EXCLUSIVE: Infamous Astroturf Lobbying Firm Behind New Anti-Health Reform Group
EXCLUSIVE: Infamous Astroturf Lobbying Firm Behind New Anti-Health Reform Group
The new anti-health reform front group known as the Coalition to Protect Patients’ Rights, is being managed by the lobbying firm known as the DCI Group. After being contacted by ThinkProgress this afternoon about its sponsorship of CPPR’s press conference last week, DCI Group staffers acknowledged that they coordinate PR for the front group. Not be confused with Conservatives for Patients’ Rigths, another front group opposing health reform, CPPR has been organizing lobbying efforts against health reform and publishing op-eds across the country with misinformation about the public option.
Tom Synhorst, a former staffer to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Bob Dole, joined fellow right-wing operatives Doug Goodyear and Tim Hyde to form DCI Group in 1996. The firm quickly flourished working for the tobacco industry, coordinating a sophisticated astroturf campaign to build public opposition to tobacco regulations. Ironically, before helping to manage this “patients’ rights” campaign, DCI founded “Smokers’ Rights” groups across the country for the tobacco lobby. Indeed, DCI has specialized in manufacturing “grassroots” support — using telemarketers, PR events, and letter writing campaigns — to achieve policy results for narrow corporate interests:
– The DCI Group was retained by the pharmaceutical industry to whip up public opposition against House legislation that would permit the reimportation of FDA-approved drugs from Canada and elsewhere. [Washington Monthly, December/2003]
– The DCI Group worked with Republicans to form various “grassroots” front-groups to amplify President Bush’s call to privatize Social Security. [Center for Media and Democracy, 3/18/05]
– Chris LaCivita, a former DCI Group staffer, took a lead role in organizing the Swift Boat Veterans campaign to smear John Kerry and his war record. [CommonDreams, 8/31/04]
– The DCI Group was behind spoof videos mocking Al Gore and global warming. The firm has been retained by ExxonMobil to lobby. [Wall Street Journal, 8/3/06; Exxon Secrets, accessed 7/28/09
While it is unclear who is funding this latest CPPR front group, DCI has in the past worked for health insurance companies. In 2002, the American Prospect reported that DCI had been hired by the Health Benefits Coalition, a trade association of for-profit HMOs trying to “thwart congressional action on the patients’ bill of rights. ”
CPPR is led by Donald Palmisano, a tort reform consultant. Although the American Medical Association has endorsed the House health reform bill with a public option, Palmisano has been using his title as a former AMA president to smear reform.
Not only does DCI’s involvement in CPPR diminish its credibility as a genuine grassroots coalition, but Palmisano himself has proven less than committed to the interests of both doctors and patients. Under Palmisano’s tenure over the AMA, the organization pursued an arrangement known as “licensure,” a system that involved the AMA selling drug companies its “Masterfile” of doctor profiles, spanning everything from detailed biographic information to an individual doctor’s prescription-writing history. The program, which has generated millions of dollars for the AMA, is extremely controversial since drug companies in turn use the information to aggressively market their products to doctors.
Palmisano defended the practice, telling one Reuters reporter, “I use the analogy of a car dealership. If the dealer sells a car and that car causes damage, you don’t shut down the dealership.”
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Another Smiling Jack Shitweasel.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:01 pmOk, is anybody really surprised by this?
July 28th, 2009 at 7:04 pmIf you hold a mirror up to Donald, can he see his own reflection?
July 28th, 2009 at 7:08 pmDante would have a field day apportioning new, darker circles in Hell for the likes of this man and his ilk.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:17 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Hmmm, nice photo. Looks like he could sell a used Volvo to Larry the Cable Guy.
:|
I wonder if when they’re done we could hire them to manage PR for our local cockfighting chapter.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:20 pmThe neocons will not be happy until all Americans who have surgery get at least 4 huge cotton balls, a scalpel, and the wrong organ/limb taken out/off when they have surgery to prove tort reform is not needed! See? To the neocons this is the epitome of what it means to be the ‘most powerful health insurance system in the world’.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:21 pmPalmisano defended the practice, telling one Reuters reporter, “I use the analogy of a car dealership. If the dealer sells a car and that car causes damage, you don’t shut down the dealership.”
– - Well, no, but if it happens enough the car company goes Chapter 11 and comes begging to the Feds for billions in bailout funds.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:21 pmOne thing we know is that these people have no problem giving the American people the finger. They have bought off the dems to the point where it doesn’t even matter how many dems we elect. Sixty means nothing.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:21 pmIs Donald wearing the American flag inside the Chevron Oil logo?
July 28th, 2009 at 7:22 pmthe Coalition to Protect Patients’ Rights,
– - This is a bit like Dracula in charge of protecting the blood bank. Especially considering that photo…
July 28th, 2009 at 7:24 pmAmazing how much money the insurance and pharmceutical companies are wasting on lobbying against healthcare reform.
They’ve got a lot of money from denying claims and overcharging people. This further confirms how high their level of GREED is and shows their lack of respect for human life.
You know Republic of Stupidity – I don’t think Donald could see his reflection because he’s not human.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:24 pmNone of this is actually happening. I think there must be an infranuclear glitch, and we are fading into a parallel universe. Didn’t Nancy Pelosi tell us she brought us lobbyist reform after 2006?
Actually this b%$lsh%# should be illegal, and actually used to be.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:26 pmPalmisano defended the practice, telling one Reuters reporter, “I use the analogy of a car dealership. If the dealer sells a car and that car causes damage, you don’t shut down the dealership.”
Filthy.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:31 pmScum – money is their only god – and forget the idea of community or caring for your neighbor,
What? you decided to work for a non-profit, so you can make a living and still sleep at night – Sucker!
I can’t believe I’m the same species as these (no word bad enough – help me)
July 28th, 2009 at 7:34 pmI use this analogy: When there’s a weasel in the chicken coop, shoot the weasel.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:39 pmPalmisano defended the practice, telling one Reuters reporter, “I use the analogy of a car dealership. If the dealer sells a car and that car causes damage, you don’t shut down the dealership.”
But if that particular type of car continuously causes damage, the manufacturer is forced to fix the car through a recall; and the dealership is shutdown to a degree by using its workforce to repair the errant car(s) rather than focus on normal “service”.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:41 pmWell, if the bill gets completely mucked up and does not pass, President Obama has definitely heard from all sides what it is we want. I would love it if a clean bill was issued directly from him the next time.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:44 pmhawaiianchica423 says:
You know what’s really important…
… voting you down and Reporting you for spamming? You betcha!
July 28th, 2009 at 7:47 pmI ask again. Why does Borgen claim to have lived on a fishing vessel in Dutch Harbor but never makes the claim to have fished? What gives. Why don’t they spam less and make more sandwiches? When I get pretty boy Borgen here to explain his pussy crab fishing crap, then I will consider a donation. Till then Borgen is a poser rich kid with too much time on his hands…
July 28th, 2009 at 7:51 pmFrom rhf’s link to the Maxine Waters article:
I can see why the Blue Dogs are having problems deciding.
**eyes rolling**
July 28th, 2009 at 7:53 pmIt is looking more and more like Rahm is closely related to Cheney. If this administration tanks we can thank two people. Rahm for his political greed and Obama for letting it into the Whitehouse.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:54 pmThat shitweasel makes my skin crawl.
July 28th, 2009 at 8:10 pmIt appears that the PR campaigns for and against the health care bill are gearing up for the showdown in September. Fortunately, many families take vacations in August so all this advertising is not going to reach as many people as it would in other months.
July 28th, 2009 at 8:14 pmSlightly off topic,
I watched The Yes Men Save the World Last Night on HBO.
They pulled off a huge stunt on BBC regarding payment by Dow to fix the Bophal disaster in India. Cost Dow stock over $2b in less than half an hour.
They went on to an idustry trade show with a gilded skeleton and gave a talk on how having skeletons in your corporate past is o.k. Just as long as they are Golden Skeletons.
Really pegged the bastards.
July 28th, 2009 at 8:17 pmDemocrats should take the lead on this health issue and not drag their feet, fight among themselves and wait for Republicans to join them.
They have the a sizeable majority in the House, they control 60 seats in the Senate…they control the White House…What are they waiting for?
If Democrats can’t pass a health bill now, they will never be able to do it again in the future.
This is their opportunity, if Democrats are really sincere.
American people are watching.
July 28th, 2009 at 8:18 pmJesus Christ! I’m getting pissed. Millions are without Health Care. Millions are underinsured. Every friggin day people are losing their benefits. That means thousands won’t go for preventive care. These SOBs are friggin rich and DON’T GIVE A DAMN! How many more Americans will die needlessly because of a lack of insurance? How many young people will be shoved in the poor house if they have a major illness? How long will these people delay? People are DYING.
July 28th, 2009 at 8:22 pmNot to insult slime – but these anti-reform groups are the worst kind of slimeballs!
July 28th, 2009 at 8:49 pmPoliticians in Washington D.C. who keep scaring people about a socialized medicine and socialism that is in the making need to be reminded that their own health cost bill is payed by taxpayers,and taxpayers are only asking for the same treatment.
July 28th, 2009 at 8:50 pmI was reading an interesting story about some Chinese Steel factory workers who beat the owner of the factory to death because he was going to sell the factory and lay off 30,000 workers! Imagine these slimeball blue dogs, rethuglicans and corporate lobbyists pulling this BS in China! ROTFL!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/28/mob-beats-chinese-steel-f_n_246636.html
July 28th, 2009 at 8:58 pmMy mistake – It was actually the steel factory executive that was beaten to death who had purchased the factory.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-china-mob27-2009jul27,0,3235364.story
I’m not encouraging violence but I always wonder if these blue dogs would be as willing to oppose the will of the people if they had to face angry mobs! ROTFL!
July 28th, 2009 at 9:03 pmMaybe instead of calling 911 when we have a medical emergency without insurance, we should call our House & Senate members instead, so that way when we die they at least knew what one American had to go through? They might get the idea that something needs to be done…..fast!
July 28th, 2009 at 9:04 pmThis is all about money. The health industry makes millions and the executives are rich because of it. The current political system will always favor those who have the most money. The Dems are not clean on this either. They have been bought as well and until Americans begin to toss the blind supporters of big business out of Congress, the average Americans’ interest will not be acknowledged.
July 28th, 2009 at 9:47 pmShould I assume that some of their money is laundered from the RNC ?
July 28th, 2009 at 9:47 pmSlightly Tangential:
Wasn’t there a repub who in the last few days said he hadn’t met a physician who was for the proposed healthcare reform ?
If so, I just say Howard Dean on Countdown. Of course Dean is a physician and he really seemed to be for reform. So wy haven’t the two congress critters met each other ?
July 28th, 2009 at 9:50 pmThe Yes Men are brilliant, aren’t they? The way the crowds they address respond to their presentations illustrates like nothing else can the way that the master’s of industry think.
July 28th, 2009 at 9:59 pmPresident Obama could create the necessary funding for a robust public health care insurance program at the stroke of a pen. He could end our twin imperial occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq and divert the !2 billion dollars per month being spent on these stupid occupations and put into the public option. The $144B annual savings of getting us out of Afghanistan and Iraq would more than cover the cost of the public option, estimated at $100B per year.
Cheers.
July 28th, 2009 at 10:00 pm” If the dealer sells a car and that car causes damage, you don’t shut down the dealership.”
YES YOU DO, if the dealership knowingly sells a defective, inferior, and dangerous vehicle that ends up hurting someone.
What they are “selling” can end up hurting a lot of people.
July 28th, 2009 at 10:03 pmCPPR = Coalition to Protect Provider’s Revenue.
July 28th, 2009 at 10:24 pmPalmisano and his ilk are, fortunately, becoming more and more marginalized among physicians. Yes, they are vocal, and obnoxious, and so get the ears of many legislators, they do not represent most physicians. Consider that the AMA, AOA, ACP, AAFP, AAP, ACS, ACOG and other physician organizations are behind HC reform. there is a block of medical societies in the south pushing back, but they are being marginalized by their peers.
Palmisano sends out a newsletter. I took one down recently:
http://cmhmd.blogspot.com/2009/06/health-care-reform-old-school.html
Cheers,
July 28th, 2009 at 10:26 pmThese guys are so scared that the fear mongering machine of health care is spending $1.4 million a day to keep us sick and soon to be dead………..a disgusting commentary on health care in the USA.
July 28th, 2009 at 11:35 pmDisgusting commentary on the fourth estate and education also.
July 28th, 2009 at 11:58 pm.
Ladies and Gentlemen, here we see American Democracy in action…
… On one hand there is We, The People; On the other hand there is Big Pharma and Mega Conglomerates.
I guess we see who our elected Officials prefer to represent…
… And 10:1 it ain’t We, The People.
.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:22 am.
Coalition to Protect Patients’ Rights…
… to be denied treatment!
.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:23 amOval12345678 aka James K. Sayre says:
President Obama could create the necessary funding for a robust public health care insurance program at the stroke of a pen. He could end our twin imperial occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq and divert the !2 billion dollars per month being spent on these stupid occupations and put into the public option.
No, he cannot create the funding. Ending the wars does not allow him to spend money in other areas. All appropriations must originate in the House of Reps. Any money must be used for the appropriation purpose.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:47 amhawaiianchica423says,
You know what’s really important… global poverty. The Borgen Project has some good information on the cost of addressing global poverty (www.borgenproject.org).
July 29th, 2009 at 1:10 amIt only takes $30 billion annually to end world hunger!
Yet… we are spending $550 billion annually on the defense budget
—————————————————–
and yet we will spend $2.4 trillion on health care alone which is almost 20 percent of our GDP.Disgusting isn`t it?
I can’t wait until that smarmy mug is off the top of the page…
July 29th, 2009 at 2:20 amJuly 29th, 2009 at 2:36 am
*Makes menatl note* Never buy a car from Palmisano. It is most likely a lemon.
July 29th, 2009 at 3:00 amGraham’s got to be kidding and would he do this?
“He’s going to have to choose pretty soon,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said Tuesday.
If Obama decides to run roughshod over the Republicans, Graham said, “he’ll ruin his administration” by destroying his image as a political healer under a big tent.
July 29th, 2009 at 3:18 amI get the feeling that the Dems are using the promises of:
Healthcare reform
Restoring fair tax rates, closing loopholes for top earners
Ending the wars
Strengthening unions and the middle class
Cleaning up the environment, clean energy
Ending lobbyist and special interest power and access
Re-regulation and transparency
Gay rights
etc. ad infinitum
the same way the GNOP has used:
Ending abortion
Defense of marriage
School prayer
Cutting taxes
Smaller government
Gun rights
School vouchers
They are nothing more than buzz words, catch phrases, pet causes designed to gin up their bases. The parties have no intention of delivering, but each election season they roll out the same promises, and We the People, depending on which side of the fence we prefer, willingly donate money, go door to door, and show up on election day believing that, this time, our candidate(s) will deliver.
Oh, we’ve been told “it takes time, change is hard” but when I look back at how the GNOP has played it’s “base” over the last 30+ years, I realize that we Dems are now being played the same way.
We won’t get healthcare reform, at least not the kind that could actually make a difference, any more than we’ll reach any of the other lofty goals we were promised. BushCo looted the treasury, making sure that there was “no money left behind” for the Dems to enact any change… even if they were so inclined.
We’ve been had.
PEACE
July 29th, 2009 at 4:06 amYet… we are spending $550 billion annually on the defense budget
Our Repukes at work. Ending global poverty by killing the poor one oppressed individual at a time.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:09 amThe political situation has reversed since the Clintons tried to reform healthcare more than a decade ago. And yet the bill we seem likely to get is no better–and possibly worse. I thought for sure we could do better than this.
Consider: The Clintons were trying to get their bill passed at the height of the Republican Revolution. By contrast, the Repubs are now on their knees.
The press hated the Clintons, and it loves Obama.
There was a multi-million-dollar smear campaign directed against Bill Clinton and his family. To my knowledge, there is nothing that intense going on against Obama–just some ditzy birthers and such.
Obama has the internet to fight the smears, whereas back in the 90s, you only heard what the corporate media–i.e., the Republicans–wanted you to hear. A large percentage of today’s Democrats will go to their graves believing right-wing disnformation about their own President. What a signal triumph for the right-wing slime machine.
With all those advantages, we’re watching our hopes slowly sink–AGAIN.
Obama’s favorite political technique–of “preemptive capitulation”–isn’t helping much, either.
Video: Holes in History
July 29th, 2009 at 6:55 amMany of you are coming to the conclusion that the health care reform initiative is close to be defeated…I fear you are right.
I feel helpless in seeing this happen. I’ve emailed ALL the Democratic Senators and the Bluedog Congressmen at their website BlueDog@mail.house.gov several times…please take the time to so also.
The AARP meeting will help a little due to their strong lobby. I wish we could organize better…any ideas?
July 29th, 2009 at 7:59 amThe reality is if not for the power hungry poop sucking ego maniacal blue dog democrats… the rethuglicans, insurance companies, kkk members could advertise their hate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on every channel on every cable network in the US and it wouldn’t matter
July 29th, 2009 at 8:34 amIf they defeat this, then fine. We come right back with single payer.
July 29th, 2009 at 8:35 amThis point has been raised before, the health care industry not only dictates medical decisions, but also have major influence on our politicians and the reforms that could change our lives, such as healthcare reform.
Major healthare interestes have spent 1.4 million per day lobbying Congress this year. And, the majority of this lobbying money is going to those congressmen and women serving on the committees and subcommittees dealing with health care reform.
One of the primary issues here is campaign finance reform. We may not be able to see robust health care reform until we address reform to campaign finance. There will be a hearing on a bill addressing this issue, the Fair Elections Now Act, tomorrow in the House Administration Committee.
July 29th, 2009 at 9:25 amHe has such a nice smile for someone with so much blood on his hands.
July 29th, 2009 at 10:23 amGuess who else is an inveterate astroturfer…
David Axlerod
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/mar2008/db20080314_121054.htm
Is it wrong to astroturf? Or is it wrong to astroturf the wrong thing? First amendment, anyone?
July 29th, 2009 at 1:26 pmYou idiot. The 1st Amendment has nothing to do with exposing the multi-national corporate funding and right-wing media promotion for teabaggers. The lie that the teabaggers are a grassroots movement should be exposed for the fraud that it is. That is not government interference of free speech.
Gawd you are stupid.
July 29th, 2009 at 3:10 pm