Speaker Will Keep 'Villains' Money

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called health insurers "the villains" in the unfolding story of the health care overhaul on Thursday, ratcheting up an anti-insurer theme trotted out by President Obama earlier this month and encouraged by other Democratic leaders in Congress.

CQ Photo
Nancy Pelosi at a news conference on health care legislation last week. (Getty Images/ Brendan Hoffman)

"It is somewhat immoral what they are doing. Of course, they have been immoral all along how they have treated the people that they insure," MSNBC's Luke Russert quoted her as saying. "They are the villains in this."

Pelosi, of course, has accepted campaign contributions from said villains this year and in the past, as have most of her Democratic colleagues. Pelosi's campaign committee, for example, took $2,500 from AFLAC's political action committee on April 13. But she's not giving the money back just because she thinks the sources are immoral and villainous.

"As the Speaker's opposition to the health insurance companies being in charge of American's health care shows, there is no link between political contributions and positions on policy," said her spokesman Brendan Daly.

Besides, a quick look at her records suggests that health insurers make up a fraction of the money she accepts from the broader insurance industry and place her fairly low on the list of recipients -- particularly given her longtime spot atop the Democratic Party -- according to a study released earlier this year by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Pelosi ranked 55th among members of the 111th Congress in contributions from health insurers since the 1989-1990 election cycle, according to CRP, having taken in $186,750 (less than $20,000 per two-year cycle).

The real trick -- as Ways and Means Chairman Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y., has shown -- is to turn your entire enemies list into your fundraising pool.

The targeting of insurance companies is a political natural, as Americans view them with great skepticism in polls. In one recent Gallup survey, only 4 percent of respondents chose insurers over doctors and hospitals, Obama and congressional Democrats, and congressional Republicans as the entity they most trust to reform the health care system.

    Comments

  1. What a load of crap. I don't trust my Mom to reform the health care system, but it doesn't mean that I view her with skepticism, especially when compared to Obama and the Dems.

    Go draw your ridiculous conclusions on the Applebee's kids menu... at least you can hang that up on your parents' refrigerator.

    Posted by: Amazed Author Profile Page | July 31, 2009 2:08 PM

  2. Who does this woman think she is fooling ?? She honestly thinks we are all so stupid that we will eat up everything she serves us?? Does she really have this much contempt for the public? The short answer is yes she does. To the likes of Pelosi we the public are all so stupid that unless we willingly turn over all aspects of our miserable lives to her and her liberal friends we will all die. It is a shame she is in such a safe district, Because she needs to go, NOW. But the people of San Francisco will never do what is right or honorable and vote this leech out. Her or her sister in crime Boxer will be there forever.

    Posted by: kenny1960 Author Profile Page | July 31, 2009 2:14 PM

  3. The liberals are after the insurance company reserves which amount into the billions. After all, the bad, bad insurance companies won't need it to pay claims when there are NO insurance companies. BTW, there goes the 401K's and pension funds as well. Isn't socialism great?

    IMPEACH NOW!
    LB

    Posted by: Lathon Baud Author Profile Page | July 31, 2009 2:32 PM

  4. Insurance wouldn't be half as expensive if lawyers fees weren't so high. What does Pelosi think about lawyers?
    Otherwise, what's wrong with insurance? For it to make sense, it has to be most affordable to those with least risk and vice-versa. Anything different would be voodoo economics or worse...communist.
    When will Pelosi begin paying for her own insurance instead of having taxpayers subsidize it (ie having others pay for it)?
    Finally, if Katrina hurts insurance companies, what would another Katrina do after Pelosi's undermined those companies? Let the chaos begin, or rather continue under Pelosi's watch.
    Don't we miss how things were before Pelosi stepped up in early 2007? no recession, etc.

    Posted by: Susan B Anthony Author Profile Page | July 31, 2009 3:41 PM

  5. The Speaker lies with a vengeance then points her finger at others and accuses them of doing exactly what she is doing.
    Be aware that the House and Senate members will be exempt from going on government health care, they have the best health care in the world, it is privately run. So tell me who are the villains?

    Posted by: Rocketdog Author Profile Page | July 31, 2009 4:21 PM

  6. Pelosi haunts Congress like the souls of a thousand pirates. Her every word is a lie and every action is thievery stealing people's money and freedom.

    Posted by: Schratboy Author Profile Page | July 31, 2009 4:50 PM

  7. My Friends, As you progress through the day planning your end of life tansition activities, please contemplate what we have lost and what we will soon lose if this mad woman is not stopped' JMO

    Posted by: JMO Author Profile Page | July 31, 2009 5:20 PM

  8. I THINK THE DEMOS MADE A MISTAKE IN ELECTING MRS PELOSI HOUSE SPEAKER. HER RANTS ON THE CIA AND NOW THE INSURANCE COMPANIES INDICATE THE PRESSURE IS GETTING TO HER.
    DENY HOYER SEEMS A MORE SUITABLE PERSON FOR THE JOB. WHEN IS THIS TERRIBLE BICKERING GOING TO END? THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE CONGRESS AS THE PROBLEM..NOT THE SOLUTION.

    Posted by: DANSHANTEAL Author Profile Page | July 31, 2009 5:54 PM

  9. Just the mere sight of this woman makes me physically ill.

    I am afraid kenny1960 is correct, the rotten scum of SF will never vote this haughty and arrogant biotch out of office.

    As the 6th generation San Franciscan, it pains me to see what a turd hole my former city has become. Thank God for South Orange County....

    Posted by: Captain Incredulous Author Profile Page | July 31, 2009 7:11 PM

  10. Corporations send the Democrats a fortune and the Democrats return the favor by crapping on the Company and the share holders.

    When are they going to learn that they don’t get a bucket’s worth of warm spit when you help these crooks get into office.

    If CEO’s think it is worth the cost for protection against what the Dems might do to them if they don’t give the Dems the cash, they aught to start thinking about what the Dems manage to do when they give them the cash.

    Posted by: Dave2009 Author Profile Page | July 31, 2009 8:30 PM

  11. Captain Incredulous, you say, "As the 6th generation San Franciscan, it pains me to see what a turd hole my former city has become. Thank God for South Orange County...."

    Turd holes are what made it what it is.
    Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
    Ron Reale
    realetybytes@yahoo.com
    realetybytes.townhall.com

    Posted by: Ron Reale Author Profile Page | July 31, 2009 8:35 PM

  12. Liberty is but happiness in the cradle that does not sleep
    when rocked but rises to defend its self.
    There are no existing parties capable or being Public
    Servants in this great Republic. Our existing marshmallow
    politicians with wet noodle spines take it as an insult to be
    called a Public Servant.

    Posted by: TOM Author Profile Page | July 31, 2009 8:52 PM

  13. Those who steal money are called theives. When caught they go to jail for significant amounts of time, If these theives are in Congress they are praised and told what wondero8us theives they are.,
    You should be buried in a cell under the jail and then forgotten exactly where you were left.
    You are liars; you steal from the public for your fancy dresses and suits. You could have used JC Penny or Sears like our wives have to use. You could economise too, but you're too good for truth. You have to live like queens and Princes. with their Brookes Brothers suits. It's all garbage. We Americans resent your putting on You are theives and Liars and do not deserve pity or mercy. You'd only misuse it.

    Posted by: jackolantyrn356 Author Profile Page | July 31, 2009 8:52 PM

  14. Pelosi blames the insurance companies for causing the American people suffering????? The insurance companies are a big part of the reason we have the best health care in the world. Pelosi and the dems are about to destroy our health care.

    Posted by: EdKnowsAll Author Profile Page | July 31, 2009 10:48 PM

  15. Well, here you have it. As the UAW was rewarded for Bleeding GM, now the share holders, pension funds and others who have a legal stake in health insurance companies, can see their assets illegally expropriated by our Govt. of "change". I bet their saying to each other "gee, its really easy and FUN to be a Socialist Dictatiorship!, I feel just like Robin Hood! God Bless the Teachers unions, we couldn`t have done it with out them! Don`t you just LOVE the stupid Sheeple! Grow some BALLS America, The Evil ones are running congress! I wonder why, if PBO solved the problem in Cambridge over a Beer, why he couldn`t sit down with leaders in the health care industry and do the same? did he try? NO, its not about solving a problem, it is about bringing 17% of our GDP under direct Govt Control. I bet the CBO estimates don`t even include all the shiny new Govt. buildings that will undoubtly be built at tax payers expense, nor the hundreds of BILLIONs of dollars in new medical equpt tax payers will pay for, remember, he wants the middleclass (or whats left of it to pay for only the BEST for the underclass! I bet the plan is to have this passed just in time to welcome the 16-30 million NEW citizens he is going to grant Amnesty to! Now wont THAT be a nice welcoming gift from middle class american and small business owners!
    The sad fact is that we have a POTUS who either doesn`t know that insurance companies are SUPPOSED to make money (they do have to pay claims, remember?), or simply he is giving us a view into his world where all are equal, no matter if you EARN it or not. We have Elected a POTUS who has never really held a REAL job, other that taking from the Government, and I doubt he really has any real idea how hard people work to make the money he is intent on stealing from them one way or the other. All this and he`s only been on the job 193 days!
    For all of you who voted for him, or that EVIL Pelosi, that you have the PRIVELEDGE of being the FIRST to experience the JOY of rationed health care, and that you attend with a loved one, one of the very first "end of life" counseling sessions, so you can tell the rest of us how gratifying it was to see Dad getting that kind of "help", rather than having the option of curing his disease.

    Posted by: Realone Author Profile Page | August 1, 2009 2:48 AM

  16. This had has to go! I hope the flakes in SF get rid of her but I doubt they will knowing they are perverted in all of their actions

    Posted by: ddsccnp Author Profile Page | August 1, 2009 4:35 AM

  17. Insurance companies employ hundreds of thousands of people across this country and give them decent jobs and salaries to live a good life. I recently had major surgery where I spend almost 30 days in hospitalized. The insurance company paid for all that and then some minus the deductible. They paid for my home nurse, and the pay the nurse that call me once a month to see how I am doing. Insurance companies are hardly evil.....but Nancy Pelosi and her gang of thugs that is another story. Pelosi and the liar in chief need to cut the crap.

    Posted by: Mr Nobody Author Profile Page | August 1, 2009 8:00 AM

  18. Insurance companies have also paid for my car when It has been damaged. That is why we pay them premiums. I also expect my life insurance company will pay me a nice sum of money when I retire as that is the kind of policy I have. What would this country be without insurance companies? We would be a lot poorer. We would not be protected from catastrophes. We would have more unemployment, we could not plan for our retirements, and we would be totally dependent on the mercy of the corrupt government and idiots like Pelosi who are step by step wrecking our economy and have been for many years.

    Posted by: Mr Nobody Author Profile Page | August 1, 2009 8:07 AM

  19. One last thing. Insurance companies have treated me quite well over the years and they have paid my medical bills, my dental bills, and bought my medical supplies. Super Rich Nancy Pelosi is the evil one with her idiotic tirade and demagoguery.

    Posted by: Mr Nobody Author Profile Page | August 1, 2009 8:13 AM

  20. Who's going to do her Botox after her health care plan ruins the careers of plastic surgeons/dermatologists?

    Posted by: sueinmi Author Profile Page | August 1, 2009 8:20 AM

  21. Hmmm. Pelosi, OhBummer, Reid, and the whole Democrat Wrecking Crew argue that "the insurance companies" are "the enemy at the gate" and that we must marshal our forces against them, defeat them, and root them out of American life. If I could make a choice of doing that to either "the insurance companies" or "the government," try to guess which one I would pick.

    Yi Ha ***
    Minister of Information
    Peoples' Capitalist Republic of Whizbangistan

    ***Pronounced "YEEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

    Posted by: Osamas Pajamas Author Profile Page | August 1, 2009 11:39 AM

  22. Oh, by the way, look at the government's current "insurance companies" ---- Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc, etc, etc, these huge cancers sucking the life out of the economy with budget-busting expense. If any private company had pulled the same crap as the politicians and bureaucrats have done with these "social insurance" plans, those companies would be bankrupt and their officials would be in jail ---- and that is where most of the American political leadership should be ---- from the city, county, state and national levels ---- in jail, for years and years. They've patted us on the noggin and said "Let us take care of you," and screwed us, big time!

    Posted by: Osamas Pajamas Author Profile Page | August 1, 2009 11:48 AM

  23. Come on Ms Nancy, All you have to do is look into a mirror and you will see who the evil one is and its not the insurance companies. I think that your a total disgrace to the democratic party, the on;y reasson that your still around is that you locked your self into a district that the people think like you.

    Posted by: spudder Author Profile Page | August 1, 2009 12:47 PM

  24. This woman is a real piece of work! She complains about insurance companies, yet keeps their money; she complains about how the Republicans and George W. Bush have screwed up our country, yet she twists arms of House members to sign hideous, freedom crushing Bills they haven't even read; she pushes Cap and Trade, yet she demands a jet aircraft similar to Air Force One for her weekly trips to California. The word "hypocrite" comes to mind! Please, may her constituents vote her out of office!!

    Posted by: downs1 Author Profile Page | August 1, 2009 1:39 PM

  25. It has gotten so bad in politics, that if you are honest, the rotten politicians will dig something up, even untrue, and run the honest ones out on a rail. Years ago I assume it was the other way around. If you were dishonest, you were ganged up on. Now, you are ganged up on if you mess with the greed machine.

    My god, can we save this nation? is it too late?

    Posted by: corey2444 Author Profile Page | August 1, 2009 4:31 PM

  26. I wonder if the leader of the "Hate Pack" is taking all her meds? Biz, bad, insurance, bad, Republicans, definately bad........ect
    Anyone who has watched this delerious monger lately can see her visibly shaking and she looks like a rising thermometer about to blow. I'd say it's time she settle down and use her tax paid gold plated medical plan to get some psychiatric help....we taxpayers would help her find a new occupation in a heartbeat.

    Posted by: ONTIME Author Profile Page | August 1, 2009 4:59 PM

  27. Of Note:

    Do you folks actually know what this bitch is doing? Who in the hell do you think OWNS those insurance companies? If you have a 401k, a pension, any kind of retirment plan... Then you are the evil ones. Most corporations are owned by other corporations. It is part and parcel of sound financial planning. Spread the risks. Insurance companies are among the most regulated of the regulated of entities. And yet, somehow, they are still the single largest business sector stakeholder in ALL other corporations. When the government plan goes into effect, their holdings are reduced to zero in short order. Goodbye 401k, Goodbye retirement, Goodbye pension. This mad bitch needs a muzzle. She is dangerously intoxicated with a puffed up sense of her pea brain importance. She is gonna take us all down. Would someone please perforate this hag.

    This bill passes, the housing market meltdown that destroyed the world economy will be looked upon as "the good old days."

    Thank you democrates. You glittering jewels of collosal ignorance.

    Posted by: chukalukabus Author Profile Page | August 1, 2009 8:15 PM

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