Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate

Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (Full Version)

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Musicmystery -> Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/14/2009 3:22:39 PM)
"WASHINGTON — In the official record of the historic House debate on overhauling health care, the speeches of many lawmakers echo with similarities. Often, that was no accident. "Statements by more than a dozen lawmakers were ghostwritten, in whole or in part, by Washington lobbyists working for Genentech, one of the world’s largest biotechnology companies. "E-mail messages obtained by The New York Times show that the lobbyists drafted one statement for Democrats and another for Republicans. "The lobbyists, employed by Genentech and by two Washington law firms, were remarkably successful in getting the statements printed in the Congressional Record under the names of different members of Congress. "Genentech, a subsidiary of the Swiss drug giant Roche, estimates that 42 House members picked up some of its talking points — 22 Republicans and 20 Democrats, an unusual bipartisan coup for lobbyists." Link to complete story: In House Record, Many Spoke With One Voice: Lobbyists’

dcnovice -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/14/2009 3:26:59 PM)
Sad thing is, this doesn't really surprise me.

Lorr47 -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/14/2009 3:41:25 PM)
Wendall Potter, the born again health care executive, exposed how they parrot the line. Wendall played the speeches of all the high ranking republicans and the verbiage was virtually identical to the blurb the health care industry sent out to them. They did not even have the courtesy to change the language or the vary the sequence.

Musicmystery -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/15/2009 11:33:56 AM)
And yet, many of the populace then parrot the industry's line as well. It's both scary and ludicrous--as if people think the health care industry should run the government.

popeye1250 -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/15/2009 12:29:40 PM)
This is why we need to outlaw lobbyists. They can sit at their kitchen tables and write a letter to congressmen and senators just like I and many other Americans do. All of those congressmen are taking "payola" GRAFT from them! Or, the Republican or Democratic National Committees get a check in the mail after "their" legislation passes! It's the same way for "foreign aid" and any number of things. The "special interests" are forming our policies not the American People! Envelopes stuffed with cash, free vacations, gifts etc. This is CORRUPTION plain and simple!

Musicmystery -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/15/2009 1:09:51 PM)
It's amazing to me that people don't realize business will use partisan bickering to their advantage. You take the circumstances you find, work with them, and sell your agenda to the electorate. Then convince them it was their idea and that it helps keep the wolf from the door.

popeye1250 -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/15/2009 1:15:35 PM)
Music, I think a judge ruled a few years back that "money" consituted "free speech" in politics! WTF was he thinking!?

Musicmystery -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/15/2009 1:19:06 PM)
Much as I hate it....that's reality. Advertising, in whatever form, restricted or not, is part of campaigning, and that will always favor the money.

HardHum -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/15/2009 4:06:57 PM)
I wish I was in Congress. Hookers and graft, baby. I want an aircraft carrier named after me too.

Musicmystery -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/16/2009 8:41:32 AM)
Ya know, though, I find this telling. If it's a partisan issue, posters get all fired up, for pages. Bipartisan? Not useful, so they shrug, when they should be outraged.

rulemylife -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/16/2009 9:02:57 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Musicmystery Ya know, though, I find this telling. If it's a partisan issue, posters get all fired up, for pages. Bipartisan? Not useful, so they shrug, when they should be outraged. You are right about that, but the reason is people feel as if they can make a difference by supporting certain issues within their party. I wholeheartedly agree that lobbying is probably the major problem in our government. But people don't get fired up because it appears to be a futile issue. First, you are going to have everyone screaming about First Amendment rights. Second, in order to curb this, by term limits or whatever other solution you can think of, you are going to have to convince the very people who are benefiting from it to pass the legislation.

Musicmystery -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/16/2009 9:07:11 AM)
Seems with all the yelling about health care reform debate, people might be a tad ticked when it's not really a debate. The futile part is the partisan bickering. All things Dem are bad. All things Rep are bad. All Reps not hard-line Conservatives are bad. And while they bicker, business proceeds as usual.

rulemylife -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/16/2009 9:20:03 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Musicmystery Seems with all the yelling about health care reform debate, people might be a tad ticked when it's not really a debate. The futile part is the partisan bickering. All things Dem are bad. All things Rep are bad. All Reps not hard-line Conservatives are bad. And while they bicker, business proceeds as usual. Yeah, I'm ticked, but this has been going on in Washington for a very long time. And when it tries to be reigned in, as with McCain-Feingold, you then have those same companies and organizations mounting a massive disinformation campaign as they are doing with health care now. Sorry, I'm having a cynical day today.

Musicmystery -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/16/2009 6:41:46 PM)
But so has partisan bickering. Seems people like the bickering, and don't care so much about the influence. It's a mystery.

subfever -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/16/2009 9:32:34 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Musicmystery Ya know, though, I find this telling. If it's a partisan issue, posters get all fired up, for pages. Bipartisan? Not useful, so they shrug, when they should be outraged. Yes, I've pointed out the futility of the right vs left paradigm several times on these boards. I've come to the conclusion that most people either don't want or expect solutions. They bicker primarily for entertainment value, showmanship, one-upmanship, ego boosting, etc. A study of this board and others like it clearly demonstrates why it's so easy for those at the top of the food chain to remain on top. In short... don't expect any real change in the manner of which government and business operates. Collectively, we're not smart enough yet. For the forseeable future, we'll continue to be easily manipulated through our emotions.

rulemylife -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/17/2009 12:28:20 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Musicmystery But so has partisan bickering. Seems people like the bickering, and don't care so much about the influence. It's a mystery. No, I don't agree. Partisanship may be distasteful to some but it is the primary thing keeping each party somewhat honest.

popeye1250 -> RE: Lobbyists wrote Congressional speeches for health care debate (11/17/2009 12:37:25 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Musicmystery But so has partisan bickering. Seems people like the bickering, and don't care so much about the influence. It's a mystery. It is.

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