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The Spectacle Blog
Tim Carney of the Washington Examiner details how President Barack Obama used health care “reform” to enrich special interests—despite his loud claims to the contrary. Writes Carney:
“Tonight,” President Obama intoned near midnight Sunday, after the House had passed two health care bills, “we pushed back on the undue influence of special interests. … We proved that this government — a government of the people and by the people — still works for the people.”
But even before the president spoke, the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America — whose $26.1 million lobbying effort in 2009 was the most expensive by any industry lobby in history — hailed the health package as “important and historic.”
The second-biggest industry lobby in America, the American Medical Association, also cheered, as did the American Hospital Association, the No. 5 industry lobby. Throw in the goliath senior lobby AARP and Beltway powerhouse General Electric, and you realize Obama’s underdog tale is all bark and no bite.
The health care bill Obama signed into law Tuesday is a triumph for the special interests. It will benefit the biggest businesses, and by injecting more government into the economy, it will permanently stimulate K Street.
It’s time for the people to assert their interests. Come November, they will have an opportunity to do so.
View all comments (33) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Doug Bandow
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/03/24/obama-pays-off-special-interes
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Becky| 3.24.10 @ 9:31AM
The genius of Newt's contract with America was that without the formality of a promise to behave, politicians use voters to make themselves look legitimate. Unlike the elected, who can renig, the voter's are stuck until the next election; we cannot rescind our vote. If we could, it seems he and Michelle would miss harvest time in the White House Garden this year. The next election, if there is a change in parties still does not make it easy to undo damage that has already been done, and the voters know that, especially in light of comments by Cornyn.
Obama's promises come with expiration dates and coupled with so many in the press to give legitimacy only to the fact he was elected make the PROCESS important.
Jon B| 3.24.10 @ 12:19PM
The true genius of Newt's "contract" is that people think it had anything to do with the economic recovery of the 90's when, in fact, Republicans spent $30 billion more than Clinton requested, and increased spending by 13% that the "Contract" proposed to cut. This way, generations may later extend the lie that the "Contract" was in any way responsible for the economic recovery when it was only really window dressing.
Indiana Alex| 3.24.10 @ 12:43PM
Yeah, this is why Clinton shut down the government, because Republicans wanted to spend too much and he wanted more cuts.
What an idiot troll.
Jon B| 3.24.10 @ 1:26PM
Read what the President of the CATO institute, Edward Crane, has to say about Newt's contract: http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=4463
"...Over the past three years the Republican-controlled Congress has approved discretionary spending that exceeded Bill Clinton's requests by more than $30 billion...(Republicans are) outspending the White House when it comes to education...the combined budgets of the 95 major programs that the Contract with America promised to eliminate have increased by 13%."
I troll for truth. You seem to troll to support your biases and anger.
Indiana Alex| 3.24.10 @ 2:14PM
The government shut down came in 1996. The article you site is dated November of 1999.
What exactly is your truth?
Jon B| 3.24.10 @ 3:01PM
That shutdown was over a difference of opinion over funding several agencies. Since Republican policies and budgets have created 5 times more of the debt than Democrats, what does that have to do with Republican spending overall?
Nothing. It's a diversion from the total.
Nobama| 3.24.10 @ 10:25PM
Jon's 'truth' is whatever suits him at the moment.
Liars and losers comprise the democrat party.
Hoot Gingry| 3.30.10 @ 5:36PM
Alex said: The government shut down came in 1996. The article you site is dated November of 1999.
What exactly is your truth?
After reading in Jon B's post: Over the past three years the Republican-controlled Congress has approved discretionary spending that exceeded Bill Clinton's requests by more than $30 billion...
From 1996 to 1999 is three years.
I'm just saying.
Nick| 3.24.10 @ 3:13PM
Pay no attention to Jon B, folks.
He peddles lies and marxist propaganda. Oops! Redundant.
Like the lie that President Reagan gave the Soviets $425 billion.
After 3 days of trying to belittle those of us who called him out on his lie, he finally admitted his fabrication.
Although, he then claimed it was a mistake That it was actually $425 million, but he offered no source. Just his deeply flawed memories.
wbfrank9| 3.24.10 @ 9:53AM
Why is everyone in the media, including Fox, Hannity and other so afraid of the T-word??
This is nothing more than an Article II section 4:
"The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, TREASON, Bribery, or other hich Crimes and Misdemeanors."
Revolution is coming...
wbf
Pingback| 3.24.10 @ 9:56AM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Obama Pays Off Special links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
J. Kelley| 3.24.10 @ 9:56AM
If we win control of the House this November the House can refuse to fund this mess in 2011. And the Democrats have done away with the 60 vote majority, all we have to do in the Senate is get a majorty of 52. Then in 2013 with a new President we can repeal the whole mess. Our RINOS have got the message and may do the right thing, I hope!! All is not lost. This all belongs to the Dems. If McCain had been elected with this big Dem majorty he could not have done anything and the Media would have blamed the bad economy on Republicans. If we can survive until 2013 we may come out O.K.
GW| 3.30.10 @ 5:38PM
the Media would have blamed the bad economy on Republicans.
They still do. Because they turned a surplus into a huge deficit.
Pete| 3.24.10 @ 12:04PM
Where is the mainstream media on this? This blows away "big oil" conspiracy theories and Halliburton fantasies...yet not a single mention in the MSM. Odd, huh?
Jon B| 3.24.10 @ 12:21PM
It's true that much of the bill is a give away to HMO's. Thank God someone finally mentions this. The even sadder reality is that Republican plans are even a bigger give away to big pharm, and HMOs.
Nobama| 3.24.10 @ 10:27PM
What Republican plans, idiot?
BB John| 3.30.10 @ 5:39PM
Medicare part "D"
Pingback| 3.24.10 @ 12:27PM
Claiming the opposite of what you are doing. « The Sagamore Journal links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 3.24.10 @ 12:33PM
The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Obama Pays Off Special Interests Image links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Dale Cord| 3.24.10 @ 12:38PM
To educate a person in mind and not in morals, is to educate a menace to society!
Where's the media when you need them?
At the top right hand corner of page 17 of the New York Post, January 24, 2009, was a column entitled, "Replacing Michelle" in the National Review, The Week. Here it is, as it appeared, below:
"Some employees are simply irreplaceable. Take Michelle Obama: The University of Chicago Medical center hired her in 2002 to run 'programs for community relations, neighborhood outreach, volunteer recruitment, staff diversity and minority contracting'.
In 2005 the hospital raised her salary from $120,000 to $317,000 - nearly twice what her husband made as a Senator.
Her husband, Barak Obama, had just become a US Senator. He requested a $1 million earmark for the UC Medical Center, in fact. Way to network, Michelle!
Now that Mrs. Obama has resigned, the hospital says her position will remain unfilled. How can that be, if the work she did was vital enough to be worth $317,000 ?
Let me add that Michelle's position was a part time, 20 hour a week job."
My thoughts: How did this bit of quid pro quo corruption escape the sharp reporters that dug through Sarah Palin's garbage and kindergarten files?
I hope this is forwarded so many times that the media will HAVE to cover it.
For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.
Recession is when your neighbor loses his job.
Depression is when you lose your job.
Recovery is when Obama loses his job!
Jon B| 3.24.10 @ 3:02PM
I agree that Congress' adding of 200 Republican amendments to the bill is a "payoff to special interests."
Nick| 3.24.10 @ 3:14PM
Pay no attention to Jon B, folks.
He peddles lies and marxist propaganda. Oops! Redundant.
Like the lie that President Reagan gave the Soviets $425 billion.
After 3 days of trying to belittle those of us who called him out on his lie, he finally admitted his fabrication.
Although, he then claimed it was a mistake That it was actually $425 million, but he offered no source. Just his deeply flawed memories.
BB John| 3.30.10 @ 5:41PM
I noticed you could not refute the 200 republican amendment part.
Jon B| 3.24.10 @ 3:24PM
Again, I apologize for my mistake of "billion" when it was $425 million that Reagan gave Russia in 2 years-$250 million the first year, and $175 million the next. An easy mistake to make with the amount of money thrown around these days in comparison to what was a lot of money then. Sorry.
Nick is only interested in feeding his ego.
Nick| 3.24.10 @ 3:27PM
Again, where's that source?
Lying troll.
donald| 3.24.10 @ 9:05PM
when will you loads/rubes understand that this is your money that is being spent-unless of course you have no skin in the game.
“We have granted you everything you demanded of us, we who had always been the givers, but have only now understood it. We have no demands to present to you, no terms to bargain about, no compromise to reach. You have nothing to offer us. We do not need you."
you are on the verge of finding out-
I cry for us-I cry for me-I cry for you- you have killed the golden goose------------
Bozo| 3.24.10 @ 10:28PM
Don't cry! Fight back, dammit!!
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Pingback| 3.25.10 @ 5:17PM
Change, change, change… « Time for Thorns links to this page. Here’s an excerpt: