Over Half of Blue Dogs’ 2009 Campaign Contributions from Health Care Industry

[Joanne98]

They're still the best lawmakers money can buy.

As the Obama administration and Democrats wrangled over the timing, shape and cost of health care overhaul efforts during the first half of the year, more than half the $1.1 million in campaign contributions the Democratic Party's Blue Dog Coalition received came from the pharmaceutical, health care and health insurance industries, according to watchdog organizations.

...

The Blue Dogs' windfall also came at a time when the 52-member coalition flexed its muscle with both the White House and the Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives as an increasingly influential bloc in the health care overhaul debate.

And guess who's the darling of Big Insurance and Big Pharma?

In June, as Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., who heads the coalition's task force on health care, publicly expressed the Blue Dogs' misgivings about the Democratic leadership's efforts, the former pharmacy owner was feted at a series of health care industry receptions. Ross has received nearly $1 million in campaign contributions from the insurance and health care industries over his five-term career, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Calls to Ross' office weren't returned.

If this isn't simply crass political corruption, I'd like to know what is
http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/27/over-half-of-blue-dogs-2009-campaign-contributions-from-health-care-industry/

[polichick]

1. So why did Rahm blast progressives for running ads that shine a light on this?

imo every Dem who cares about real healthcare reform should be exposing these people.

[jody]

2. Because Obama knows Dems would lose the house without the Blue Dog Coalition. n/t

[polichick]

3. If you mean lose them for healthcare reform, we don't have them...

That's what the ads were meant to address. If you mean lose the House to Republicans, why not replace them with progressives as Howard Dean was doing?

[jody]

4. Sounds great but a Dem candidate in a BD district needs a conservative platform to win against a Rep

It's possible the BD Coalition may gain members in 2010 because "Conservatives outnumber liberals in nearly every state, but not in D.C." See http://www.gallup.com/poll/122333/Political-Ideology-Conservative-Label-Prevails-South.aspx#2

[polichick]

5. Well, that may be Rahm's thinking but it sure isn't productive for getting...

...good legislation done. I'm all for exposing the special interests of these guys and forcing them to do what's best for the people.

[jody]

6. Understand but as long as neither Dem nor Rep parties have more than about 35% of the

electorate, they must try to cut a deal with Independents for control of Congress.

That's why I understand the back-room deal making for votes necessary to pass any significant bill.

Politics does indeed make strange bedfellows!

[polichick]

7. I think it would be better for the WH to remind these people that they are Democrats...

...and that Democratic principles (such as universal healthcare) should trump donor ties ~ I think that's real leadership.

[jody]

8. Many have your perspective which brings up the question of party or constituent loyalty.

Even though we Dems have a decided party advantage in 44 states, see figure below, the fact that the electorate is strongly conservative compared to liberal suggests that those who identify themselves as Dem are conservative.

I wonder how many Dem candidates could win an election with a pure liberal platform in states that are strongly conservative?

[polichick]

9. It's not a fact that the electorate is strongly conservative...

Most Americans want universal healthcare and most want us to deal with global warming, just to mention two big issues.

[jody]

10. See #4 above that shows the electorate is strongly conservative. What leads you to conclude that

people who consider themselves "very conservative, conservative" don't want universal health care?

Conservatives get sick just like those who are "liberal, very liberal" and conservatives are without health care just as are liberals.

[polichick]

11. Maybe it's just semantics...

I meant that when people are asked about specific issues, like healthcare and the environment, they agree with Democratic principles.

[jody]

12. Understand and agree for example DU's Guns forum discusses the 2nd Amendment and our party and

Obama support the Right of law-abiding citizens to Keep and Bear Arms (RKBA) for self-defense making that a Democratic Party issue, i.e. a liberal, progressive issue.

Notwithstanding those facts, many who describe themselves as liberal, progressive strongly oppose RKBA.

Didn't mean to digress only to illustrate my understanding of the point you made, that a person may describe them self as liberal or conservative but still agree with a specific plank of the opposition parties platform.

[polichick]

13. I think the word "liberal" has been so maligned for so long...

...that many people who mostly agree with Democratic principles are unaware of it or afraid to be associated.

imo we need to reclaim that designation with pride and power ~ the way Ted Kennedy called himself an unabashed liberal.

[jody]

15. Agree with all you said. Ted's older brother Sen. JFK gave the commencement address at my graduation

I've never forgotten JFK's stirring words and still have the program from that event 52 years ago.

Ted made a few mistakes in his personal life but his public service over his entire life puts him in a class alone.

The Kennedy family has carved out its own memorial with public service more durable than that on Mt. Rushmore.

[QC]

17. Because Rahm is a corporate whore. n/t

[polichick]

18. That's what I suspect too - the real question for me is...

Where does that leave President Obama? I have to question some of his advisors and associates, but really don't want to see him as a corporate whore too.

[QC]

19. That's the $64 question.

Not $64,000 because the answer grows more obvious every day.

But he looks sooooooooo dreamy at the beach!

[polichick]

20. LOL - he does look pretty dreamy. But after working so hard and waiting so long...

...(I've been active in environmental and Dem politics for 30+ years), I really don't want that to be so.

Still, the red flags are hard to ignore.

[QC]

21. You got to see pictures of him eating ice cream!

Isn't that enough for you people?

[polichick]

22. :)

[Cha]

14. Rec'd~~

.

[Kingofalldems]

16. Well it seems that Blue Dogs and those claiming

to be Blue Dogs are not to be trusted.