David Sirota: UnitedHealth Lobbyist Announces Pelosi Fundraiser As She Begins Backing Off PubOption

[OhioChick]

Fri Sep 11, 2009 at 17:47

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the first time yesterday suggested she may be backing off her support of the public option. According to CNN, Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid "said they would support any provision that increases competition and accessibility for health insurance - whether or not it is the public option favored by most Democrats." When "asked if inclusion of a public option was a non-negotiable demand - as her previous statements had indicated Pelosi ruled out any non-negotiable positions," according to CNN. This was also corroborated by the Associated Press, and by Pelosi's own words, as quoted in those stories.
This announcement came just hours before Steve Elmendorf, a registered UnitedHealth lobbyist and the head of UnitedHealth's lobbying firm Elmendorf Strategies, blasted this email invitation throughout Washington, D.C. I just happened to get my hands on a copy of the invitation from a source - check out this OpenLeft exclusive:


From: Steve Elmendorf
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 8:31 AM
Subject: event with Speaker Pelosi at my home
You are cordially invited to a reception with

Speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi

Thursday, September 24, 2009
6:30pm ~ 8:00pm

At the home of
Steve Elmendorf
2301 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Apt. 7B
Washington, D.C.

$5,000 PAC
$2,400 Individual

To RSVP or for additional information please contact
Carmela Clendening at [phone] or [e-mail]

Steve Elmendorf
ELMENDORF STRATEGIES
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS SOLUTIONS
900 7th Street NW Suite 750 Washington DC 20001
[phone]

Again, Elmendorf is a registered lobbyist for UnitedHealth, and his firm's website brags about its work for UnitedHealth on its website (Elmendorf was also a chief of staff for Democratic Minority Leader Dick Gephardt).

The sequencing here is important: Pelosi makes her announcement and then just hours later, the fundraising invitation goes out. Coincidental? I'm guessing no - these things rarely ever are.

I wrote a book a few years ago called Hostile Takeover whose premise was that corruption and legalized bribery has become so widespread that nobody in Washington even tries to hide it. This is about as good an example of that truism as I've ever seen.

http://www.openleft.com/diary/15066/unitedhealth-lobbyist-announces-big-fundraiser-for-pelosi-as-she-backs-off-public-option

[Slit Skirt]

1. I just posted this

and there are some people that are determined to kick my ass
good luck..I hope you do better

[OhioChick]

2. Some don't like the truth, huh? n/t

[create.peace]

3. exactly!! i am not understanding the denial!nt

[ihavenobias]

4. I really didn't think Democrats were as bad as Republicans in that regard.

Granted, maybe most aren't, but I've come to realize that a disgustingly high number are. It's getting to be more and more pathetic.

[debbierlus]

5. That is what is killing me - I thought people were in this for the people and true change

Not blind obedience to a party.

[Slit Skirt]

6. I understand....keep the faith....

I pissed off a few people today...but bowed out of arguing.

I just spent the last couple of days watching woodstock, john lennon and the antiwar movement...we can still change this world..but first of all we have to be honest with ourselves

[nightrain]

9. don't forget there are the true believers....heavily in denial....

[tnlefty]

7. I must say that it's beyond pathetic.

I don't care which side of the aisle is tainted with even an appearance of corruption, I don't tolerate it, and I'm just dumbfounded at times. I suppose that some people just can't handle the truth.

But this is rather openly brazen. For years as I was working elections and driving people to vote I couldn't understand the numbers of people who just wouldn't go to vote. Over time, I think I've begun to understand.

[Slit Skirt]

8. I would agree ..this is openly brazen

[tnlefty]

12. I visited the thread that you started....

rec.'d it, but the excuses made me laugh. If it's possible to shoot the messenger through the intertubes then Sirota is full of holes, and automatically discredited, too.

[joeycola]

11. I know what you mean.

[tnlefty]

14. A belated Welcome to DU, joeycola!

:hi:

[joeycola]

17. Thanks very much.

[ihavenobias]

13. FYI, I just posted a good video with Sirota in the video section.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x369682

[salguine]

10. There's the address...sure be a shame of a mob of protesters showed up.

[tnlefty]

15. Heh,

I'd settle for a bunch of people with cameras.

[nashville_brook]

16. wasn't the whole beltway strategy to undercut Repooplican fundraising. Mission Accomplished.

health care reform, not so much.

[dgibby]

18. Best Congress money can buy.

Disgusting! They (both sides) don't even try to hide it anymore.:mad: :puke:

[tnlefty]

19. The Best Democracy That Money Can Buy...

I'll be checking out Greg Palast's site in the next few days.

[alarimer]

20. The fix is in

I don't believe there is a whole lot of difference between the parties, just two sides to the same corporate coin.

[Dr.Phool]

21. At least she didn't visit Jack Abramoff in prison!

:sarcasm:

At least I don't think she did.