Hypocrisy You Can Believe In

From the House Republican Conference:

Barack Obama and "Big Pharma:" Hypocrisy You Can Believe In

"I'm appalled by the deal the White House has made with the pharmaceutical industry's lobbying arm to buy their support..When an industry gets secret concessions out of the White House in return for a promise to lend the industry's support to a key piece of legislation, we're in big trouble. That's called extortion.- "Former Clinton Administration Labor Secretary Robert Reich, blog posting, August 9, 2009

Even as he campaigned on a platform of change and transparency, an examination of Barack Obama's comments during the election-and his actions since taking office-indicates that on both politics and policy, the President has changed his tune on numerous issues of relevance to the pharmaceutical industry-perhaps as a result of up to $150 million in drug industry-funded advertisements supporting his government takeover of health care:

Then: "We'll take on the drug and insurance companies and hold them accountable for the prices they charge and the harm they cause." - Barack Obama, speech in Newport News, Virginia, October 4, 2008

Now: "We were assured: 'We need somebody to come in first. If you come in first, you will have a rock-solid deal.'"
- PhRMA head Billy Tauzin, discussing his negotiations with the White House, New York Times, August 5, 2009

Then: "I urge [my opponent] to stop siding with the drug manufacturers and put aside his opposition to the re-importation of lower-priced prescription drugs from Canada."- Barack Obama, Senate campaign, press release, May 21, 2004

Now: "On July 7, Rahm Emanuel, Mr. Obama's chief of staff.assured at least five pharmaceutical companies during a White House meeting that there would be no provision in the final health care package to allow the re-importation of cheaper drugs from Canada or elsewhere." - New York Times, July 23, 2009

Then: "And we'll tell the pharmaceutical companies, thanks but no thanks for the overpriced drugs-drugs that cost twice as much here as they do in Europe and Canada. We'll let Medicare negotiate for lower prices." - Barack Obama, speech in Newport News, Virginia, October 4, 2008

Now: "The White House.clarified its commitment to a behind-the-scenes deal..[that] would limit the drug makers' share of the cost of a health care overhaul.without imposing other savings.like the government's negotiation of prices for the drugs it buys under Medicare." - New York Times, August 7, 2009