Posted on 08/21/2009 7:53:40 PM PDT by Steelfish
Oval Office Visit Hints at Daschle's Role President Consulting Man He Once Wanted as Czar on the Issue
By Philip Rucker and Anne E. Kornblut Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Former Senate majority leader Thomas A. Daschle's visit to the Oval Office on Friday, at the invitation of President Obama, was more than just a meeting between two loyal friends and political allies. It also served as a reminder of what might have been.
As Obama's health-care agenda teeters in Congress, the White House listed the private meeting on the president's public schedule, sending a signal that Obama is still consulting Daschle on his top domestic policy priority.
An assiduous student of health policy and an adept creature of the Senate, Daschle was Obama's first pick to oversee his reforms, but a firestorm over Daschle's failure to pay about $146,000 in taxes on time prompted the South Dakota Democrat in February to withdraw his nomination to be secretary of health and human services.
Since returning to the private sector, Daschle has served a dual role on health care. He has informally advised high-ranking administration officials, including senior aide Pete Rouse and health-care reform czar Nancy-Ann DeParle, who took over half of the job Obama created for Daschle. On television shows, in speeches and at symposiums, he has been a vocal advocate for a universal coverage plan that includes the public insurance option.
But Daschle is also working closely with lobbyists, through his job at the Alston and Bird law firm, as an adviser to United Health Group, one of the nation's largest insurance companies. The insurance industry opposes the public option.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Czar of the Czars?
Obama is really getting “in your face” now. Sending a tax deadbeat out to ram his commiecare down the throats of hardworking Americans. Nice move Baracko!
How many czars do we have now?
Will he be the chairman of the death panel? I seem to recall he’s a big advocate for wee-wee-weeding out the elderly from our erstwhile-fiscally-sound healthcare system.
I lost count.
Each one is more horrifying that the last.
Shows you how sneaky Obama and Co are.
Daschle has wanted the death panels for years and I think they passed in the Stimulant bill. It would decide what drugs and procedures to approve and not approve based on their costs not on their quality
Of course, Tommy might have gone there to be measured for a stool to stand on when he finally meets with Baracko.
So he’s “informally” advising the administration while also representing the insurance industry. No conflict there.
Daschle? People have gone behind bars for less.
Maybe he wants to recruit the “Daschle Democrats” (Weeeeeee represent.. the lollipop guild!)
He was the author of the “Stimulus” bill... was crafting it months before the election, even before the banks fell apart.
“United Health Group”
I’m not in the least bit interested in the options now before Congress... but if there ever was a company that caused me to have second thoughts, it is these guys.
Worst. Company. Ever.
Apollo Alliance sent the framework for the stimulus bill to the Obammy enablers. Daschle isn’t on the Apollo board last I heard. Now, the heathrape bill, well, he might have been helping to prepare that obscenity.
It would be interesting to know how often Daschle is either visiting Obama at the WH, or on the phone advising him on the healthcare legislation of which Daschle is the Architect that Obama is doing his utmost to shove down our throats.
Big FYI - Linda Daschle, Tom Daschle’s wife was a big time lobbyist who’s clients included big health care companies.
Seems the net has been somewhat scrubbed clean as to Linda.
I remember Obama promising his minions that he wouldn't make lobbyists part of his administration. The hypocrisy is beyond anything I've seen in my lifetime.
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