candidates . This is a democrat that worked with president clinton as a speechwriter. The republicans pushing to restrict voting rates nationwide are banking on inattention by the american people. And bold and by the Supreme Court case limiting the reach of the 1965 Voting Rights act of visitorleaders have moved swifta number of states the early voting an and the sameday registration. Is that a paradox because often they are those that cast their ballots early according to a number of studies. Asked whether definitely is a paradox. They would want to make it as easy as possible to vote. A lot of republican operatives will tell you that even africanamericans are concerned about voter fraud and thats one of the issues they try to point out when they look at the voter id law. However one of the practical effects obviously is that it makes it harder for some people to vote. One of the things we have been looking at is whether this effort can boomerang. So if someone sees you if someone thinks that youre trying to take away their power to vote, that may make it even more intent to make sure they vote. Some people say that the voter id efforts could actually boomerang and bring more people to the polls to exercise the right than they would have otherwise. That is one of the things we have to keep our eye on when the Elections Come around in november. Host thinks free mature getting up early on a monday morning adding your perspective to the issue. We appreciate it. Thank you. Television talkshow host doctor oz defending the language and products he focuses on in his show. Comments came during the subcommittee hearing on the fraudulent weightloss. The advertising practice associate director with the ftc was among the witnesses. Senator mccaskill chairs the hearing. The witnesses can feel free to go ahead and take a seat and we will begin with some Opening Statements and then move to your testimony. The hearing will come to order. We have all heard and seen the ads promising quick and substantial weight loss if only you take this pill, drink this shake that use this device were applied to this cream. It seems to be good to be true and it is. We have a short clip of some of these ads that have run on television, online radio and in print that im going to play so its clear what we are talking about today. Its the amazing clinically proven sensation that you sprinkle on to take the weight off. Whether you need to lose 10 pounds, 50 pounds or more unannounced uk and without dieting. Simply sprinkle sensa on me all the food you love and watch the pounds come off. Its that easy. You do lose weight faster and easier than you ever dreamed possible. I lost over 120 pounds with sensa. This Scientists Say theyve found a cure for every body type. Its green coffee beans and when turned into a supplement, this pill can burn fat fast for anyone who wants to lose weight. Breaking news. Millions of you love coffee but now youre going to love it for a whole other reason. A new study revealed the coffee bean in its purest form may hold the secret secret to weight lost you have been waiting for. The study presents the largest society triggered unprecedented excitement. It showed women and men who took the green coffee extract with an astounding amount of fat and weight 17 pounds and 22 weeks by doing absolutely nothing extra in their day. Could this help melt away the unwanted pounds that you have been waiting for . We also have a satellite radio ad that we were going to play. There are lots of terrible ads on satellite radio. Its easy to understand why so many are willing to take a chance and ignore their instincts and belief in the claims like these. According to the most recent data from the center for Disease Control and prevention more than one third of American Adults are obese and 70 are either obese or overweight. This story of the epidemic is colored by thcovered by the surs that the zaire among americans to lose weight but consistently is failing to put in the effort to do so. In 2013 a survey showed that 51 of adults wanted to lose weight while 25 said they were seriously working towards that goal. The mismatch between american state of desire to shed weight and the lack of effort can perhaps explain the growth of the industry and the deceptive advertising for weightloss products. With so Many Americans are desperate for anything that might make it easier to lose weight it is no wonder scam artists have turned the 60 billiondollar weight loss market to make a quick buck. Sadly this is not a new problem. The federal trade commission filed its first case in 1927. They claimed in the true romance magazine that excess fat is literally dissolved away leaving the figure slim and properly rounded giving grace to the body that every man and woman desires. Since 1927 the ftc has filed more than 250 cases challenging false unproven weightloss claims including just this year the settlement announced in january and last month a complaint filed in federal court against the sellers of a green coffee settlement. More than one and had claims are in fact for the weightloss products. But the problem is much larger than any Enforcement Agency can tackle on its own. Private stakeholders, companies that sell weightloss products, Media Outlets and other advertising platforms as well as consumer watchdogs must all do their part to help address this problem. Media outlets and advertising problems in particular server is a critical gatekeeper wellpositioned to keep false advertising from reaching consumers. I appreciate who represent the platforms being here today to discuss the recent report on this issue, th the challenges Online Companies face in addressing the false deceptive advertising and what more they can do. But the problem is not limited to the internet and preparing for this hearing my staff reached out to a variety of Media Companies across all mediums to understand the industry practices and screenings and monitoring advertising. I find it troubling that broadcast satellite witnesses asked to be here today were not willing to appear. Going to appear. To me this indicates there is something to hide what they dont have a good story to tell. Either way, we will not be effective in addressing this problem until all stay coders take it seriously. Like in virtually any other industry there are good actors and bad actors. We will hear in the council for nutrition to trade association for the dietary supplement industry and the Better BusinessBureau Advertising selfregulatory counseled about industrys efforts to police itself. We will also hear from the medical doctor and a host of a very popular daytime show that frequently airs the segments on weightloss issues and products and that is frequently cited in the advertisements used to market the product. I will have tough questions for you today about the role in tangible or not in perpetuating these scams. When you feature the product on your show it creates what has become known as the effect reducing sales and driving at the scam artists to pop up overnight using false deceptive ads. While i understand your message is also focused on the basics like ill be eating and exercise im concerned that your advice and entertainment in the way that harms consumers. The subcommittee has looked at a number of scams affecting consumers and in most of the cases they resulted in financial loss which can certainly be devastating but what makes the weightloss scam standout is the model may result in financial losses but they can potentially for the Consumers Health at risk. I hope to hear suggestions to be about how we can better in Power Consumers with the tools and knowledge needed to awful victims to weightloss scams and with more stakeholders can and should be doing to keep the weightloss ads from reaching consumers in the first place. I look forward to hearing from the Witnesses Today and i think you all for being here. Spec thank you for holding this hearing regarding the weightloss industry and i want to thank all the witnesses for taking time for being here also. We all know that Weight Management is an interest to Many Americans and probably should have politicians to that. Itcertainly the 65,000,002,015 alone in one estimate. And demand are attempting to improve their health and lifestyles it seems to me that many and perhaps even most of the products and services are legitimate making i this possibe substantiated representation by Health Benefits and other claims. But unlike any other marketplace, there are bad actors in the base that makes widely a runny as claims about the products. There are also fraudsters and those that seize upon the fans. The key to the weightloss is a combination of diet and exercise. A person would be suspect of a weight loss cure our miracle pill. That being said i can understand how a person may question their own assumptions when a person who they belief has credibility on the issue makes a claim about any particular product. Thats why im pleased we are joined today by ms. Mary engel is the associate director of the advertising practices within the ftc bureau of Consumer Protection. I applaud the work to shut down the scam artists and look forward to learning more about the commissions success this year in bringing the series of cases under the agencys existing section authority. Against a number of Companies Engaged in deceptive advertising of weightloss products. Also look forward to hearing about how the commission is applying its reasonable basis standard for substantiated Health Claims including weightloss and what it considers to be reliable evidence. Its pursued more in the recent degrees and an open question whose requirements are made to apply or the ftc followed the procedural requirements to apply new standards and whether the standard is consistent with constitutional protection of free speech. I would also like to welcome doctor oz today. The show debuted in 2009 which is roughly 3 Million Viewers every day. I look forward to hearing from doctor oz on what steps hes taking to ensure the information he shares in conversations he moderates provides accurate claims. We are informed doesnt endorse particular products and hes been the subject of a scrupulous entity using his image in advertising without his permission. However private transfer products and the spike after they are featured in his show. When the celebrity doctor mentioned the sales rose by 12000 and it rose by 42000 . It is this popularity that may have influenced the company to enter the markets and the green coffee bean extraction as referred to as a magic weightloss cure and a miracle pill that can burn fat fast. This company is now the subject of an enforcement action brought by the ftc and is currently pending. Depending the unfair deceptive claims with regards to this product. I would also like to welcome our other witnesses from the Better Business bureau mr. Stephen of the council for responsible electrician, mr. Rob and doctor daniel of the National Products association. Thank all of you for taking the time to be here today. Thank you madam chair for holding this hearing and i look forward to the testimony and answers to some of the questions michael did a great job of introducing everyone. Ms. Mary is the associate director of the advertising Practices Bureau of Consumer Protection at the federal trade commission here in washington. Doctor oz vice chairman and professor of surgery Columbia University college of the physicians anphysiciansand surge doctor oz show. The president and ceo of advertising selfregulatory Council ExecutiveVice President david copresident from new york. Mr. Stephen president and ceo of the council for responsible nutrition based in washington mr. Robert carol carols and in h executive director of trust and agriculture. Org and doctor daniel executiv executive direcd ceo of National Products association. And we will begin with your testimony. We will have you on a clock that im sure you understand. I know you understand about the clock. But we are not strict about that if you need to go over by a few minutes we will not have a problem. Keep in mind of the entiret thee testimony that you would like to sub it will be included in the official rug. Welcome. Good morning madam chair and members of the committee in the associate director for the practices of the federal trade commission and im pleased to have this opportunity to provide information regarding the ftc efforts to combat the fraudulent weightloss advertising. As you know, the United States is facing an obesity epidemic. Nearly 70 of u. S. Adults are overweight or obese. Weight and obesity are major contributors to chronic disease and Health Care Costs and present a serietopresent a seric health challenges. So it isnt surprising that there is a strong interest in the products that claim to promote weight loss. Unfortunately where there is a strong consumer interest, for often follows. In the ftc 2011 survey of Consumer Fraud count of more consumerout moreconsumers were f fraudulent weightloss products than any of the other specific fraud that we surveyed. Despite the boom in the industry there exists very little Scientific Evidence that pills and supplements alone can help a significant amount of weight. Scientists agree the foundation of the successful weight loss is