Clinton takes in big money from drug industry

[FreakinDJ]

WASHINGTON — Hillary Clinton has said she is proud to have drug companies as her enemies – but she is also taking their money. Lots of it.

The Clinton campaign received far more money from the drug and medical device industries than any other presidential candidate in either party during the first six months of the campaign, according to figures compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. She accepted $164,315 during that period.

Drug prices are fast becoming one of the hottest issues in the Democratic presidential primary, with both Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders promising to crack down on the drug companies that have hiked prices for hard-to-treat diseases – and in some cases, widely used medications that have been around for decades.

On Thursday, Sanders rejected a $2,700 contribution from Martin Shkreli, the chief executive officer of Turing Pharmaceuticals, who famously raised the price of a drug used by cancer and AIDS patients to $750 a pill. His decision came after Stat brought the contribution to the attention of the campaign.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2015/10/16/hillary-clinton-takes-big-money-from-drug-industry-even-she-seeks-cap-costs/NG7vw5SnNAgFocqvSWwu2K/story.html

[Voice for Peace]

1. That must explain her uninformed answer about medical mj

Babbling, she was.

[Helen Borg]

2. Stop hating Hillary!

[DanTex]

3. From employees of drug companies.

[cali]

8. It's called bundling

http://www.fec.gov/law/lobbybundlingfaq.shtml
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14434721
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119267248520862997
http://www.politicallawbriefing.com/2013/02/the-fec-increases-the-lobbyist-bundling-threshold/

[DanTex]

9. Individuals bundling contributions from other individuals.

I know that "corporation" is the Bernie following's favorite word, but corporations have nothing to do with these contributions, other than employing the people who make the contribution.

If you want to make an enemy of everyone who works for a corporation.... please proceed.

[malokvale77]

12. John Podesta. Enough said.

[cali]

13. Yes, it's about raising money from corporations

Particularly when it's lobbyist bundling which Hillary does a massive amount of. Read the links.

[DanTex]

14. The money doesn't come from corporations. Tell me you knew that.

[cali]

17. Not literally, but functionally. Read the fucking links

[DanTex]

19. "Functionally" is an interesting way of saying "no". I prefer "no." Less letters.

The money comes from humans, who can do whatever they want with it, including donate it to a campaign. It is not corporate money. There is such a thing as corporate money -- money that is owned by a corporation -- but that's not the money that is being donated.

Also, if you hadn't noticed, a lot of humans have also decided to donate to Bernie's campaign.

[ChiciB1]

24. I Have A Suggestion For You...

Try watching Mike Papintonio's show sometime. He has some AMAZING numbers of the cost differences of drug prices in other countries and the ASTRONOMICAL mark up percentages for THE VERY SAME drug here in America. Some numbers will simply blow your mind! I'm not talking a 5000% mark up, I'm talking about mark ups in many, many, many more thousands of $$$. He said this guy is such a "small potato" guy who was too stupid to keep his mouth shut. That's WHY he's being prosecuted. And they won't do one thing to help him out. Like the Mafia, this guy couldn't keep his mouth shut... you know THAT game.

The big guys in the game DON'T TALK! Just try to listen to a little of it and it should nauseate you and what BIG PHARMA has been able to do in this country. How we pay for drugs in so many ways from research, advertising and selling! And BIG PHARMA gets a tax write off for every ad they run and all the research that's done! Other countries aren't bombarded with ads like we are here. BIG PHARMA'S tax write off's should have every single American in this country blood boiling. And the cost mark ups sicken you. They aren't in the business of curing people. Maybe they once were, but today because of policies our CONGRESS and many, many, many others with sticky fingers and hearts full of GREED don't CARE!

They just want more POWER and more MONEY! I haven't looked, but I wonder if there's been a book written about how TOTALLY corrupt this industry is. My information is only the tip of the iceberg!

I'm not attacking researchers and those many good people who discover ways to heal... but those who RUN Big Pharma are the scum of the earth IMO. It's really mind boggling what they've done! I'm not sure a word has been invented to describe their EVIL and CORRUPTION!

Drug Lords can't hold a candle to them, and I say that as a real truth. They're just able to wear suits and walk with the elite of the elites! Is Karma really a bitch?? Not as long as WE LET IT CONTINUE! And we have because we won't LOOK at what THEIR money buys.

So yes, READ THE LINKS!!!! And SHE takes their money gladly!

[DanTex]

25. Clinton is in agreement that drug companies often gouge consumers.

I don't see the relevance here -- she takes contributions from individuals, the same as Bernie does. Taking corporate money for a presidential campaign is illegal.

[ChiciB1]

28. Do YOU Understand What A Bundler Is??? n/t

[DanTex]

29. A bundler is a human who bundles campaign contributions from other humans.

[ChiciB1]

30. Forget It... Put Your Blinders Back On...

I refuse to argue with anyone who simply argues because they like it. Waste of my time.

[99Forever]

4. But they give money without any strings at all...

... 'cuz they want to cracked down on and forced to charge reasonable prices for their products.

Quit trying to smear the Chosen One with your innuendos that taking $million$ might affect her thinking.

(Anyone who buys the above, please contact me about land investments of ocean front properties in Kansas.)

[A Simple Game]

5. They give even more to hear her speak. Just because she has

such a lovely speaking voice and adorable laugh!

[Divernan]

11. We came; we saw; he died! snort, snort, snort!

[A Simple Game]

15. I cringe every time I watch that clip.

That woman has issues and I don't mean the one's Bernie talks about.

[kristopher]

18. The quid pro quo argument isn't in play

The legitimate criticism is related to what this flow of money says about the expectations of the industry related to positions ALREADY made clear by HRC.

It is also part of a revenue stream that politicians are reluctant to see dry up if/when they act against the interest of that corporate sector.

[99Forever]

23. Well...

... no shit?

[amborin]

32. LOL

[restorefreedom]

6. research on pot is likely to be very lucrative for big pharma

the "everyday Americans" who will continue to be arrested and jailed for smoking a joint? why would they matter, they don't have deep pockets.......

[stillwaiting]

7. Doesn't everyone get big money from their enemies in life? nt

[Enrique]

10. i wonder where they stand on single payer

my guess, they liked hearing that it would "never ever come to pass".

[amborin]

16. more than ANY other Candidate:

The Clinton campaign received far more money from the drug and medical device industries than any other presidential candidate in either party during the first six months of the campaign, according to figures compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. She accepted $164,315 during that period.

The figures don’t include the third-quarter contributions, which were filed with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday. They represent mostly individual donors affiliated with the pharmaceutical industry, as well as some political action committee money.

The donors also include two senior executives of a company that recently imposed a massive price increase on one of its drugs.

Drug prices are fast becoming one of the hottest issues in the Democratic presidential primary, with both Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders promising to crack down on the drug companies that have hiked prices for hard-to-treat diseases – and in some cases, widely used medications that have been around for decades

https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2015/10/16/hillary-clinton-takes-big-money-from-drug-industry-even-she-seeks-cap-costs/NG7vw5SnNAgFocqvSWwu2K/story.html

[gyroscope]

20. For sale to the highest bidder

The question is, who doesn't she take money from?
Hillary gets more corporate campaign money than any democrat or republican.

[Ferd Berfel]

21. From her website

Demand lower prices for prescription drugs for seniors receiving Medicare.
"Demand" beg in harsh tones? and what about the rest of the country that pays 5 times what the rest of the world pays? How about forcing the greedy bastards into submission?


Expand Social Security benefits for widows and those who took time out of the paid workforce to care for a child or sick family member.
expanding for widows and sick leave is fine but WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF US?

[FreakinDJ]

22. "I told them to cut it out"

[ChiciB1]

26. It BLOWS My Mind That People Even Believe This...

I saw this NOT as a Bernie supporter. I say this as an American citizen! Taking ANY money in ANY way from Big Pharma is crime IMO. No, they won't prosecute, but WHY doe "we the people" continue the MONKEY GAME???

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil! That's what Big Pharma is Counting on. And it's going to take decades to stop it. But to let it continue and NOT try to do something is just not something I can stomach!

[ChiciB1]

27. Sorry About My Spelling... In Big Hurry... n/t

[Zen Democrat]

31. They hired Howard Dean to funnel money to her ... with a pricetag.