Top Democratic Consultants Working for Anti-Medicare for All Campaign

[babylonsister]

The American Prospect
Top Democratic Consultants Working for Anti–Medicare for All Campaign
The industry-led Partnership for America’s Health Care Future, which has assailed Democratic presidential candidates’ reform plans, is drawing on Democratic firms for assistance.
by Andrew Perez
November 19, 2019


As health insurance, pharmaceutical and hospital companies fight to prevent more politicians from backing Medicare for All, the industry’s front group has turned to top Democratic consulting firms and pro-business nonprofits for help, according to its 2018 tax return. The array of consultants includes presidential candidate Joe Biden’s pollster.

The Partnership for America’s Health Care Future (PAHCF), a nonprofit created last year to oppose plans to create a comprehensive, universal health care system, paid almost $760,000 to Bully Pulpit Interactive, a communications and digital marketing firm that has worked with the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).

The dark money organization paid almost $185,000 to Anzalone Liszt Grove Research, a polling firm that has been working with former Vice President Biden’s Democratic presidential campaign, the DSCC, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The firm recently tested attack lines on Medicare for All for Third Way, a centrist Democratic think tank. PAHCF also paid $140,000 to Blue Engine Message & Media, a firm that was founded by former campaign staffers for President Barack Obama. (Blue Engine is now known as Seven Letter.)

PAHCF’s biggest vendor was Forbes Tate, a bipartisan lobbying firm with ties to moderate Democrats. It paid the firm more than $1.7 million. The organization separately contributed almost $520,000 to Center Forward, a centrist think tank that hosted a luxury retreat last year where senior Democratic congressional staffers were invited to listen to Center Forward board member Libby Greer, a Forbes Tate partner who works for PAHCF, talk with a hospital lobbyist about health care. The organization also paid $192,000 to Business Forward, a trade group that has been warning that business leaders are worried about Medicare for All.

Despite its Democratic consultant roster, PAHCF has spent much of the past year and a half criticizing the party’s leading presidential contenders. The organization has regularly slammed the Medicare for All proposals offered by Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. It has also attacked former Vice President Joe Biden and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg for their plans to create a public health insurance option.

more...

https://prospect.org/power/top-democratic-consultants-working-for-anti-medicare-for-all/

[stonecutter357]

1. good .

[Bradshaw3]

2. Yeah we want Big Pharma and health insurance companies controlling things

Because the system has worked so well for all those who have gone bankrupt due to medical bills or can't afford their drugs or coverage. Since you think it's so great they are funding this campaign is that because you also have a vested interest as they do in maintaining this hugely profitable (for them) system?

[I_UndergroundPanther]

3. Insurance companies

Need to be out of business.about time we had universal healthcare and put the rich parasites insurance companies and thier greed out of comission. We need universal healthcare and the holdouts, if there are any ,are scardy greedy and stupid themselves for standing in the way of healthcare justice for everyone.

[ritapria]

5. Hear Hear

[DownriverDem]

4. It frustrates

me that folks don't understand where the voters are. We are a Center/Left country and our candidate has to appeal to them.

[KPN]

6. Stuff like this helps explain what we experienced in 2016 as well elections in the prior 6 years.

There are two types of people: those who can extrapolate.

[mjvpi]

7. The main stream media has really amplified this attack on MFA

The fact that has to be acknowledged when talking about MFA is that we, as a country, spend 19.8% of our GDP on healthcare. That is $3.45 trillion a year. Employer provided healthcare makes it sound like employers provide health insurance out of the goodness of their hearts. It is employee compensation (Pay). We all pay all of our own health insurance premiums in reality. We just let companies use it as a tax write off.

The scary message that is, even if you really dislike our current system, a big systemic is just too much of a political risk. I am not willing to accept that our current system is the best we can do. You post points out that it is the status quo that doesn’t want a new approach to health care in the United States. There are monied interests that push propaganda in the Democratic Party as well as the GOP. Your post follows the money. Thanks!

[BlueMTexpat]

8. *1!

Too many seem unwilling or unable to understand this.

[BeckyDem]

9. Yes, how it works from within.

What vile human beings.