The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Drug Industry Pushes Out Dick Armey

AmSpecBlog

Drug Industry Pushes Out Dick Armey

By Doug Bandow on 8.15.09 @ 7:43AM

Alas, the pharmaceutical industry appears to have completed its switch to the Dark Side. Not only is it supporting a government takeover of health care, but it is sacrificing its one-time allies. Reports the New York Times:

Dick Armey, the former House Republican leader, has quit his job with the lobbying firm DLA Piper amid complaints from its drug company clients about his work opposing President Obama's health care overhaul.

His departure is the latest example of the confusing entanglements arising from the health care debate.

To review the facts of this case: the drug companies who helped defeat the Clinton administration health care effort 15 years ago have now turned on Mr. Armey, who then was one of their most important Congressional allies. Now, having cut a deal with this administration to limit their share of the costs, the drug companies are on the other side. Foreseeing new profits from the expansion of health coverage, they are spending as much as $150 million on advertisements to support the president's plan.

To their embarrassment, however, Mr. Armey has continued to oppose the plan as the chairman of the independent conservative group FreedomWorks. The group has helped turn out rowdy demonstrators at town-hall-style meetings with lawmakers around the country. And some liberal Web sites began connecting Mr. Armey's fight against the health care legislation to his other work for DLA Piper's drug company clients.

Government subversion of industry is not new with this particular battle. But it is another reason to redouble efforts to stop this attempt to turn even more decisions involving Americans' health care over to government.

And kudos to Dick Armey for standing firm.

What Dick doesn't want asked| 8.15.09 @ 3:32PM

Armey is one of the greats. When he isn't promoting "guestworker" programs that would end up giving the Dems even more power that is. Oh, and when his group isn't encouraging people to get angry at townhalls without encouraging them to focus their anger in a way that would be effective.

An effective anti-UHC question that Armey would not want his charges to ask is at my name's link. Compare that to what Armey's group encouraged people to do.

Liberal Reader| 8.15.09 @ 9:16PM

Yes, because when I think of pharmaceutical companies, I think of Luke Skywalker and Yoda.

Until now, they've always been the idealistic, rebellious warriors against the Death Star.

Now I guess that just leaves the Republican Party, all alone fighting for the little guy against the evil forces of the Empire ....

Another brilliant analysis, Bandow.

Pingback| 8.16.09 @ 10:45AM

…a wave of negative press for his grass-roots organization. … Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey speaks at the State Capitol. Photo: AP … The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Drug Industry Pushes Out … Dick Armey, the former House Republican leader, has quit his job with the lobbying firm DLA Piper amid complaints from its drug company clients about his…

Pingback| 8.16.09 @ 11:08AM

…the former House Republican leader, has quit his job with the lobbying firm DLA Piper amid complaints from its drug company clients about his work opposing President Obama's health care overhaul. Read more Share and Enjoy: This entry was posted on Sunday, August 16th, 2009 at 18:07 and is filed under trends. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or…

Pingback| 8.16.09 @ 11:08AM

G. A. Kevis| 8.15.09 @ 11:05AM

Let's just call a spade a spade.

We're witnessing the Pharma limousine fraternity
perennially expediently wheeling and dealing
against those clientele who make them rich:
drug-dependent clinger clunker masses.

Nothing new here.

Kelly| 8.15.09 @ 12:47PM

Maybe us seniors/greybeards should simply STOP BUYING our numerous prescriptions for maybe one month+, and maybe then the drug companies would WISE UP!!!!!!!!!!