Special Interests vs. Voters' Interests in Massachusetts

When candidate Obama promised that the health care debate would be televised on C-Span, he said it was so that everyone would be able to see who represents the voters and who represents the special interests.

Specifically, then-Sen. Obama said on the campaign trail that "we'll have the negotiations televised on C-SPAN, so the people can see who is making arguments on behalf of their constituents and who is making arguments on behalf of the drug companies or the insurance companies."

Based on candidate Obama's promise, one might reasonably expect President Obama to see that this important debate is conducted in an environment in which constituent interests would get fair representation.  Transparency!  That's the ticket! 

Well, transparency is definitely not in the cards.  And if there is any doubt about which interests Democrats represent, special or voters', look to the Massachusetts special election between Republican Scott Brown and Democrat Martha Coakley.  The seat held by the late Senator Ted Kennedy is up for grabs and a victory by Scott Brown represents the potential 41st vote against Democrats' health care legislation.

As first reported by Timothy Carney of the Washington Examiner, the host committee for the fundraiser at Pennsylvania Avenue's Sonoma Restaurant includes lobbyists for Pfizer, Merck, Eli Lilly, Novartis and sundry other drug companies that have been among the biggest of ObamaCare's corporate sponsors. Other hosts—who have raised at least $10,000 for Ms. Coakley—include representatives from UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana and other insurers. As far as we can tell, the insurance industry claims to oppose ObamaCare's current incarnation.

Naturally, lobbyists from America's Health Insurance Plans and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the major trade groups, were on hand too. Money follows power in Washington, obviously, though this example seems especially inexplicable given that Ms. Coakley's GOP opponent, state senator Scott Brown, may be the last chance to defuse the health-care doomsday machine. But maybe someone in the press corps will bother to mention this episode the next time President Obama takes aim at the "special interests" he claims are opposing his agenda.

Against overwhelming public opposition, the only things keeping ObamaCare alive at this point are power politics and the misguided corporate cease-fire that Democrats have either coerced or bought—or is homegrown at companies like Pfizer that are deeply invested in more government control of the economy. Ms. Coakley's election would make that outcome a certainty.

When Democrats complain about special interests, it's important to recognize that government is its own special interest.

Comments

[David Shea]

You're right on the MONEY! I'm a MA resident and I really really hope my vote counts for once this time! I've coined a new term you may like: Transaccountparenceability, it's what happens when you combine Transparency and Accountability but appear to not to get either, it's kinda like invisible accountability. :-D

[Tom Bowler]

David, its' not a matter of hope. Your vote counts. Call five friends and tell them to call five friends. Go vote for Brown!

[Geoff Brown]

I am aghast that anyone in the healthcare industry would deal with anyone supporting Demcare. Talk about buying the rope that is meant to hang you! Or, perhaps they are just trying to soften up the rapists who are about to gang assault them. Either way, stupid gets a whole new paragraph.

[Tom Bowler]

Well Geoff, you can make the case that a CEO is doing what's best for his company and its shareholders by converting it to a public utility. Guaranteed income with periodic rate hikes. It's a lousy idea as far as I'm concerned. It damages our economy and results in higher prices for whatever is being regulated. Airline de-regulation, phone company de-regulation, just about any de-regulation results in lower costs and better service because of increased competition.