Paul Krugman Attempts Divine Motivation Of Blue Dogs

Paul Krugman, like many others, has noticed the essential incoherence in the Blue Dog stance on health care reform, and takes up the matter in his Times opinion column today.

The Blue Dogs are (suddenly and at last) concerned with how much health care reform is going to cost, keeping watch for the next CBO report whose scoring does not land close to the deficit-neutral target. And yet, the alternatives they propose for health care reform would all -- uhm...drive up costs! So, what's the deal? Are these people basically just morons? Krugman hazards some tentative guesswork:

Maybe they're just being complete hypocrites. It's worth remembering the history of one of the Blue Dog Coalition's founders: former Representative Billy Tauzin of Louisiana. Mr. Tauzin switched to the Republicans soon after the group's creation; eight years later he pushed through the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act, a deeply irresponsible bill that included huge giveaways to drug and insurance companies. And then he left Congress to become, yes, the lavishly paid president of PhRMA, the pharmaceutical industry lobby.

One interpretation, then, is that the Blue Dogs are basically following in Mr. Tauzin's footsteps: if their position is incoherent, it's because they're nothing but corporate tools, defending special interests. And as the Center for Responsive Politics pointed out in a recent report, drug and insurance companies have lately been pouring money into Blue Dog coffers.

But I guess I'm not quite that cynical.

By contrast, I am precisely that cynical! As the Washington Post recently reported:

The nation's largest insurers, hospitals and medical groups have hired more than 350 former government staff members and retired members of Congress in hopes of influencing their old bosses and colleagues, according to an analysis of lobbying disclosures and other records.

[...]

The hirings are part of a record-breaking influence campaign by the health-care industry, which is spending more than $1.4 million a day on lobbying in the current fight, according to disclosure records. And even in a city where lobbying is a part of life, the scale of the effort has drawn attention. For example, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) doubled its spending to nearly $7 million in the first quarter of 2009, followed by Pfizer, with more than $6 million.

Anyway, it seems to me quite simple. On the one hand, the average Blue Dog can take the chance that the public option may not be as popular in his or her district as it is with the rest of the country. On the other hand, HERE'S A PILE OF MONEY.

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Comments

[barugna]

The death toll of US Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan is over 5,000. These were our patriots. These were our children. These were the latest in a long march back to 1776. It is right that we honor them as patriots regardless our final judgment about the causes which they fought. It is fitting that we hold them in a sacred space in our secular lives.
In the current national emergency of health care, some of our elected representatives have sold out to the commercial medical industry that funds their political campaigns. Some say 20,000 Americans die each year for lack of health care. They would let us die to maintain their careers. This is the swan song of American democracy: money buys votes, and these politicians believe we are too stupid, preoccupied or disinterested to realize it.
More than the last notes of the American democratic experiment, this is a nail in the coffin of American honor. While we die from lack of health care, and our children die in foreign wars to save us, the obstructionist Democrats and Republicans prevent us from achieving parity, fairness and equity of health care solely to enrich themselves. They sell us out - to avoid losing their sinecures as politicians on the take. This is antithetical to democracy and, please note well, inexcusably disrespectful of all our patriotic dead warriors who gave their whole lives to protect ours.
Wake up America, while our patriots are dying, there are traitors among us.

[HeBeGeeBee]

I have called the office of EACH Blue Dog Democrat on the House Energy & Commerce Committee regarding healthcare. My comment: "I would like to encourage Congress person _(name)_, in the most emphatic terms, to support a healthcare plan WITH a public option. This issue is so important, that I will personally commit funds to defeat any Democratic Congressperson who impedes this effort.”

Zack Space (OH-18) [phone] Staffer will pass it on.
Mike Ross (AR-04) [phone] Mailbox full. Can't leave a message.
Charlie Melancon (LA-03) [phone] Staffer will pass it on.
James Matheson (UT-02) [phone] Phone hangs up on answering. This is how he serves?
Jane Harman (CA-36) [phone] Staffer says congresswoman is committed to a public option "so she is right there with you".
Baron Hill (IN-09) [phone] Staffer will pass it on.
Bart Gordon (TN-06) [phone] Staffer will pass it on.
John Barrow (GA-12) [phone] Paraphrasing: "Congressman Barrow is NOT opposed to a public option, he just wants to make sure it doesn't wreak havoc in the private sector." Me: "Congress has been working on this for 75 years. I have friends who are staying married, living apart, instead of divorcing, because one person's health coverage depends upon the other. It's time to do something now! Staffer: " The Congressman is working with the President to see that something gets done."

[MAH1952]

You really expect them to listen. Now if you had a pocketful of cash they would be at your door panting like a dog in heat.

[research]

What did we expect?
We should have known that the DLC corporatist fake democrats: Obama, Rahm, Clinton, Liberman, would work for their corporate masters, not the people.

How Rahm Emanuel Has Rigged a Pro-War Congress
http://www.counterpunch.org/walsh10142006.html

There's even a book about it:
http://www.amazon.com/Thumpin-Democrats-Ruthless-Republican-Revolution/dp/0385523289

2010, 2012 we must remove the fake democrats and the gop, look to MoveOn and DFA for advice on which candidates to vote for, we must not be fooled again by the DLC fake dems!

DLC=Rahm,Lieberman,Clinton and obama.

Know the enemy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Leadership_Council

Kucinich/Dean 2012!

You will know the good dems, they will be ridiculed and smeared by the MSM.

[radiclib]

.
.
Krugman has a well-tuned ear for cant and he is not afraid to expose it.
Obama should have been much more aggressive on health care.
You can't be passive and let your enemies define issues.
That's why right-wing scare tactics are effective.
He should have countered it with his own message offensive.
Present the current health-care system in terms of people denied treatment and going backrupt to pay for it. That's the reality. The Republicans are not the ``loyal opposition.''
They are enemies of the general population beholden to fat cats.
.
.

[aproposofnothing]

All roads lead to campaign finance reform.

[johnsopinion]

"For example, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
doubled its spending [on lobbying] to nearly $7 million in the first quarter of 2009,
followed by Pfizer, with more than $6 million."

But in another article, some doofus said that only 1cent out of every $1 goes to profits
for the pharmaceuticals.
So, of $7 million being spent on lobbying (out of that .1cent profit), along with costly
television commercials running almost back-to-back, what was the other $6.9+ billion
spent on--that other .99 cents (because we know they didn't blow their ENTIRE profits on
lobbying)? Flights to Brazilian jungles? Research at the library? Development of adding
1ml of a substance to an existing formula? Lawyers fees for medical defense? After
a long, exhaustive, public survey, choosing blue packaging instead of yellow?

[catrst]

I think the special interests (that's sounds too benign) that are making a killing on the status quo in health insurance, etc. are buying demoncrats since they understand that the republicans could not kill this on their own with the majorities in both houses. The democrats that are allowing themselves to be bought are selling out their country.

[spyda]

Its so damn pitiful that we have to put up with the Blue Dog Dems.!!!!!! This is bullsh@#!! They need to be voted out of office as soon as possible.Its just like the Dems to sabbotage themselfs and we have to put up with their bull! I'm so sick of these type of politicians.They would rather take mney from the lobbyist than do whats right by the American people.Get out of the way so that we can get real change!! You people are soooooooooooo hpyicritical and make me sick!!

[chewmin68]

A report by a C-SPAN caller this morning said the public option is now off the table. If true, this was the grand compromise for spineless Democrats. Now it's certain nothing will change with healthcare, except perhaps in Medicare and Medicaid. Who cares about the disabled and elderly anyway, unless they have big bucks. In spite of their rhetoric of "choice", the Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats only really mean choice for those who have wealth. It appears that everyone else will be thrown under the bus. And I must admit, I am not at all surprised.

My understanding is that some of payroll tax, which I pay, goes to federally funded medical research. Since I make too little to afford private health insurance, and most employers of low wage workers do not offer it, I would like to refuse any of my tax dollars going to that cause. Advances in medicine will not do me any good. If those who are so happy with the current system want medical breakthroughs, let them pay for. I don't believe in socialism for the "haves" which seems to be the policy in this country.

[spinns17]

http://www.citizensforapublicoption.com/

[billw8017]

The big health care insurance scam is more visibly intolerable. Only healthy people who don't know how at risk they are and a wealthy minority to whom money is no object really like the present system. Even so, the system is rapidly worsening.

Is this another bubble: a condition that must grow until it can only burst?

Out in the real world, thousands suffer health care neglect, doctors form boutique HMOs, consumers form buying cooperatives, and local governments mandate insurance purchase; all to accommodate a system that overwhelms every effort with expense and inefficiency. How much worse can it get? What will it look like at the breaking point? Much more to the point, what can replace it?

[Dredd]

Some of their problem is fixation in place of motivation.

http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/07/nation-of-hypochondriacs.html

[Wanod]

It's not just the Blue dogs, it's the Democratic leadership also. They are spineless, and POTUS is acting just like them. I got a no vote for all of them come election.

[billw8017]

Republicans spurn every reform. The Democratic majority has to deal with its own Blue Dog conservatives who are empowered by the Republican intransigence and become the pivotal players. You should not be so simple as to suppose everybody in the Democratic caucus is of one mind. To further weaken the Democratic leadership on this account allies you to the enemies of reform.

If you want reform, it is not enough to savage your friends because you have too few.

You have to get serious, accept some compromises to enlarge your coalition, and learn to play well with others.

[ponderingmuch]

Hey, Jason,

I know it is not your job, but might you get on board to strip the elected officials of their socialistic single-payer health care that I pay for?

I would be happy to pay into that for people who make the same or less, but these elected officials make so much more.

[billw8017]

When the employer does it, it's a private plan and anti-socialist by definition.

It's a useful definition (!, ?) -- since, otherwise, nobody could tell the difference. Really. What is the difference between a program organized by the government and paid by employer taxes (and, as we might apportion the monies before and after the taxes are collected, all taxes are either wholly employer or wholly employee taxes) and an employer or employee coop besides socialism and capitalism. That is to say, some jokey distinction people choose to handicap themselves with.

Anyway, the program for government employees is an employer paid program even a Republican can love.

[salkoc]

how sad ............the only way to stop this is to vote them out .

it almost worked with bachman .....and her nutty comments . people just need to wake up .
as we can clearly see this is not a democrat republican issue .....its a money issue . looks like money buys the dems as well as the republicans.

baucus needs to exit stage right .....republicans need to completely be cleaned out .

[billw8017]

To be players at all, Democrats need at least a third as much money as their more corporate loving Republican opponents. Finally, the Democrats have their business allies to whom they are beholden. We would hope these contributors are motivated by more patriotism and such may be the case. Then, again, we may be but whistling as we go through the cemetery.

It is unlikely a revolution would do more than change the names of the rulers. Even Argentina, changing Presidents several times in a week, had to go through three before the politicians took the rioting mobs seriously.

[biglith]

The majority of Americans are either too stupid or too occupied to wake up. The corporate masters are in complete control.