NHDP- Business As Usual

You run across the darndest things sometimes.  Like this press release from the NHDP back in late September chiding Frank Guinta's campaign for accepting $2500.00 dollars from the  CIGNA PAC.  Seems Mayor Guinta  wrote an op-ed not long after in which he (according to the thrust of the NHDP press release) promoted CIGNA's health care interests.  Of course Frank was promoting the same interests back in August before CIGNA sent him any cash.  You remember August?   When the Mayor's announcement of a town hall forced then MIA congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter to actually hold some of her own? 

Oh but there's more. 

Did the NHDP happen to notice that for 2010 the CIGNA PAC has spent more on democrats than republicans?  That would include donations of $3K to Harry Reid's campaign and $5K to Steny Hoyer's.  Now I can't say for certain, but I don't think Cigna gave them more money because they share a common opinion about the issue with Frank Guinta. 

But here's Hoyer's ideas just for a sense of scope.  Notice the complete lack of similarities.

CIGNA's Chief Medical officer, (that's evil CIGNA to you) Dr. Jeffery Kang, worked with the Clinton White House as a White House Fellow starting in 2004, then as chief medical officer for HFCA, the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services.  Besides his CIGNA postion, Kang is also the current president of the eHealth initiative which focuses on better ways to share medical information through technology.  Technology is an Obamacare hot button if you forgot.  eHealth partners with interested groups and industry leaders to advance the concept including AARP and the AMA both of whom have already been bought out in backroom White House deals; both of whom also stand to benefit financially from Obamacare.

But it gets better.

CIGNA hired Heather Podesta's lobbying firm three times in 2009, at $60 K a pop. ($180,000 YTD). But for what might Guinta loving CIGNA hire a left wing lobbyist?

To monitor technology related Health Care proposals in the Stimulus bill. (here)

To monitor the affects of the bill on CIGNA's Medicare administrative monitoring business. (here)

And finally to support changes in the senate version of HR3200, (the chairman's mark) in the form of Max Baucus America's healthy Future act (here) as they relate to employer based insurance.

So big evil CIGNA is supporting the health care bill to protect its revenue streams,  and using left wing lobbyists to do it right.

Want to make that connection between Guinta and CIGNA again? 

And then of course there are the cash for votes of the Blessed Saint Carol of the Church of I've Been Bought and Sold. (May the green jobs goddess smile upon her.)

Carol Shea Porter has taken loads of cash from groups whose interests she has then blindly supported.  

If we limit ourselves to the 2010 coffer it is childs-play to demonstrate the hypocrisy of the NHDP.  How about $10K from Nancy Pelosi's PAC to the future for starters, and another $4K from Nancy for Congress?  Pelosi has already given her $14K for 2010 and it's only November. 

Democrat congressional PAC donations for 2010 are over $43.5K already--all of whom want health care promoted and passed.  Carol has collected well over 100K from unions, PAC's, and special interest groups who would love her to advocate for Obama Care.   And she has.  At every opportunity.  And she's advocates for whatever else Nancy Pelosi tells her to vote for no matter what NH thinks.  And it's all about the money and the power, and her guaranteed party line vote.  But I guess that's OK.

But Mayor Guinta an as yet unelected candidate for congress, after receiving half of what Democrat Obama Care disciple Steny Hoyer got, was bought out by the evil Insurance companies.  That's the message. 

Dumb message.  But keep selling it.  It's simply proving what everyone suspects.  That you are all on the take and pointing fingers at opponents to hide it.  Business as usual for these folks.

And Paul Hodes?  Over $31K in contributions so far for 2010, from Insurance companies.  Now how did he vote?  Hmmmm?

Comments

[Chaz Proulx]

Steve

If Guinta wins the primary, he'll face Carol Shea-Porter who doesn't take a cent from ANY corporate pacs.

You think it's odd that she takes money from Democrats?

Sorry, this isn't very compelling.

Carol ran on expanding Medicaire when she beat Jeb Bradley in 2006. She's been ahead of the curve since day one.

That's called taking a stand. Usually that garners some respect whether you agree or not.

Let's see a Republican limit themselves to non profits in the upcoming first district race.