EXCLUSIVE: Health Insurance Lobby’s Stealth Astroturf Campaign Revealed
EXCLUSIVE: Health Insurance Lobby’s Stealth Astroturf Campaign Revealed
Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that AHIP — the multimillion dollar lobbying juggernaut for the health insurance industry — has mobilized 50,000 employees to lobby Congress to defeat the public option. ThinkProgress has learned that AHIP’s grassroots lobbying is being managed by the corporate consulting firm Democracy Data & Communications. DDC has made a name for itself as one of the most effective stealth lobbying firms. Earlier this summer, DDC was caught by reporters using a front group called “Citizens for a Safe Alexandria” to attack the Obama administration for seeking to prosecute Guantanamo Bay prisoners in Alexandria, VA.
According to the server-information hub Domaintools.com, the AHIP grassroots outreach website AHIPAdvocacy.org is hosted on a server owned by DDC. Though DDC conceals the hosting of its other websites using a service called DomainsByProxy, ThinkProgress has obtained a list of the domains hosted on DDC servers. A review of this data shows that DDC maintains the grassroots outreach websites for large health insurance companies, but also for big tobacco and Koch Industries:
– phillipmorrisusaactioncenter.org (Altria)
– tobaccoissues.com (Altria)
– kochpac.com (Koch Industries)
– aetnavotes.com (Aetna)
– healthactionnetwork.org (WellPoint)
– humanapartners.com (Humana)
– ahipadvocacy.org (AHIP)
DDC is a firm that promises “high impact” outreach programs to not only influence the grassroots, but “change attitudes for the long term.” As the Washington Post explains, DDC pays over 500 contract workers to “spend much of their day telephoning people around the country and asking them to sign letters to Congress that press for legislation.” The firm helped orchestrate “grassroots” support for President Bush’s push to privatize Social Security, and helped manage online efforts for the right-wing attack group Freedom’s Watch. DDC is headed by B.R. McConnon, a former associate of Jack Abramoff’s lobbying partners, and a former employee of the Koch-funded astroturf organization known as Citizens for a Sound Economy.
Citizens for a Sound Economy — which has also received funds from private health insurers in the past and played a critical astroturf role in killing reform under Clinton — eventually split, with one wing forming Americans for Prosperity in 2003, and another forming FreedomWorks in 2004. Both organizations, which are still funded by the Koch Industries empire, were instrumental in organizing the anti-Obama tea party protests, and have been spreading misinformation and anger at the current health reform effort. Americans for Prosperity’s anti-health reform front group, Patients United, has hosted speakers comparing the House health reform bill to the Holocaust.
Curiously, DDC servers also host anti-health reform letters from the Chamber of Commerce and Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA), as well as continual news updates about the reform debate. All three documents are under a subsection titled WellPoint.
Given the stealthy nature of astroturf lobbying firms, it is difficult to discern the extent to which DDC is managing AHIP’s efforts. UnitedHealth, another large insurer, was caught recently using a call center to direct people to a radical tea party anti-health reform protest outside of the offices of Rep. Zach Space (D-OH).
Already, the health insurance industry has flexed its muscle to water down reform. After spending millions on lobbying, advertising, and direct contributions to lawmakers, the Senate Finance Committee made a major concession allowing insurers to reimburse only 65% of medical bills (down from the 76% proposed requirement). And indeed, although AHIP has made grandiose promises of self regulation, many insurers have recently broke promises made by AHIP President Karen Ignagni. On June 16, despite Ignagni’s pledges of commitment, insurance executives from UnitedHealth Group, Assurant, and WellPoint specifically refused to “commit” to ending the controversial practice of rescinding coverage after an applicant files a medical claim.
With DDC’s stealth lobbying assistance, AHIP may well kill the public option too.
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Q U E S T I O N:
If lobbyists represent Corporate America…
… Who represents The People when their Representatives have been bought and paid for by the Lobbyists?
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August 27th, 2009 at 3:05 pmNo surprises, really. I love the DKos chart today also showing how some Senators’ fundraising from lobbyists is several times times that from their own constituents… no question who they work for….
August 27th, 2009 at 3:07 pmMark Ames busted these guys, ie Freedomworks, Koch industries, Rick Santelli and the JohnBirchSociety a while back.
http://exiledonline.com/exposing-the-familiar-rightwing-pr-machine-is-cnbcs-rick-santelli-sucking-koch/
I’ll be waiting for someone other than evening MSNBC to cover it though, and blogs of course.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:09 pmshe has that i am so concern about the people that buys insurance, or i am so tired of these premium payers who want and want and need and need.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:09 pmTigger, I emailed that DKos chart to a neocon friend of mine. Very handy.
Good work!
August 27th, 2009 at 3:11 pmProstitutes that work outside the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels have more integrity than these bastards . .
August 27th, 2009 at 3:22 pmNo real surprise here for any of us. The issue remains that this revelation will go no further than this posting and maybe to Shuster/Olbermann/Maddow.
The mindless masses will continue to believe what they are being fed as if it were Gospel.
Frustrated but still hopeful…
August 27th, 2009 at 3:22 pmBut what makes me so sick is that ALL this information never gets to the mindless-masses via ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN or even NPR. They just seem to not report it! Thank goodness for places like this as well as MSNBC (for the most part!)
The whole think STINKS to high heavens…the cheating…the lying…the money…the manipulation…and on and on. I keep thinking to myself that at least a few HUNDRED million Americans would be OUTRAGED to find that the citizens are used as shills by the crooks and liars…BUT…nothing.
Very frustrating.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:24 pmtexasrick…you are SPOT on man, to my kind of thinking.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:24 pmThere is not enough money or power to convince the American people for profit plans that profit off the denial, discrimination and refusal to pay, resulting in death, is better than a public plan that does not.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:26 pmSoapBox…great minds think alike…Mike from Arlington had it down also!
August 27th, 2009 at 3:26 pmThis is really a good chance to help pull back on the tradition that money equals power and access.
Not to mention, when looking at the ethics of the company mobilized lobbying (by ordinary joes not at all representing a particular side – yeah right.) when you want to lobby for good health who is better to turn to than the lobbying group for big tobacco ?
Makes Joe-the-not-a-plumber look legit by comparison.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:33 pmIsn’t there an old joke that goes something like this…The last time I saw a mouth like this it had a hook in it!
I saw her picture and I was inspired…forgive me!
August 27th, 2009 at 3:35 pmMy, my, my…
So much money to throw around on expensive ad campaigns, lobbyists, perks, vacations, bonuses, and the like…
There just never seems to be enough money to pay for needed surgical procedures, medical tests, cat-scans, rehabilitative care and the like.
WTF?
Again, medical insurance cabal, WTF?
And you medical insurance peddlers wonder why so many of us are so goddamned angry!
Screw the repiggies, and screw the teabagger trash.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:39 pmIf you missed this piece from Rachel Maddow it’s well watching:
August 27th, 2009 at 3:41 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSZE4sr4hh
Feeling manipulated lately? Well it’s been going on for years! Richard Mellon Scaife, Pete Coors, Hunt, Kraft, Big Oil, they all roll out big bucks to fool you and then deduct it from their taxes.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:43 pmlike oil company’s lose so much money hell they get 75 cents back on each dollar spend on a well. and thats even if its a dry well.
and they want want want>>>>> its the american dream (for us) and we will make it look like taste crap for you all wrap in a nice bow.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:48 pmWhere is the support from the Cristian leaders on this very morale issue of public health care?
Either they are keeping quiet for political reasons or the media in bed with and part of the corporate powers that be are purposely not reporting it.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:53 pmThey are starting to see that they have no choice really.
We are working with several in the red state of ok right now and in a one to one they can’t deny their responsibility. We are holding their feet to the fire the best we can.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/11/health.care.religious.groups/
August 27th, 2009 at 3:57 pmKoch Industries?
Then are their money recipients known as Koch-heads and the teabaggers are called Koch-suckers?
August 27th, 2009 at 3:58 pmSorry at #15 if it didn’t work. Try this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSZE4sr4hhQ
August 27th, 2009 at 4:03 pmStill very worth watching. Thanks Rachel!
20.
Dammit, Chuck.
You beat me to a Kochsucker joke.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:09 pmCaption: Botox is my friend…
August 27th, 2009 at 4:10 pmSorry again. Last shot. Google; rachel maddow health care lobbyist
I’m going to hide now.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:17 pmljm, try it like this:
link
August 27th, 2009 at 4:21 pmEARTH TO INSECTS!
Astroturf has not been in use for close to a decade. It has been replaced by a softer form of plastic grass known widely as fieldturf. Many environmentalist whackjobs object to the use of fieldturf as part of their tree/grass hugging platforms despite fieldturf being favored by athletes and it’s cost effectiveness.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:32 pmbradshaw88
the gop is still in the 1950’s
August 27th, 2009 at 4:33 pmbradshaw88 says:
Have you been smoking ‘fieldturf?’
August 27th, 2009 at 4:36 pmbradshaw88, how sad for you that the tree huggers are now in charge.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:40 pmbradshaw88: “Many environmentalist whackjobs object to the use of fieldturf as part of their tree/grass hugging platforms despite fieldturf being favored by athletes and it’s cost effectiveness.”
Interesting. I hadn’t heard that. Can you help me out here? I’d like to go amuse myself by reading one of these “wackjobs’” pieces. Can you give me a name?
August 27th, 2009 at 4:51 pmreal men play on grass, under the sky, rain or shine.
guess that makes you the weak sister, Bradshaw88.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:57 pmTypically, the troll has a flair for the irrelevant.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that one of the most profitable industries in the U.S. should try to protect it’s business and use the dirtiest of tactics to accomplish its ends. American industry has been doing this for well over a hundred years. At least corporations can no longer hire armed thugs to gun down protesters or union organizers like they did in the 30’s and before.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:05 pmNiner – I think they can still do that.
You’ve heard of Xe, right?
August 27th, 2009 at 5:06 pmSpeaking of irrelevant, hey bradshaw. The Niners play an exhibition game in Dallas this weekend. Hows that Cowboy “fieldturf” working out down there? I hope it’s softer than that green concrete-like surface thing they’ve had in the past.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:08 pmI hear you, Tom. But, I don’t think Xe employees have opened fire on Americans in our own country yet, have they? I think Eric Prince needs to be arrested and thrown in jail before they get the chance.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:08 pmWhat would people like AHIP CEO Karen Ignagi do if they woke up one morning and found that we were going to provide public funding for all federal elections and not allow any lawmaker to accept money from corporations or groups that directly represent corporations?
August 27th, 2009 at 5:15 pmI think that down in NOLA, post-katrina, while then-Blackwater was protecting wealthy white people’s property, there were some shootings that have gone unsolved.
Not saying it was them – not saying it wasn’t.
Prince is going to end up on trial for having one of his own former employees whacked, unless he manages to have the two federally-protected witnesses against him whacked first.
p.s. I have several ancestors who were beaten by Pinkertons back in the 20’s and 30’s.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:20 pmCorporations should be allowed to make contributions to political campaigns. They should contribute to a specific political race and the politicians in that race then get to divide the money up evenly between them.
If such a system were implemented, public lobbying would dry up overnight, and it would all go underground, the way bribery normally operates.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:20 pmUp until the 1880’s, in most states it was a criminal offense (criminal, not civil!) for any corporation to give ANY money to a campaign. Another astonishing fact about how the nation used to regulate corporations – up until the late 1800’s all corporations had to dissolve after 40 years.
Many of the Founders of our country thought corporations were just another sneaky way to set up a landed aristocracy. I’ve got to say they were right on the money with that one.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:27 pmThe Whig party provided the roots of the what is now called the “Republican” party of today. The Whigs arose from pro-business thinking in the 1830s. What was the party of Lincoln, morphed into the Democrat party of today as a direct result of the civil rights movements in the 1960s. In actuality, the Democratic party was transitioning into a party of individual rights when FDR was elected and business actively took over the GOP. When civil rights became an issue Dixiecrats morphed into Blue Dog Democrats and linked to conservative business interests, some even became Republicans.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:53 pmAugust 27th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
These people really have it in for american citizens and our democracy…they would sell their grandmas
August 27th, 2009 at 6:17 pmThis is really outstanding reporting. The journalists running this site investigated the story, presented background information, and suggested motivations.
Frankly, it is stories like this one that are doing-in the traditional news media. Watch for a regular news organization to pick up this story…
August 27th, 2009 at 7:28 pmFred at #25: Thanks! I’m out of hiding for the moment.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:04 pmI guess its true ,always follow the money. It seems that the conservatives have a pretty deep well of money. They are well organized and seem to have quite a roster of “community organizers”. The whole campaign of lying to the public has people confused. This always helps the opposition party.
August 27th, 2009 at 9:42 pm.
LIKE WHEN BESET WITH A BAD CANCER…
… IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO JUST CUT IT OUT!
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August 27th, 2009 at 9:48 pmvery thanks for article!
August 31st, 2009 at 11:05 am