Secret White House Meetings on Health Care

[Smurf-Herder]

I have yet to see the "Transparency" Obama was talking about during the campaign.

White House declines to disclose visits by health industry executives

Reporting from Washington - Invoking an argument used by President George W. Bush, the Obama administration has turned down a request from a watchdog group for a list of health industry executives who have visited the White House to discuss the massive healthcare overhaul.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington sent a letter to the Secret Service asking about visits from 18 executives representing health insurers, drug makers, doctors and other players in the debate. The group wants the material in order to gauge the influence of those executives in crafting a new healthcare policy.

The Secret Service sent a reply stating that documents revealing the frequency of such visits were considered presidential records exempt from public disclosure laws. The agency also said it was advised by the Justice Department that the Secret Service was within its rights to withhold the information because of the "presidential communications privilege."

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics said it would file suit against the Obama administration as early as today. The group already has sued the administration over its failure to release details about visits from coal industry executives.

A White House spokesman, Ben LaBolt, said, "We are reviewing our policy on access to visitor logs and related litigation."

As a candidate, President Obama vowed that in devising a healthcare bill he would invite in TV cameras -- specifically C-SPAN -- so that Americans could have a window into negotiations that normally play out behind closed doors.

Having promised transparency, the administration should be willing to disclose who it is consulting in shaping healthcare policy, said an attorney for the citizens' group. In its letter requesting the records, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics asked about visits from Billy Tauzin, president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America; Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans; William Weldon, chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson; and J. James Rohack, president of the American Medical Assn., among others.

"It's extremely disappointing," said Anne Weismann, the group's chief counsel. Obama is relying on a legal argument that "continues one of the bad, anti-transparency, pro-secrecy approaches that the Bush administration had taken. And it seems completely at odds with the president's commitment . . . to bring a new level of transparency to his government."

PhRMA, which represents the nation's drug companies, said it had taken part in two meetings with senior White House officials in the Roosevelt Room. Participants, according to Tauzin, included White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, along with the CEOs of some major drug companies. Both meetings were closed to the public.

In an interview, Tauzin said most of the "real negotiations" took place with the Senate Finance Committee. At its meetings with the White House, the drug industry reported on progress made with the Senate and got a briefing from Obama officials "about how they saw" healthcare reform unfolding, Tauzin said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-healthcare-talks22-2009jul22,0,1752248.story

[The_Limit]

Another non-story.

If you really believed any politician would have TV cameras at important meetings with industry executives I got some swamp land to sell you.

[Smurf-Herder]

Another non-story.

If you really believed any politician would have TV cameras at important meetings with industry executives I got some swamp land to sell you.

So therefore, we must assume that Obama's campaign promises concerning transparency are merely more lies. And that nothing can be trusted that he ran on.

[The_Limit]

So therefore, we must assume that Obama's campaign promises concerning transparency are merely more lies. And that nothing can be trusted that he ran on.

Don't put words in my mouth, if thats what you want to assume, go ahead.

I never said "we must assume that Obama's campaign promises concerning transparency are merely more lies."

That is your attribution, not mine.

All I know is is that 24 hours a day, seven days a week every politician runs on transparency. Every politician runs on honesty. Every politician runs on family values...every single one.

Yet most observers know politicians never live up to his or her rhetoric. Because that is the nature of rhetoric. Its not meant to mean anything.

I'm sure most citizens are not gullible enough to think a politician would campaign for dishonesty, immorality and obsessive secrecy.

That should tell you its all part of "the game" of campaigning.

So no, it does not surprise me. Not one bit.

Ergo, non-story.

[Smurf-Herder]

Don't put words in my mouth, if thats what you want to assume, go ahead.

I never said "we must assume that Obama's campaign promises concerning transparency are merely more lies."

That is your attribution, not mine.

All I know is is that 24 hours a day, seven days a week every politician runs on transparency. Every politician runs on honesty. Every politician runs on family values...every single one.

Yet most observers know politicians never live up to his or her rhetoric. Because that is the nature of rhetoric. Its not meant to mean anything.

I'm sure most citizens are not gullible enough to think a politician would campaign for dishonesty, immorality and obsessive secrecy.

That should tell you its all part of "the game" of campaigning.

So no, it does not surprise me. Not one bit.

Ergo, non-story.

But, it is a story - in comparison to all the liberal backlash, back when Cheney was having closed-door meetings on energy policy.

[Bill Cosby]

I posted a thread about this a couple days ago.......... Ralph Nader on Secret White House Agreements with the Drug Industry (http://www.dcjunkies.com/showthread.php?t=10406)

W/ Ralph Nader talking about this....

Personally I found it troubling & left me wondering how sincere he is here???

I am not for reform nor more/better/newer "insurance".... I am interested in getting everyone in this country healthcare--->>> Not insurance...

[The_Limit]

But, it is a story - in comparison to all the liberal backlash, back when Cheney was having closed-door meetings on energy policy.

Thats just the problem isn't it? "In comparison..."

If you want to engage in logical fallacies then thats your own adventure.

A drunk driver will not get out of a ticket or worse if he says to the arresting officer "But my neighbour drinks and drives all the time! I only did it this once. Go arrest him."

Sorry, won't work.

Every case is judged on its own merits.

[Smurf-Herder]

I posted a thread about this a couple days ago.......... Ralph Nader on Secret White House Agreements with the Drug Industry (http://www.dcjunkies.com/showthread.php?t=10406)

W/ Ralph Nader talking about this....

Personally I found it troubling & left me wondering how sincere he is here???

I am not for reform nor more/better/newer "insurance".... I am interested in getting everyone in this country healthcare--->>> Not insurance...

I basically agree with you on all that. I thought during the campaign Obama was merely talking about people who wanted to be insured and couldn't afford it could get into the same plan the Congress uses.

As far as Health Care itself goes, I thought everybody can get Health Care Services - but they have to pay out-of-pocket if they have no insurance.

I have no insurance; and It would be nice if someone else would pay for my medical bills - but I don't expect it as a right.

[Smurf-Herder]

Thats just the problem isn't it? "In comparison..."

If you want to engage in logical fallacies then thats your own adventure.

A drunk driver will not get out of a ticket or worse if he says to the arresting officer "But my neighbour drinks and drives all the time! I only did it this once. Go arrest him."

Sorry, won't work.

Every case is judged on its own merits.

In this case, it's the merits of Obama's campaign promises.

[Mr, gone]

I am all for the transparency of our government, Especially when national security is not involved. Although our(?) government has IMO since 9/11, instituted an overreaching hand of serecy regarding all of their operations. Thanks BC for the link referencing Nader. This further supports my theory. The next question is 'why'...

[Bill Cosby]

I basically agree with you on all that. I thought during the campaign Obama was merely talking about people who wanted to be insured and couldn't afford it could get into the same plan the Congress uses.

As far as Health Care itself goes, I thought everybody can get Health Care Services - but they have to pay out-of-pocket if they have no insurance.

I have no insurance; and It would be nice if someone else would pay for my medical bills - but I don't expect it as a right.

We have had this conversation before.......... I know you don't but I think you should have healthcare for you & your family.... :thumbsup:

They take the money you pay in taxes & spend it as they pls..... Wars, police protection whatever.......... IMO they should have care as a valid expense.........

[Smurf-Herder]

We have had this conversation before.......... I know you don't but I think you should have healthcare for you & your family.... :thumbsup:

They take the money you pay in taxes & spend it as they pls..... Wars, police protection whatever.......... IMO they should have care as a valid expense.........


I'm in a Catch-22 situation.

I qualify for the VA State employee insurance plan, if I include my daughter. According to the divorce papers, I have to have my dughter on my insurance, if I have insurance. But, my daughter lives with my ex. I can't insure my daughter under it, because she doesn't live with me. So I make $100 too much a year to qualify on my own. I checked into a private plan and it's 25% of my income. And I'm just barely making ends meet now. I'm still recovering from losing a week's pay and out-of-pocket costs with my mother's funeral back in April.

[Moby]

So therefore, we must assume that Obama's campaign promises concerning transparency are merely more lies. And that nothing can be trusted that he ran on.
Name the politicians that you do trust :banghead:

[Smurf-Herder]

Name the politicians that you do trust :banghead:

None of them - that's why Obama is no better; even though most who voted for him were under the assumption he was different.

[The_Limit]

None of them - that's why Obama is no better; even though most who voted for him were under the assumption he was different.


Because you know their minds better than they do, right smurf?

:rolleyes:

[Surfrider]

I have yet to see the "Transparency" Obama was talking about during the campaign.

White House declines to disclose visits by health industry executives.....................


If this meeting was so secret, how come the L. A. Times knew about it? What if all this was about President Barack Obama gathering information? What if it was basketball night at the White House? Looks like just another Republican distraction to me. If I get you a copy of President Obama's birth certificate will you drop the whole thing? Jez Louise!

http://www.carenvy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/secret-meeting.jpg

[Moby]

None of them - that's why Obama is no better; even though most who voted for him were under the assumption he was different.
Can you point to some comments here on this board that supports that belief or is it just another belief given to you by the media?

[Moby]

If this meeting was so secret, how come the L. A. Times knew about it? What if all this was about President Barack Obama gathering information? What if it was basketball night at the White House? Looks like just another Republican distraction to me. If I get you a copy of President Obama's birth certificate will you drop the whole thing? Jez Louise!
It's secret because the media called it such, not because it was a secret.

[Smurf-Herder]

Can you point to some comments here on this board that supports that belief or is it just another belief given to you by the media?

You're getting ridiculous.

[Smurf-Herder]

It's secret because the media called it such, not because it was a secret.

Did you read the story? The whole point of the story was that the White House refused to divulge any information about the meetings, resulting in a law suit being filed to get that information.

Secret is as secret does.

[Moby]

You're getting ridiculous.
So you can't support your belief.

I've heard similar beliefs before and every time I ask for evidence to support it I get the same basic response. It's like asking people who was attacking Sarah Palin's family during the election. Everyone kept pointing to claims of it but no one could ever find anyone doing it.

I've always thought this was another belief created by the Neocon media and it seems very prevalent in people that follow Murdoch and Mays.

Maybe you should check with unicorns and see if they've actually seen signs of it other then just the insane ramblings of mad men.

[Smurf-Herder]

So you can't support your belief.

I've heard similar beliefs before and every time I ask for evidence to support it I get the same basic response. It's like asking people who was attacking Sarah Palin's family during the election. Everyone kept pointing to claims of it but no one could ever find anyone doing it.

I've always thought this was another belief created by the Neocon media and it seems very prevalent in people that follow Murdoch and Mays.

Maybe you should check with unicorns and see if they've actually seen signs of it other then just the insane ramblings of mad men.


You said yourself that all politicians lie. And you honestly believe that most of the people who voted for him didn't think he was different, with all that "Change" bullshit?

[mwillman]

All the arguments and right wing tea bagging proves that change is here.

You just don't like the change, which as far as Im concerned doesn't matter becuase it was the right that trashed the nation to begin with so why should we care how you would fix what you fucked up.

[doctordog]

You said yourself that all politicians lie. And you honestly believe that most of the people who voted for him didn't think he was different, with all that "Change" bullshit?

I didn't realize there were that many dumb people in this nation to fall for this kind of sales pitch.

603

[Bill Cosby]

None of them - that's why Obama is no better; even though most who voted for him were under the assumption he was different.

Unfortunately in our elections we vote on brands & images not actual facts.. & Even then there are not many promises & even fewer seem to have to be kept......

Speaking for myself I knew what he said & that he was not a liberal..... He is a centrist...... It was my hope that once in office he would be much more, not less "progressive" than he sold his image to be...

If he capitulates on healthcare, which seems he will, the progressives in this country are going to drop his ass............... :thumbsup:

[Bill Cosby]

I'm in a Catch-22 situation.

I qualify for the VA State employee insurance plan, if I include my daughter. According to the divorce papers, I have to have my dughter on my insurance, if I have insurance. But, my daughter lives with my ex. I can't insure my daughter under it, because she doesn't live with me. So I make $100 too much a year to qualify on my own. I checked into a private plan and it's 25% of my income. And I'm just barely making ends meet now. I'm still recovering from losing a week's pay and out-of-pocket costs with my mother's funeral back in April.

Damn you are between some big rock & a few hard places........... Can your employer cut your salary a hundred bucks??? I don't think my employer would have a problem w/ that....lol (Or what if you did an IRA w/ it???)

See this is one of my primer motivators on this issue...

The argument is often stressed these ppl are bums, don't wanna work, why don't they quit & get another job that has benefits etc.........

That is always easy for the ppl w/ coverage to tell someone... Get their ass out there, especially now & try to find something..... Most folks are feeling lucky to even have lousy jobs right now........ & they don't think about ppl in your situation that are out there working their asses off & it is just not an option right now...

I have been w/out & thankfully nothing bad happened but had it there would have been no way I could have paid off some huge med bills........ Hell I couldn't of afforded to file bankruptcy........

Police & fire protection. Is that a right???

Defense, public roads & parks & (mandatory education) public schools???? Is that a right or a privilege???

Perhaps as an American you don't believe you have the "right" but as a taxpayer you have privileges?? why not this one??

If you were French or Swiss or Japanese or Taiwanese etc you would get care offered for your tax contributions- if you like it or not......... :thumbsup:

[Bill Cosby]

I didn't realize there were that many dumb people in this nation to fall for this kind of sales pitch.

603

Carrot top likely could of beaten the man who said he didn't know much about the economy & putting the hockey mom on the ticket didn't help any either...

This didn't help much either....

http://mindreadingnews.com/media/bush-mccain.jpg

Trying to run against your own party under the best of circumstances is difficult & in this case it was insurmountable...

A lot of folks were just not buying that brand...

[Surfrider]

....White House declines to disclose visits by health industry executives

What do you know about it? Moneypenny said there was a basketball game at the White House.

http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/dvd/james-bond/4/doctor-no1_lg.jpg

[Moby]

You said yourself that all politicians lie. And you honestly believe that most of the people who voted for him didn't think he was different, with all that "Change" bullshit?
If it's so obvious than why can't you show some signs of it here?

Maybe it's just another fantasy made up by Murdoch like Rush actually reading the budget, not being able to keyword search it and the media attacking Palin's family.

Come on Smurf. Out of all the followers, you have the most smarts to think for yourself. Why won't you?

[Smurf-Herder]

If it's so obvious than why can't you show some signs of it here?

Maybe it's just another fantasy made up by Murdoch like Rush actually reading the budget, not being able to keyword search it and the media attacking Palin's family.

Come on Smurf. Out of all the followers, you have the most smarts to think for yourself. Why won't you?

Okay - you must be right.

IT WAS A FANTASY that people voted for Obama because they thought he really represented change.

:p

[Moby]

Okay - you must be right.

IT WAS A FANTASY that people voted for Obama because they thought he really represented change.

:p
Smurf, that's not what you posted and I stated earlier, we know that you listen to Beck so no one really expects you to be able to support your own beliefs since you have them given to you.

[doctordog]

Smurf, that's not what you posted and I stated earlier, we know that you listen to Beck so no one really expects you to be able to support your own beliefs since you have them given to you.

Most people's beliefs are come from knowledge and info they read, see on TV, hear on the radio, and life experiences. Sir Moby, if you never use any of that please explain how you reached your beliefs.:)

[Moby]

Most people's beliefs are come from knowledge and info they read, see on TV, hear on the radio, and life experiences. Sir Moby, if you never use any of that please explain how you reached your beliefs.:)
Oh look, the mouse is standing on Smurf's shoulder again.

I'm asking for the man, just like I've asked many before to support their belief with reason. It seems very difficult for those that follow Murdoch and Mays. There's just somethign wrong with people following well known liars.