Congressman Yarmuth (D-6 KY) tells Humana Pelosi's remarks were “misguided”

[BridgeTheGap]

U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, has called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's recent remarks slamming health insurers “inflammatory” and “misguided.”

Yarmuth made those characterizations in an Aug. 4 letter to Michael McCallister, chief executive of Louisville-based Humana.

The letter was written after Pelosi, D-Calif., said health insurers are the real “villains” in the battle for health-care reform and called the industry's lobbying on the issue “almost immoral.”

Yarmuth — a second-term congressman who is an advisor to Pelosi on communicating the Democrats' health-care message — distanced himself from those remarks in his letter to McCallister.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090813/BUSINESS/908130354/1008/NEWS01/Yarmuth+tells+Humana+Pelosi+s+remarks+were+“misguided”

[goclark]

1. Bet he did after they said he would not get his Payola

That is the real story -- how much have they all received from the Providers.

A doctor in my family that practiced in the 60's got so many "gifts" --- we took lovely vacations paid for by the nice Pharmacy Company. He was given beautiful sets of golf clubs, radios, fancy paint sets because that was his hobby ~ all kinds of "goodies" from the Pharmacy REps.

I don't remember any money given but I was young at the time. It was just an accepted practice, his friends would mention what they received as well.

I believe that now things are more blatant.

Have you ever gone into your doctor's office and observed the Rep counting the samples in the doctor's closet?
Why are they counting-- bet he gets more "gifts" if he distributes more samples.
More gifts if he has more patients on their Medications.

Have you ever been at the Dr.s around lunch time? The Reps bring lunch for ALL of the staff members from fancy Restaurants in the area.

What happens when you see the blond cute Rep walk into the office when 12 patients have been waiting for hours to see the doctor? Here the Cute Blond always gets in to see the doctor and spends quality time with him/her.
I say all that to say ~ if that is what's going on in each Dr's office ~ what happens to the Representatives in Congress who make the laws? Now that is real power!

[groovedaddy]

2. If I remember correctly, Yarmuth has supported single payer healthcare and

I believe he still supports a public option. Here's the info on where his money has come from:
http://www.opencongress.org/wiki/John_Yarmuth

Humana employs 6,000 people in Louisville, which the entire 6th District is in. If you read the article, Yarmuth says that it's in deference to those employees that he made these statements. In other words, he doesn't see all health insurance providers as "bad guys."
Michael Moore's "Sicko" offered another view of Humana's practices:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/news/article.php?id=10197

Maybe Yarmuth is looking at those 6,000 employees as the potential voters they are. That district has had some extremely close elections.

[goclark]

3. Thanks for letting me know this..