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ObamaCare Endorsements: What the Bribe Was
The Hill ^ | 11/6/2009 | Dick Morris, Eileen McGann

Posted on 11/08/2009 7:56:12 AM PST by GVnana

As the suicidal Democratic congressmen proceed to rubber-stamp the Obama healthcare reform despite the drubbing their party took in the ’09 elections, the president trotted out the endorsements of the AMA and the AARP to stimulate support. But these — and the other endorsements — his package has received are all bought and paid for. Here are the deals:

· The American Medical Association (AMA) was facing a 21 percent cut in physicians’ reimbursements under the current law. Obama promised to kill the cut if they backed his bill. The cuts are the fruit of a law requiring annual 5-6 percent reductions in doctor reimbursements for treating Medicare patients. Bravely, each year Congress has rolled the cuts over, suspending them but not repealing them. So each year, the accumulated cuts threaten doctors. By now, they have risen to 21 percent. With this blackmail leverage, Obama compelled the AMA to support his bill … or else!

· The AARP got a financial windfall in return for its support of the healthcare bill. Over the past decade, the AARP has morphed from an advocacy group to an insurance company (through its subsidiary company). It is one of the main suppliers of Medi-gap insurance, a high-cost, privately purchased coverage that picks up where Medicare leaves off.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 111th; aarp; ama; bhohealthcare; dickmorris; healthcontrol; medicare; seniors
The term "corporate welfare" is too kind.
1 posted on 11/08/2009 7:56:12 AM PST by GVnana
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To: GVnana

Wasn’t Morris (along with many others) saying, just days ago, that 0bamacare was dead?


2 posted on 11/08/2009 7:58:33 AM PST by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast (LIBERTY)
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To: GVnana

A friend of mine who is a nurse said that nurses were offered some kind of special deal in the bill if their professional organization would support the bill. I don’t remember exactly what she said it was - some regulatory thing that they wanted lifted, IIRC.


3 posted on 11/08/2009 8:02:28 AM PST by livius
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To: GVnana

Once Democrats get their Health Care bill in place, and if the Senate votes for it, it will change over time. The AMA and AARP will take it in the butt in the coming years. It will get worse as time goes on, little by little. Before you know it, you will have to ask permission from the government to go to the doctor.


4 posted on 11/08/2009 8:02:42 AM PST by RC2
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To: GVnana
Obama lies to everyone. What makes the AMA or AARP think they are any different?

sw

5 posted on 11/08/2009 8:04:11 AM PST by spectre (Spectre's wife ) (O no you can't)
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To: 668 - Neighbor of the Beast
Wasn’t Morris (along with many others) saying, just days ago, that 0bamacare was dead?

I don't usually pay any attention to Morris, but when I do, I have found him to be wrong

6 posted on 11/08/2009 8:04:23 AM PST by TaxPayer2000 (The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government,)
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To: GVnana
Photobucket
7 posted on 11/08/2009 8:05:05 AM PST by Huskrrrr
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To: GVnana

He’s missing the real point about the AMA endorsement. Since only 17% of doctors now belong to AMA, their board and highly-paid executive staff realize they need to find new sources of revenue, and Obama knew that. It’s just like AARP, nothing more than Chicago-style “pay to play” aka legalized political bribery.

That said, AMA has a revolt on its hands - members vs. the Board. The members are pushing for a vote to retract the endorsement, and it could happen as early as tomorrow. Stay tuned: http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/ama_healthcare_endorse/2009/11/06/282998.html

While it’s too late for the House, recinding the AMA support will send a powerful message to the Senate.


8 posted on 11/08/2009 8:05:30 AM PST by bigbob
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To: GVnana

Morris ....c’mon....

You said it wouldn’t pass.

Your analysis now is ridiculous. The head of AARP is a big Zero supporter and the ama is a leftist shill organization. The rank and file oppose this crap but like the nea, the non practicng heads are all for it.

Had nothing to do with no cuts...the cuts are in the bill.

This was political asskissing at it finest.

And the country gets sold down the river.


9 posted on 11/08/2009 8:05:35 AM PST by Adder (Proudly ignoring Zero since 1-20-09!)
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To: GVnana

Your stimulus dollars at work!


10 posted on 11/08/2009 8:06:52 AM PST by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spirito Sancto.)
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To: GVnana

Can’t help but wonder if Dems on the bubble weren’t told that if defeated next year there’d be jobs and/or money for them?

Just sayin’.


11 posted on 11/08/2009 8:07:02 AM PST by kjo
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To: GVnana

I was wise to AARP’s politics years ago. I wouldn’t touch anything offered by AARP no matter how much it allegedly saved me.

Almost all the physicians I know have resigned their membership in the AMA (my son among them).

My family practitioner is a rabid liberal, but I love the guy and every time I see him we argue! Naturally he continues to belong to the AMA.


12 posted on 11/08/2009 8:09:10 AM PST by Dudoight
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To: spectre

Seems like most everyone has sold their souls to the government and now the devil is demanding payment.

Morris isn’t always wrong. He said Christie would win. But Obamacare isn’t dead as a result of the election last week, au contraire, Nancy picked up two more votes - she was right, it was a good election for her. But I honestly believe she let blue dogs vote no - all the while knowing that she didn’t need their votes - so the dogs can go back home and say....well....I voted against it. HAH. They’d have voted for it if told to do so.

Nancy and Obama aren’t dumb - they’re just willing to do ANYTHING to get their way.


13 posted on 11/08/2009 8:10:23 AM PST by Aria ( "The US republic will endure until Congress discovers it can bribe the public with the people's $.")
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To: GVnana

>>What the Bribe Was

The “Bribe” that put Obama and the dimowits in Office can be clearly seen...

http://www.campaignmoney.com/finance.asp?pg=4&type=in&criteria=arnall&ra=5375329&rc=83&prevpage=3&cycle=04

If the leaders of the GOP hadn’t prostituted The Party... The One wouldn’t be where he is - and WE wouldn’t be where we are...

“The right to search for truth implies also a duty; one must not conceal any part of what one has recognized to be true.”
—Albert Einstein


14 posted on 11/08/2009 8:11:17 AM PST by LomanBill (Animals! The DemocRats blew up the windmill with an Acorn!)
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To: GVnana

I saw some AARP ads last night in support of the bill. They were deceptive to say the least. What I was wondering is AARP bound by any “truth in advertising” laws?


15 posted on 11/08/2009 8:12:22 AM PST by stayathomemom (Beware of cat attacks while typing!)
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To: 668 - Neighbor of the Beast

Yep and so was O’Reilly.


16 posted on 11/08/2009 8:12:33 AM PST by My Favorite Headache
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To: GVnana

**The American Medical Association (AMA) was facing a 21 percent cut in physicians’ reimbursements under the current law. Obama promised to kill the cut if they backed his bill. **

I doubt Obortion O will take care of the doctors. How many promises has he already broken?

What a farce — they should have seen through it.


17 posted on 11/08/2009 8:14:03 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: RC2

Alternative to AARP:

— Association of Mature American Citizens http://www.amac.us/
— American Seniors Association http://www.americanseniors.org/
— The 60 Plus Association info@60plus.org


18 posted on 11/08/2009 8:15:30 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Dudoight
Our IM doctor said nobama’s bill “will be good for you and good for me”. He has to be a flaming liberal and member of the AMA. I have always trusted him medically but I want to find another doctor because I can not ever feel the same about him again.
19 posted on 11/08/2009 8:20:32 AM PST by Ditter
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To: Salvation

I have to hit Hannity here. He thought Hillary would be harder to defeat than zero. Remember the Stop Hillary Express? I can’t stand the guy now. He should acknowledge his culpability in getting zero elected.


20 posted on 11/08/2009 8:22:30 AM PST by TStro
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To: TStro
The problem wasn't Obama or Clinton -- it was McCain who campaigned so poorly that he couldn't have even beaten Barney Frank if he was running!

You should direct your anger not at Hannity, but at Medved who campaigned tirelessly for the "world's worst presidential candidate" during the primaries.

21 posted on 11/08/2009 8:31:28 AM PST by glennaro
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To: GVnana

AMA and AARP struck a deal with the devil that they will come to regret in time.


22 posted on 11/08/2009 8:40:25 AM PST by Starboard
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To: bigbob
I sure hope so. Also, the insurance companies need to stop donating to DEMS, period. Pay to play in a way. As far as AARP, the poor don't subscribe to this financial org, but many middle class do-—a campaign to alert them that Medicare Advantage plans (cheaper) will not be funded, but Medigap (AARP and more $$$) will be their option. This should wake dues payers up. Then show how they can reap discounts from other grps on hotels and car rentals, etc.
If the RNC can send out regular mailings, they should include a flyer on this too. IMHO.
23 posted on 11/08/2009 9:04:20 AM PST by Achilles Heel
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To: Salvation

Thanks for posting those links. I’ll check them out.


24 posted on 11/08/2009 9:12:16 AM PST by PistolPaknMama
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To: GVnana

I wonder if they already have the facilities setup to put us to death. You know they won’t start until after they have collected our money, for what 3-4 years before the entitlement provision kicks in?


25 posted on 11/08/2009 9:25:21 AM PST by fujimoh
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To: GVnana

The Left does things incrementally, like a camel with its nose under the tent.

When medicare was passed in 1965 under LBJ as part of his Great Society, it was supposed to be a boon for the elderly on SS. You had to be 65 to be eligible. Years later the complaint was that the majority of the money was for paying for people at the end of their lives. Well, duh!! As if they couldn’t see that coming!

Now they are using the cost excuse to enact an even more costly system for everyone. They will lower costs by compensating the care providers less, letting the old timers just slip on over the horizon and with “preventive care.” What is preventive care? That is taking care of your health with not smoking, watching your diet, regular exercise, do not get fat, etc.

How do they determine you are following the rules? By controlling your entire life from womb to tomb. Certain products and activities won’t be available. Rules for everything will be tight and penalties stiff.

It is not about health at all. It is about controlling you.


26 posted on 11/08/2009 9:30:46 AM PST by Mind-numbed Robot (Not all that needs to be done needs to be done by the government)
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To: Salvation
Thanks for the links, Salvation. My 88yo, dyed-in-the-wool FDR democrat father called me at midnight last night nearly hyperventilating with fear and anger over the House vote. I assured him that the war was not yet lost, that there were several battles ahead, and that he should go to bed and get a good night's sleep.

I think directing our seniors towards altneratives such as you've posted is an excellent way to channel their fears and focus their concerns.

God bless.

27 posted on 11/08/2009 9:39:03 AM PST by eastsider
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despite the drubbing their party took in the ’09 elections

What drubbing? They won both congressional seats. We won two governorships, which mean squat for voting for this bill. They were in a *better* position to pass it after the election with two extra D's in the house. We need to work harder and stop patting ourselves on the back for a victory that we didn't have. Let's get our act together.

28 posted on 11/08/2009 10:05:43 AM PST by ConservativeRealityLiberalDrea (What drubbing?)
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To: TStro

It was obvious Obama would be harder- race trumps sex. No one can go against him since he is black. It will be 207 more years of this.


29 posted on 11/08/2009 12:14:40 PM PST by PghBaldy (DC only had about 31,000 doses of vaccine, yet two relations of Obama got it!)
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To: GVnana

Either someone compile the bribe list and create a succinct slide show so all citizenry can digest it or we need to shut up.

No one beyond Freepers know about it and that’s the problem.


30 posted on 11/08/2009 12:44:40 PM PST by CincyRichieRich (Keep your head up and keep moving forward!)
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To: GVnana

Either someone compile the bribe list and create a succinct slide show so all citizenry can digest it or we need to shut up.

No one beyond Freepers know about it and that’s the problem.


31 posted on 11/08/2009 12:45:18 PM PST by CincyRichieRich (Keep your head up and keep moving forward!)
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To: Huskrrrr

The ears need to be bigger and the nose higher in the air.


32 posted on 11/08/2009 12:57:06 PM PST by hsalaw
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To: GVnana

Zero will double-cross them.


33 posted on 11/08/2009 1:14:26 PM PST by bustinchops (Teddy ("The Hiccup") Kennedy - the original water-boarder)
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To: PghBaldy

A woman can go against Obama!!!


34 posted on 11/08/2009 4:39:32 PM PST by goodnesswins (Become a Precinct Committee Person/Officer....in the GOP...or do NOT complain.)
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