TYT: WH Puts Insurance Exec In Charge Of Implementing Health Care Reform

[The Northerner]

Run time: 06:33 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtJ9j-rJbic   Posted on YouTube: July 24, 2010 By YouTube Member: TheYoungTurks Views on YouTube: 4577   Posted on DU: July 27, 2010 By DU Member: The Northerner Views on DU: 784

 

[johnnyplankton]

1. Let's check all the sources. Lately, I've gotten as bad

as a Fox viewer, accepting everything I read here as Gospel. I found this article online:

Responding to the argument that the administration could have filled the HHS position with someone as qualified as Fowler but without the baggage, Ron Pollack, Founding Executive Director of the pro-reform Families USA, called the Huffington Post to say the following: The whole process of implementation is a very difficult one and will require complex decisions. Number one, she is as competent as anybody to make sure that the implementation is done effectively. And, secondly, her sense of purpose is really protective of consumers and even though she worked at WellPoint I think that actually sensitized her further in terms of the needs that consumers have for protection. I don’t know of anybody who I would think is more competent thoughtful and helpful in taking on the tasks now in front of Department of Health and Human Services. I would have rejoiced had she had an even higher position.

[xocet]

2. Interesting...

It is interesting that you decry sloppiness and then exhibit exactly that trait.

"Let's check all the sources."

Ok. How about providing a link to what you claim is an article that you found on the internet? Here are a pair of articles that back-up the TYT video's main claim:

http://www.americablog.com/2010/07/obama-embeds-liz-fowler-edition.html

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_4a5924b4-8ed7-11df-93ce-001cc4c03286.html

Beyond this, it remains to be seen if she will be effective in her new position.

Lastly, I have a hard time believing exactly how intellectually lazy some people on this board are. It is as if they have never had to present an argument along with the sources that allowed them their conclusions. Do you really not see what you typed in your post as incomplete? Amazing.

[JTFrog]

3. Here's link if you really want it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/16/white-house-defends-hirin_n_649237.html?page=3&show_comment_id=53997547#comment_53997547

~~~

On that point, Brian is certainly right: Fowler is well within the ethical boundaries to serve as an Obama White House employee. Not only did she never lobby, she has not worked at WellPoint for more than two years. Unlike other controversial hires, she doesn't require a waiver to serve in the administration. Moreover, her defenders on the Hill and in the administration insist that she hated her time at the insurance giant, left explicitly because the industry was fighting reform efforts, and urged Baucus to get tough on insurers when he was crafting reform.

"Everyone knows that Liz wasn't happy at WellPoint because they were opposing reform," said an administration official. "She certainly doesn't look fondly upon her time there and it is certainly safe to say when she talked about it she didn't have warm feelings to the company," added a senior Senate Democratic aide."

"Anyone who tries to paint Liz Fowler as an industry front person is flat out wrong," said Rep. Pete Stark, Chairman, Ways and Means Health Subcommittee. "She worked for me when I chaired the Joint Economic Committee and I know her well. Yes, she worked briefly for Wellpoint. However, the other perspective on that time is that she gathered insider information there that is now being used to better regulate the insurance industry. Having Liz join the Obama Administration as they work to implement health reform is a real win for consumers - not the health insurance industry."

~~~

"I worked very closely with her," said Michelle Nawar, director of legislation at the SEIU labor union. "SEIU worked very closely with her, and we have no doubt that Liz puts the interest of consumers first. One, she is a person of incredible integrity. The people critiquing her -- I'm not sure how many times they have talked or met her -- but those who have, know her passion is about getting affordable health care to every person in this country. Moreover, she is intimately familiar with how this bill was written."

The part the poster referenced above is an update at the end of the article.

[xocet]

5. Thanks for the link...

The article is an interesting read.

[GOTV]

4. "protective of consumers" - bullshit

No one would be protective of consumers when they know that there are fat checks in their future for being protective of companies now.