HCA's Rick Scott still leading the FL governor's race. New Poll.

[madfloridian]

This is Florida where strange things happen, but I can not believe this man is leading the governor's race here.

Reuters and Ipsos poll shows Scott leading Sink, Sink leading McCollum.

Rick Scott has been using millions to buy attack ads and to run his campaign here. Where once Bill McCollum was thought to be the GOP candidate, that seems to be no longer the case.

Health-care executive Rick Scott, the Republican front-runner in the race, edges state CFO Alex Sink, the likely Democratic nominee, 34 percent to 31 percent with independent candidate Bud Chiles pulling 13 percent. Sink enjoys a lead over Attorney General Bill McCollum, Scott’s chief rival for the Republican nomination, 31 percent to 30 percent while Chiles again takes 13 percent.

The poll was of 600 registered voters in Florida and was taken from July 9 until July 11. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.

More about Rick Scott and HCA.

Scary that Rick Scott is leading in governor's race.

Scott's involvement in Conservatives for Patients' Rights is just his latest venture. The real reason Floridians would be insane to even consider electing this man? His leadership of the Columbia/HCA hospital chain.

Columbia/HCA didn't just scheme to defraud Medicare a little bit. They schemed to commit fraud on a mega-fraud basis. And it wasn't just insurance companies they tried to rip off. It was Medicare, Medicaid, and even TRICARE, the health plan that covers our veterans. It wasn't only overbilling, either. Here's a partial list:

* Intentional year-end record fraud alleging payments from the government less than actually received, leaving the government with the burden of overpaying them.
* Payment of kickbacks to providers to inflate claims billed to Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE.
* Billing costs to the government which were not allowed.
* Inflating the cost of transferring patients from HCA facilities to other, non-HCA facilities.
* Inflating claims for indigent patients.
* Paying kickbacks for diabetes patients.
* Overbilling states for Medicaid patients.

The entire list and summary of the case is on the DOJ website.

Columbia/HCA settled the morass of fraud claims for $1.7 billion, the largest-ever settlement of a Medicare fraud investigation.

He is shameless in his campaign methods. Lately he has been exploiting the pain of a family's abortion crisis over 20 years ago. In his efforts to paint himself as so very pro-life...he is not telling the truth about what happened to the family.

Scott was just called out by the St. Pete Times for campaigning on a 20 year old late term abortion in which his hospital defied the parents and kept the fetus alive with many treatments and surgeries.

The Houston parents got a multi-million dollar settlement against the hospital, but Rick came on as head of HCA about that time. He led the fight to get the settlement overturned, and he won. He is now using it as a campaign issue.

Texas family put in turmoil over Rick Scott's pro-life boasting.

"TALLAHASSEE — Rick Scott is reaching into his corporate past to woo a key electorate in the Republican primary for governor and bolster his claims as a "pro-life leader."

"We lost a $43 million lawsuit because we saved the life of a child that the parents didn't want us to," the former Columbia/HCA health care CEO said on a recent Panhandle campaign swing. "Everything I've done in my career … I care about life."

"The family suggests Scott is distorting its misfortune for political gain.

"Mr. Scott, you've grossly overstepped the bounds of decency," Mark Miller, the father at the center of the controversial case, said in an interview. "I call on you to accurately reflect the facts. If you are going to run on the record, run on all of it, not just the parts that suit your needs."

Just think about what he said. He thinks the hospital and doctors have the right to decide, not the parents.

This man is leading the governor's race.

Mother Jones has more about this.

Scott's abortion distortion

"Except Scott's version is far from the whole story. According to the Times, when the mother of the child, Karla Miller, was rushed to hospital, the complications surrounding her 23-week-old were many. The odds the child would live anything resembling a normal life were slim, if the child survived at all. Facing this grave outlook, the Millers chose to terminate the pregnancy. But the hospital ultimately made that choice for them, and began trying to save the fetus' life. In the end, the child, named Sidney, survived—but only after a brain surgery and other drastic medical interventions that led to serious and life-altering complications, both for Sidney and her parents.

..."Sidney is nearly 20 years old. She can't walk, talk, or eat on her own. She suffers from cerebral palsy, brain damage, seizures, and blindness. She requires constant care at the Miller home in Sealy, Texas, west of Houston."

Rh Reality Check points out that it's more about money to Scott.

Any claim that Scott's decision to battle the Millers' lawsuit was a matter of principle is disingenuous at best. This was about the bottom line. Scott's efforts were to keep the hospital from being on the hook for a fortune in medical bills and professional care for Sidney throughout her life — expenses that Scott was all too happy to dump on the Millers."

Florida is looking pretty bad right now someone like Scott leading the way for governor.

Right now Crist is leading Rubio. We can not have such extremists as Scott and Rubio win these elections.

[lpbk2713]

1. I should be surprised but I'm not.

Someone like this can run for the highest office in the state and it doesn't even seem to raise any eyebrows.

If I had my druthers I'd like to see Bud Chiles win the race but it's probably not very likely.

[HockeyMom]

4. I used to work in the corporate offices

of a billion dollar pharmaceutical corporation. Frankly, I would rather cut off my right hand than vote for anybody with ties in that industry.

I suppose most people in Florida would be clueless on this industry.

[monmouth]

6. I worked for Carter Wallace back in the 60's..Soma Compound was

the biggy back then, FDA...yikes, what an industry...

[The Backlash Cometh]

17. So they need to be educated.

[msongs]

2. chiles is only it to wreck sink's chances - self serving at the least nt

[catgirl]

3. He looks insane.

[Arugula Latte]

21. He has the of face that makes you want to slap him on first viewing.

Kinda like Dubya.

[BlueJazz]

5. I don't believe I've EVER despised anybody as much as I despise..

..Rick Scott. The man is a fraud, liar, crook and twenty other disparaging terms that I don't care to post.
I firmly believe he is a Sociopath....not able to feel any apathy toward anyone.

But...he's learn all the "Right Words" to say so he can seem Normal.

Did I mention how much I despise him ??

[madfloridian]

7. He's got more money than God, and McCollum is broke.

And Sink can't seem to get much traction against him. Plus she has Bud Chiles to worry about.

[lib2DaBone]

9. You're not alone Blue..I want to spray my TV with Lysol after Rick Scott is on...

He is a smarmy, dirty, sneaky, repulsive Sociopath.. it is completely obvious.

"Vote for me because I was not Indicted.. I was only Investigated. I opaid back every penny of the $6 Billion in fines". What an endorsement!

The oh so holy, oh so righteous, oh so family value Christian Right Bible Beaters see NO PROBLEM with theft, corruption and bilking the poor and helpless.

It's just amazing how the Christo-Fascists cling lock-step to the Republicn Party even if the Devil himself was a candidate.

[BlueJazz]

31. Ain't it the Truth. I don't know how the frequency of Scott's ads run in your area...

...but here (Tampa Bay)..it's EVERY 5-7 minutes day and night. (I'm wearing out the Mute button of my remote) :)

He talks about the other candidate using an airplane for a year and costing "Hard-working Taxpayers"
$280,000.....and this is from a Criminal that headed a Company that stole Billions....Incredible..absolutly Incredible.

[bluestateguy]

8. I have hated Bob McCollum ever since the Clinton impeachment

I have a long memory.

[The Backlash Cometh]

18. I suspect that he's been using his Attorney General's office position

to gather ammunition against his competitors.

[laughingliberal]

10. K & R nt

[spanone]

11. he ran the bill frist criminal enterprise....HCA

[Heddi]

12. I am an RN at an HCA facility in Florida. Thanks to this asshat's medicare fraud

I have to do like 20 hours of computerized Ethics Training every 6 months. *I* get punished because of *HIS* misdeeds. The amount of time I have to spent at work doing Mandatory ethics bullshit is amazing. I think I spent just about as many education hours on Ethics shit than I did on actual information and education that was relevant to my job as a nurse....

[The Backlash Cometh]

19. Too bad you can't earn credits if you turn in a crooked employee.

What an incentive.

[spanone]

30. bill frist went on to become a senator....and voted on legislation re: HCA

frist never recused himself on any legislation

[McCamy Taylor]

13. Here's what his opponent should do. Find every patient that was ever "dumped"

from an HCA hospital under this ass hat's supervision. There are bound to be at least a few horror stories among them. Get the patients involved to come forward and describe how their heart attack/stroke/cancer was blown off at an HCA emergency room/hospital and how they had to go to _____ to get care. Find people who did not have insurance. That way it becomes a case of money over ethics.

Since this guy is running on his record as HCA CEO, let his record as HCA CEO run against him. Hint, start by looking up malpractice claims. Anyone who did not get a settlement (and most people who suffer medical malpractice are never compensated) is someone to talk to. Also, check federal records. Did the feds investigate/punish any of his hospitals for patient dumping?

Defrauding Medicare probably will not cost him the election. Hurting people will.

Bonus points if you can find anyone who was unplugged from a machine over the family's objections.

Addendum: looks this his opponents are already on this one. Here is the scoop on "patient dumping" at HCA under his reign.

http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2010/jun/15/florida-first-initiative/groups-ad-attacks-rick-scott-over-history-columbia/

On the day he died, Anguiano was found unconscious on the lawn of a hotel and taken by ambulance to Columbia Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas. Meyer gave him a full physical, but decided against further tests, according to court records. Anguiano had not eaten in three days and had been drinking and smoking marijuana. He was given some juice and crackers, and hospital security escorted him out. He was found dead on the hospital grounds two hours later.

Hospital officials said Meyer treated Anguiano for roughly seven minutes, which violated hospital rules, according to court records.

Meyer was suspended. She sued the hospital and lost. The Nevada Supreme Court eventually concluded the hospital acted with the reasonable belief that it was furthering quality care.

Hospital officials said they worried Anguiano's death might be seen as new evidence of "patient dumping," or refusal to treat patients in need of emergency care, according to court records. Federal law prohibits emergency rooms from turning away patients because they don't have insurance.

Columbia Sunrise had already been under investigation for denying care to uninsured patients after a homeless person passed out at a casino shortly after being released from the hospital in 1994, according to multiple news reports. Federal officials threatened to take away the hospital's Medicare contract until a second investigation a few weeks later found the hospital was providing emergency beds to the uninsured.

Columbia Sunrise wasn't the only Columbia/HCA hospital hounded by reports of patient dumping. From 1988 to 1997, Columbia/HCA was fined at least $180,000 for alleged patient dumping violations at eight hospitals, according to news accounts. In all of those settlements, the company did not admit wrongdoing

[Dr.Phool]

14. I think McCollum carries around a major "Yuck Factor".

I can't stand to even look at this hypocritical douche bag.

Alex sink is sitting on about $7 million dollars right now. So maybe she is smart to let these two savage each other for another month. One good thing Scott has done, is kill all the anti-Sink ads that were running non stop for months. Now he's got McCollum broke and on the ropes. And McCollums anti Scott ads should take a toll.

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. Bingo.

[Gman]

15. Good info. Thanks.

[The Backlash Cometh]

16. Alex Sink hasn't even started campaigning.

It's hard to say what's going to happen once she actually jumps into the race.

[Freddie Stubbs]

22. Why the hell hasn't she?

She was a great candidate in 2006, but I am completely unimpressed with her campaign (or lack thereof) for Governor.

[The Backlash Cometh]

23. My guess:

Because she'll waste money if she tries to go after both McCollum and baldie this early in the game. In fact, she'll give credence to the one she spends more money trying to bash.

Frankly, McCollum owes his fame to being at the right place at the right time. The circumstances around him propped him up. So, don't prop him up by making him a target. Not until you have to.

Baldie, on the other hand would be easy to take down in a state which has tons of retirees worrying about escalating health costs. You just need a good speech writer that can make the connections for them.

[Freddie Stubbs]

24. She could spend money promoting herself

She's not exactly a household name. She needs to define herself to the voters before Scott starts spending money to do it for her.

[Dr.Phool]

29. She's got about 7 mil in the bank right now.

She's going to need at least double that for the general election. In the statewide media market, figure about $1.5 million per week, times 10 weeks, minimum.

[ooglymoogly]

25. Election fraud is being honed to near undetectable

levels; Particularly in southern and red states that hold national elections in the balance; Like Fl.; And that includes pollings needed to bolster the crooked voting machines and even more crooked secretaries of state of these red states (examples of which, Blackwell, Katherine Harris et al), documented carting off and dumping thousands of democratic votes, suppressing the vote, caging, etc.

Anyone remember some major, previously, respectable, polling outfits that, immediately after it was known that the official versions of *'s win, did not add up, changed the outcome of their data and then would not reveal internal polling data that would have shown the whole election to be a farce, and as it became clear the election of * was fixed; That nothing added up to anyone who cared or even bothered looking at the obvious reality.

As E voting machines and other voting methods have been proven hackable or whose outcomes easily changeable or who's outcomes can be flipped and can be controlled from another location, and as voting is THE most sacred and vital part of democracy; Plus the clear fact that neither party has mounted any real effort or made it a point to remove them or investigate clearly fraudulent elections; Is a clear indication, that both party's, the DLC and the GOP are in on the fix and are both comfortable with a corporate favored outcome, be it dem or pug as long as the key words are corporate interest favored.

If one poll comes out in one extreme; Supporting right wing corporate candidates and another is an honest attempt at divining an honest estimate of how folks are planning to vote; The corporate MSM thugs, "fair and balanced" approach, takes the average of those polls, from the real to the phony, from fair to lopsided; There is only one possible outcome; And that is that they are weighted heavily to the corporate right or for a corporatocracy favored outcome. Enough elections are then manipulated to fit the lopsided "averages" of the polls and the agenda of the corporate right and their corporate mouthpiece the "MSM"; Can be counted on to deliver whatever propaganda is necessary to cover the fraud.

With the advent of the E vote, elections have become a crock, and in just enough cases for complete control of gubment and whatever polls that are required are manipulated to bolster that treason.

It is only when a landslide happens that this fraudulent methodology does not work or a fixed election becomes blatant fraud, as in Georgia whose fame is once again dying to a dust that can be swept under the rug. An unchallenged fact has been proven that some elections are fixed and that some polls are crooked; If for no other, but equally valid reason than carefully, and from a psychologically constructed ploy, manipulating the way questions are posed, or not even broached for fear of a "wrong" or too revealing answer.

The broadly known facts that machines can and have been manipulated, or that caging and voter suppression, and other thuggery takes place and the dumping of dem votes, is common knowledge for those paying attention...Yet nobody does anything about it... or seriously lifts a finger to stop it; Except for a few well known cases; Now only a faint memory, not prompting any meaningful change.

Could it be the mysterious deaths of witnesses to treachery and treason?

The question of the century should be...a loud, unbearable and cacophonous...WHY!!!? Shouted from every rooftop, soapbox and media outlet in the country and for that matter from those around the civilized world; For nothing less than to save our dying democracy and theirs; Now on a tenuous life support, with pugs trying desperately and at any cost to pull the plug in favor of a corporatocracy with absolute power to fleece us, with a jackboot police force to back them up.

We are in a war with evil, that the pugs and the corporate DLC, are perfectly aware of and understand all to well the stakes and are fighting with all guns blazing to elect pug, DINO, DLC and Bluedog candidates.

It seems for the most part the vast majority of Americans don't even know there is a life and death struggle taking place; Many of whom, believe the corporate pug and DLC propaganda, that it is all the fault of the weakness of the left leaning Democrats and the progressives dividing the party. We democrats are being slowly poisoned by bloodsucking, corporate DLC, blue dogs and DINO's that are no more than a pug Trojan horse to destroy the Democrats from within and promote absolute corporate power and we are the only thing standing in their way.

[iscooterliberally]

26. I live in South Florida,

..and I'll a see are commercials from Rick Scott. I don't see any adds from anyone else. I really hope this guy doesn't win. He is exactly what we DON'T need right now. I hope he and McCollum destroy each other, so Sink can pull it off. We really could use someone who cares about the people more than just lining their own pockets. His big sales point right now is that he is going to 'sell the state plane'.

[TwentyFive]

28. From the advertisements - you'd think Rick Scott is the only candidate in the race

Despite the carpet bombing of TV, radio and the Internet...this sociopath is only 3 points ahead of Alex Sink.

We can only hope that voters will be smart enough to discover he is nothing more than an ego filled criminal, with a huge bank account and extremist political views.

[TwentyFive]

27. Naples is home to dozens of Greenmail/Golden Parachute retired C level executives.

If you ever wondered where so many of those despised CEOs that looted companies, bought off the politicians, cut jobs, moved factories to China, etc...then cashed out big time and fled the corporate world...look no further than Naples, FL. They are down there with more money than God, living in ocean side mansions and driving their Benzes to the country club. I imagine most of them are sociopaths to different degrees.

Rick Scott is one of them.

[JCMach1]

32. He had been nailing McCollum with 24/7 negative ads

It's a win/win for the for Alex Sink in the long run.

Creepy Rick will eventually sink even if he beats Bill 'the toad' McCollum.