Blue Dog Opposition May Be 'Underwritten' by Pharmaceutical Giants

[Hissyspit]

Source: Raw Story

Blue Dog opposition may be ‘underwritten’ by pharmaceutical giants

BY JOHN BYRNE

Published: July 31, 2009
Updated 4 hours ago

Typical “Blue Dog” Democrats — moderate members of Congress who have been the most ardent among Obama’s own party in thwarting ongoing national healthcare legislation — receive 25 percent more campaign cash from the healthcare and insurance industry than other Democrats, an investigation has found.

In fact, a Blue Dog’s average receipts from the medical industry was just $3,625 less than that of the average Republican. Republicans have worked to block plans to enact universal health insurance legislation, saying that it would restrict individual choice and lead to the rationing of medical care.

- snip -

Notably, the Blue Dog Political Action Committee has received lavish financial support from pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Novartis; insurers WellPoint and Northwestern Mutual and the trade group American’s Health Insurance Plans.

- snip -

“PAC fundraising has increased in every cycle since the Blue Dogs founding in 1995,” the watchdog Center for Public Integrity writes. “Between the 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 cycles, as fundraising for the National Republican Congressional Committee declined 33 percent and fundraising for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee grew by just 26 percent, the Blue Dog PAC more than doubled its receipts. In all, 357 political action committees donated to the Blue Dog PAC in 2007-2008, up from 223 in the previous cycle.”

Read more: http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/07/31/blue-dog-donations-health-reform/

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Both Mike Ross (D-AR) and his wife own/work for pharmaceutical companies.

[rhett o rick]

2. I resent any reference to the Blue Cross Dogs as moderates. They are turn-coat traitors worse than

republicans.

[rateyes]

6. WORSE than Republicans?

I thought that "turn-coat traitors" was the definition of "Republicans." And, that's who, IMO, Blue Cross Dogs are--fucking turn-coat traitor Repubublicans (and, pardon the redundancy).

[glinda]

13. as bad as

[tinrobot]

15. Worse because they've been entrusted with power

Republicans don't get to chair committees.

[rhett o rick]

25. Blue Cross Dogs are worse because you think they are your friends.

Friends that betray you are worse than your enemy. republicans at least don't pretend to side with you.

[saigon68]

18. Similar to Joementum Losermann (R)-Conn

A wall street Butt Boy

[Captain Hilts]

3. The Wash Post still has some good reporters and they wrote a good story this morning...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/30/AR2009073004267.html

On June 19, Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas made clear that he and a group of other conservative Democrats known as the Blue Dogs were increasingly unhappy with the direction that health-care legislation was taking in the House.

"The committees' draft falls short," the former pharmacy owner said in a statement that day, citing, among other things, provisions that major health-care companies also strongly oppose.

Five days later, Ross was the guest of honor at a special "health-care industry reception," one of at least seven fundraisers for the Arkansas lawmaker held by health-care companies or their lobbyists this year, according to publicly available invitations.

[Jester Messiah]

4. "may be" ...? [nt]

[unblock]

5. ++

[boobooday]

7. This needs to be the lead story, but it won't be

because the only people more dependent on big pharma dollars are the major media networks.

[rateyes]

8. There's no "may be" about it. Blue Dogs are bought and paid for

by corporations.

[newfie11]

9. Gee why am I not surprised!!!!!!n/t

[stlsaxman]

10. As TYT's Cenk Yugur would say... "Of coooouuuuuurse!

"May" be underwritten??? well, BIG duh, there!

[dmosh42]

11. How about Kennedy and Kerry? n/t

[jmondine]

12. Ya think!?

[glinda]

14. cutting out Insurance Industries and Big Pharma will cut funding to them and the Repubs.

All the more reason to go for a huge public health care over haul.

[LeftHander]

16. I love how GOP can get talking points published anywhere....

"...saying that it would restrict individual choice and lead to the rationing of medical care..."

Jesus Christ what crap.

[IndianaGreen]

17. It is our fault for voting these POS to office

We should never contribute time, money, effort, or votes for people that won't fight for our interests.

[defendandprotect]

21. Yes, but the DLC recruited these Blue Dogs . . .

[Lord Helmet]

28. Rahm Emanuel's pet project.

Assholes one and all.

[Selatius]

29. In a two-party system, you are often forced to vote between a Democrat and a Republican.

If the Democrat is a Blue Dog, you are SOL, and if you vote for a Green Party candidate, you get the blame whenever the Republican narrowly wins.

[TexasObserver]

19. Recommend

[defendandprotect]

20. Wow .... these are Emmanuel's Blue Dogs . . . and he's still hatching little blue eggs!!

[KoKo]

22. Kick!

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. These dogs need to be spayed and neutered... TRULY

[donheld]

24. Duh!

[rhett o rick]

26. Please do not donate your money to the Democratic Party, choose the specific candidate you support

and send them money directly. Money donated to the Party will be given to the Blue Cross turncoat Democrat bastards.

[WillyT]

27. Assholes

:mad:

:puke: