Former Health Insurance Exec Comes Clean About Industry Efforts To Discredit "Sicko"

On Friday's edition of "Bill Moyers Journal" the PBS host sat down Wendell Potter, a former Head of Corporate Communications at health insurance giant CIGNA, to talk about how the industry crafted its plan of attack for discrediting Michael Moore and his film "Sicko" back in 2007. Potter says the health insurance industry was genuinely afraid that "people would believe Michael Moore." Part of the industry's strategy, according to documents obtained by Moyers was to "highlight horror stories of government-run systems" and other such scare tactics.

Potter said that he feels Moore's film "hit the nail on the head" about the failures of our health care system when compared to those found in other countries.

Comments

[hector74elp]

Dear HuffPo,

Please keep this story front and center. You did this for an entire day on Matt Taibbi's expose on Goldman Sachs, but now that one is very difficult to find on this site without doing a search. We have a very difficult battle ahead of us. Actually, I can't figure out why Food, Inc. didn't get more of a headline longer. This documentary on how our food is produced has a great deal of impact on the health care debate, too.

Better yet, what doesn't Health Care Reform have it's very own big page? If there is one I haven't found it. Usually health care is in the politics section. If the housing crisis can have it's own page then why not the health care crisis. In fact, that's what it should be called -- Health Care Crisis Big Page

[Melissa Hays]

Why is this article, of incredible importance, not closer to the top? IMHO it deserves placement above all the Palin BS.

[massthreat]

Totally agree Melissa -- i've been looking for this for 3 days on my iphone app wondering WHY HP hasnt made this story red letter. It boggles the mind. It was put under video and nowhere else. Over the weekend. I think im just going to start posting links in the comment section of every healthcare related story on HP.

[Samalabear]

Dear HuffPo,

Please keep this story front and center. You did this for an entire day on Matt Taibbi's expose on Goldman Sachs, but now that one is very difficult to find on this site without doing a search. We have a very difficult battle ahead of us. Actually, I can't figure out why Food, Inc. didn't get more of a headline longer. This documentary on how our food is produced has a great deal of impact on the health care debate, too.

Better yet, what doesn't Health Care Reform have it's very own big page? If there is one I haven't found it. Usually health care is in the politics section. If the housing crisis can have it's own page then why not the health care crisis. In fact, that's what it should be called -- Health Care Crisis Big Page

[hector74elp]

I agree. I hope you don't mind but i copied your post and reposting. It went down to quick and only 48 post. Something is very wrong here.

[lottirj]

The actual title of this article should be The Health Insurance Industry Threatens The Democratic Party.

All of Bill Moyers Journal was exceedingly good and the whole show should be required viewing. The three videos below are the complete show and they all are a must see, especially the second one. Take your blood pressure medicine before you view them.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/watch.html (11 minutes, 17 seconds)
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/watch2.html (36 minutes, 30 seconds)
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/watch3.html (3 minutes, 44 seconds)

In the first video, watch for the parts where Congressmen Stupak and Barton ask the questions. They are an eyeopener.

In the second video, in the interview with ex CIGNA Head of Corporate Communications, Wendell Potter, we learn that Michael Moore’s film Sicko was dead accurate but more importantly that the health insurance industry threatened the Democratic Party with a return to minority party status if they endorsed the film in the slightest way. The part on the outdoor clinic in Virginia was not only disheartening but it reminded me of the third world nation that we are quickly becoming.

The third video is a commentary by Bill Moyers on the media and in particular on a member of the media, the publisher of THE WASHINGTON POST Katharine Weymouth, and her way of capitalizing on the plan to reform health care.

Please give this the widest possible exposure.

[lottirj]

I'd like to add one additional thought, as unpleasant as it may be. Mussolini, the first fascist leader, defined fascism as "corporatism" the uniting together of government and corporate entities. In effect corporations controlling the government...After viewing the videos, you be the judge.

[Samalabear]

Obama lovers won't like this, but if you really think about it, Obama is the perfect leader to get us to full-fledged fascism. Look at his policies and look at his carefully-­controlled "town hall" meetings, his carefully-­controlled and censored health-care reform website. This is talked about all the time on forums like Common Dreams and Truthdig. Yes, I followed the mob and voted for him.

Changing health care is up to us. Don't let Obama and Congress continue to muddy the waters on what is needed and what is feasible.

[izekman]

bill moyers interview with wendell potter, must be seen by every thoughtful american. he and potter put into perspective, a very complicated issue, into clarity.
the truth is simple, corporate health care has made tremendous profits for themselves, and shareholders, off the backs of the sick, needy and fearful. and cruely eliminates anyone that potentially has real needs. it is evil.
these companies own and have deep in the pocket most of our politicians, on both sides of the aisle.
the truth is gov't has run a highly efficient health care system in medical and medicare for 50 years, and is more streamlined and competent then the companies that have had us by the balls. we need a larger govt run program, to have these greedy bastards compete at real costs.
it is time to scream and yell now, these greedy devils, need to be brought into the light and greedy ones that feed off our health and well being, should be taken task. the time is now!!

[SNAVE]

Huffpost needs to feature this amazing and important interview by Bill Moyers of, incredibly
courageous, Wendell Potter and urge all its readers to see the full broadcast at:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/watch2.html

Don't let this slip off the page or be replaced by the endless trivia generated by Sarah Palin.
Lets keep our eye on the health care prize... that 72 percent of Americans already WANT...
EVERYBODY IN NOBODY OUT!

[iloveiowa]

absolutely one of the most informative, eye-opening interviews i've seen in a long time.

[Stop the NWO]

Hey Michael Moore-Plz discuss this interview in your next blog?

[Samalabear]

It's right on the front page:

http://www.michaelmoore.com/

[hector74elp]

Everyone needs to see the full interview. You can podcasted for free. It is incredible how insurance company is in bed with politics in order to make a profit. It’s one of those things you know it happens but this will really open your eyes.

What I took away from this interview is that it is not a Republican v Democrats it’s ALL politicians against health care for all. Nobody really wants to change the status-quo.

Watching this interview I was reminded when I saw Bill Maher mention that in almost all civilized countries it is considered immoral to profit from health care. After watching this I think it is so true. I have a funny feeling that there will be any health care reform. Too many powerful people have to much to lose.

[deepfreezevideo]

It is immoral to profit from health care.
It is also immoral to profit from defense.
Both have reasons that are far beyond obvious and the reasons play across our eyes on a daily basis.

[sposton]

I hope more people realize that their positions may be less theirs then they think; their positions often originate as the corporate propaganda, as this interview clearly shows.

[Roslyn Holcomb]

I watched this earlier today, it is an absolutely amazing look at the perfidy of the insurance companies. For the life of me I can't understand why Americans would rather have corporate vampires standing between them and their doctors than their own government. I've dealt with both and I'll take the government any day of the week over those duplicitous scumbags.

[acesfull11]

Editor: This post should link to the PBS site for the full interview, not the shortened youtube clip

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/watch2.html

[Bobzmcishl]

It was pretty pathetic how scared the health care industry was of Michael Moore. Sicko was right on the mark in exposing the inadequacies of the U.S. health care system. His prescription was pretty similar to what Taiwan ended up doing, taking the best practices they found with health care systems around the world, and building a new model. Michael Moore was turned into a far left radical by the health care industry, but it goes to show how far they will go to protect a very lucrative business.

[Coastalthinker2]

I think EVERYONE in the U.S. of voting age should watch the entire program at PBS. How about making it required viewing by those on the health care committees in Congress and ALL blue dog democrats.

[gakabani]

A good example of how bad things are just take a look to the Food and Drug Adminstration, FDA. The private industry is what it is because the government alliws them to be, corrupt as the FDA.