Pelosi bites hand that feeds her?
Over the past few days, with the healthcare reform debate raging in Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has lit into the U.S. insurance industry.
“Immoral” and “villains” are among the words she has used to describe the companies for their opposition to a publicly run health plan. And she has castigated their policies of refusing to take care of pre-existing medical conditions and capping benefits of cancer patients.
“The glory days are coming to an end,” Pelosi warned those companies, vowing to build support for the bill she’s pushing.
But will the tough talk bring to an end insurance industry campaign contributions to Pelosi?
For the current 2009-2010 election cycle, insurance industry contributions to Pelosi total $41,000, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Only health professionals have given her more money, $113,000, according to the group, which tracks campaign contributions to lawmakers and lobbying activities. In the 2007-2008, of the top 20 industries contributing to her, insurance contributions ranked fifth, totaling $177,000 out of a total $3.78 million raised.
“As the Speaker’s opposition to the health insurance companies being in charge of America’s health care shows, there is no link between political contributions and positions on policy,” said Brendan Daly, a spokesman for Pelosi.
Dave Levinthal, spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics, said of the mismatch between the contributions and Pelosi’s criticisms: “They have a right to donate money to her. She has a right speak her mind.”
House Democrats block Republican call for probe of Pelosi
There was political theater, drama, but no surprise ending on Thursday on a topic involving spies, torture and truth in the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives.
Republicans again ripped into Speaker Nancy Pelosi for accusing the CIA of misleading Congress — and her fellow Democrats quickly blocked their bid for a bipartisan probe into her truthfulness. The vote was 252-172.
“The Republicans … have been focused on the politics of personal destruction,” House Democratic leader House Steny Hoyer said afterward.
Hoyer also accused Republicans of trying to divert attention from the Bush administration’s treatment of prisoners as well as Democratic efforts this year to revamp healthcare and move the nation toward energy independence.
Democrats rushed to Pelosi’s defense earlier this week, saying they believe her statement that the CIA did not inform her at a September 2002 briefing that it had used waterboarding, simulated drowning widely denounced as torture, during interrogations of suspected enemy combatants.
Prior to the House vote, Republican leader John Boehner, who has pounded Pelosi for saying the CIA had misled Congress, said, “Getting to the bottom of this quickly is important.”
getplaning. No it does not vindicate Nancy Pelosi. Nancy lied and then lied again until finally her advisors told her to make no more comments. She is just a plain old fashioned liar. In addition, don’t even try to equate her to the CIA which really does saves lives, even yours. It is quite amazing how you conjure up the evils of republicans while always defending anything democrat. But you know by now that is a senseless story. The problems we face are not democrat or republican because they are all guilty of our downfall.
The senate intelligence committee is part of congress right? Well, that is the problem. It isn’t as though they are into objective reporting. They are out to demonize the republicans so they can remain in power. I wouldn’t bet my life they are reporting facts. Since you are into half truths, I would be willing to bet that’s the bottom line with their report too. I know, it goes both ways, so save the the evils of republicans because it misses the point (there are enough evil democrats to level the playing field).
As for the 20 million plus Rush, Hannity and so on listeners. Again, a tenuous assertion…no you are just an angry liberal. You act as though the vast numbers of listeners just tuned in to Rush and all. He has been on the air for 20 or so years and his audience never falters, only grows. But the tenuous assertion is that you they only just recently got on board with them. I really think you are grasping for straws because but you keep getting it wrong…not only that, you just don’t get it. The majority in this country hold conservative values, not liberal progressive values.
Air America can only wish they had a 10th of the listeners like conservative talk radio does. It never will…
Pelosi keeps Hillary’s VP embers glowing
WASHINGTON – Pundits see Hillary Clinton fading as a possible running mate for Democrat Barack Obama. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday referred to her as “the big name” who “would make a great vice president.”
In an interview with Reuters on a range of political and legislative topics (as well as her new book “Know Your Power, A Message to America’s Daughters”), Pelosi said there was a deep bench Obama could choose from in rounding out the Democratic ticket.
Pelosi was asked whether the Obama campaign had signaled Clinton was out of the running because the New York senator and ex-presidential candidate has been slotted to speak on the Tuesday of the Aug 25-28 Democratic convention. The vice presidential nominee traditionally addresses the convention on Wednesday while Obama will speak on the final evening — Thursday.
“I think convention schedules can be changed,” said Pelosi, who will chair the Minnesota convention.
Pelosi was quick to add that she does not have “the faintest idea” who Obama will pick. “I think the only person who knows maybe is Barack Obama himself and Michelle Obama.”
- Photo credit: Reuters/Joshua Roberts (Pelosi with Obama last month)
I will vote for Obama when I see Senator Clintons name as the VP. Without it I will vote for McCain. No threat, but I know the OC-”Dream TEam” is Senators Obama and Cinton. Together the things they a accomplish will be amazing. Since he is able to reach across the party aisles, then why not reach across to Senator Clinton and her supporters. GO Dream Team—-OC
One hand she is not going to bite, that is the trade union movement,and it is going to be obama,s socialist governments downfall.Any bill that the democrats try to get through congress that does not make special concessions to the unions,will fail because they will not toe the line.The government health care outline proposal plans cannot include the trade unions,they have told obama that they want the status quo and he will capitulate like he did with the GM share out.as unemployment rises he will do what the wilson government tried to do in england and impose a wage freeze on all sections of the working community like he is doing with the banks, but the unions will torpedo him like they did to harold wilson.