As heard on Larry Kudlow/CNBC..Hadassah Lieberman works for Lobbyist!

[KoKo]

Joe Conason: Sen. Lieberman Literally in Bed With Drug Lobby

Posted on Jul 12, 2006

By Joe Conason

Lieberman dutifully recites his opposition to “tax cuts for the rich” and “privatizing Social Security,” and his support of “universal health insurance” and “affordable healthcare.” When he utters those phrases, unfortunately, they ring hollow to many rank-and-file Democrats.

Actually, the syndrome afflicting him is found among entrenched veterans of both parties, especially those who appear more concerned with connections and contributions than values or ideals.

Sen. Lieberman has long been known to cultivate the insurance and pharmaceutical industries, which provide jobs in his home state and contributions to his campaign fund. But he has literally been sleeping with one of their Washington representatives ever since his wife, Hadassah, joined Hill & Knowlton last year. The legendary lobbying and PR firm hired her as a “senior counselor” in its “health and pharmaceuticals practice.”

This news marked Hadassah Lieberman’s return to consulting after more than a decade of retirement. “I have had a life-long commitment to helping people gain better health care,” she said in the press release announcing her new job. “I am excited about the opportunity to work with the talented team at Hill & Knowlton to counsel a terrific stable of clients toward that same goal.”

It would be uplifting to imagine that Hill & Knowlton—after spending the past decade as a defendant in tobacco class-action lawsuits because of its role in propaganda disputing the deadly effects of smoking—is now devoted to improving everybody’s health. More likely, the firm remains devoted to improving the profits of its clientele, which has historically included Enron, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, Saudis, Kuwaitis, American International Group and Boeing.

more on Conason challenging Hill & Knowlton ....at

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:szAnKhWrSDYJ:www.truthdig.com/report/item/20060712_conason_lieberman_drug_lobby/+Hadassah+Lieberman+works+for+Hill+%26+Knowlton&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

[autorank]

1. Very K&R!!!!!!!! Thanks KoKo01 for sharing smokin' Joe Conason.

:sarcasm:
But when will these "personal attacks" stop. Just because Mrs. L works for a major lobbying firm and rakes in several hundred thousand dollars a year (you can be very sure) doesn't mean there is any conflict of interest. Oh sure, there's the appearance of conflict of interest...but Joe is an honorable man, he'd never let that happen. Any are you saying that Joe would be influenced by those who help Mrs. L. Shocked...but Joe is an honorable man, he'd never let that happen.

Oh, I could go on and on but I'm laughing too hard. What a big fat phony!!! To think, he went to the floor and nailed Clinton when he and other Democrats were really on the ropes.

Joe, you are a real piece of...work.

Nice grab, thank you:)

[KoKo]

6. What a piece of work..he is.

There's a "little below" on the thread for folks who want to know more...:D


Threw an election to Bush...and sanctimonius to the end. Hey...he knows how to "make a buck" and has some kids and maybe a grandkid or two.....we shouldn't PILE ON HIM should we?

:sarcasm:

[GrpCaptMandrake]

2. Sung to the tune of "Crazy"

"Sleazy . . . "

[Fridays Child]

3. K&R...

Holy Joe's wife is as smarmy as him. You know, I adore Al Gore (and would support/vote for him in a New York minute) but I wish he had never picked Lieberman. It seems like, ever since then, Lieberman has been a thorn in the Democratic party's side.

[Turbineguy]

4. Hill & Knowlton...

Where have I heard that name before?

Weren't they the people that cooked up the famous babies being tossed out of incubators story to make sure we all wanted to get those Iraqis in GWI?

[KoKo]

7. ENRON! BCCI! and more..............

just hit the "links" provided.

[KoKo]

5. a little more of this "stuff" Lieberman & Wife have done:

his news marked Hadassah Lieberman’s return to consulting after more than a decade of retirement. “I have had a life-long commitment to helping people gain better health care,” she said in the press release announcing her new job. “I am excited about the opportunity to work with the talented team at Hill & Knowlton to counsel a terrific stable of clients toward that same goal.”

It would be uplifting to imagine that Hill & Knowlton—after spending the past decade as a defendant in tobacco class-action lawsuits because of its role in propaganda disputing the deadly effects of smoking—is now devoted to improving everybody’s health. More likely, the firm remains devoted to improving the profits of its clientele, which has historically included Enron, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, Saudis, Kuwaitis, American International Group and Boeing.

When a senator’s wife works for one of the capital’s largest lobby shops, appearances tend to matter. In this case, something happened immediately that didn’t look very good.

Mrs. Lieberman signed up with Hill & Knowlton in March 2005. The firm’s clients included GlaxoSmithKline, the British pharmaceutical giant that manufactures flu vaccines along with many other drugs. In April 2005, Sen. Lieberman introduced a bill that would award an array of new government “incentives” to companies like GSK to produce more vaccines—notably patent extensions on other products, at a cost of billions to governments and consumers.

That legislation provoked irritated comment by his hometown newspaper, the New Haven Register. In an editorial headlined “Lieberman Crafts Drug Company Perk,” the Register noted that his bill was even more generous to the pharmaceutical industry than a similar proposal by the Senate Republican leadership. “The government can offer incentives and guarantees for needed public health measures,” said the editorial. “But it should not write a blank check, as these bills do, to the pharmaceutical industry that has such a large cost to the public with what may be an uncertain or dubious return.”

No doubt Lieberman would do the bidding of the pharmaceutical lobby whether his wife was on its payroll or not, but this kind of coincidence is best avoided by a man who lectures the world about morality and ethics.

The senator has demanded that Ned Lamont, his challenger in next month’s Democratic primary, release his income tax returns, which must mean that he plans to do likewise. His latest financial disclosure lists Mrs. Lieberman’s compensation from Hill & Knowlton only as “more than $1000.” Presumably his tax returns will show how much more—and measure his distance from the people he represents.

[KoKo]

8. DU'er posts on what Hadassah was up to before Joe ran with Gore, here:

Emit (1000+ posts) Mon Jul-24-06 07:39 PM
Response to Original message
8. And here's some scoop on where she worked previously

Edited on Mon Jul-24-06 07:41 PM by Emit
The MoJo Wire (Mother Jones)

On May 13, 1993, Sen. Lieberman's wife (who in 1993 worked for the National Academy of Sciences, and who now works for APCO Associates--a DC lobbying firm) purchased between 1,000 and 15,000 dollars worth of stock in USX Corp. (formerly US Steel).

On the same day (May 13), a bill was introduced in the Senate that would cause USX some concern. The bill was S. 965: TOXIC CLEANUP EQUITY ACT...To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response and Compensation Act of 1980 to provide relief to local taxpayers, municipalities, and small businesses regarding the cleanup of hazardous substances (Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee; Not Enacted). This bill was introduced to prevent industrial polluters from passing liability onto small businesses and municipalities. ...

~snip~

POLITICAL MONEY NOTES: On June 30, 1993 (1 and 1/2 months after the stock purchase), Sen. Lieberman received $2,000 from Richard F. Lerach (a class-action attorney for USX Corp.). I believe that Richard Lerach is related to William Lerach (a class-action attorney with the San Diego firm of Milberg, Weiss, Bershad, Hynes and Lerach). William Lerach specializes in SHAREHOLDER class-action suits against firms and their management; these suits contend misinformation related to stock purchases.

MORE POLITICAL MONEY NOTES: On June 30, 1993, Sen. Lieberman received $10,000 from the Bergreen family. Bernard Bergreen is employed by the Gilman Paper Company (one of the top-three industrial polluters in Georgia). Karen Bergreen is employed by the lobbying firm Winston Strawn. Also working for Winston Strawn is former Rep. Eckart (co-author of the 1986 Superfund law). Through Winston Strawn, former Rep. Eckart is counsel to (i.e., lobbyist for) the American Insurance Association regarding Superfund legislation. In 1993, Sen. Lieberman received $2,000 from the American Insurance Association, including a $1,000 contribution on April 15, 1993 (one month before the USX stock purchase).

~snip~

SPOUSE NOTES: According to a September 19, 1994 article in Roll Call, Sen. Lieberman's wife (Hadassah) now works for the lobbying firm APCO Associates. A senior Vice-President of APCO is Michael Lewan (former aid to Sen. Lieberman). APCO does lobby on legislation concerning hazardous waste (one example client--Heart of America Northwest in Seattle, WA).


http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45c/168.html

On edit, did you know that Michael Ledeen's wife works as an aide to Rick Santorum?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Wow, the things I learn on DU are very enlightening.