Harry and Louise now supporting health care reform: sock puppets of the pharmaceutical industry

[steven johnson]

Harry & Louise were always shills for the pharmaceutical industry masquerading as populist voices. Now the sock puppets are pushing for a government program.

"Oh look -- shiney balloons!" The public has little discrimination when it comes to advertising and sales resistance.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Harry and Louise — the television advertisement couple credited with helping to defeat health care reform during the Clinton era — are back … again.

Now, they’re starring in a multimillion-dollar cable and network television ad – this time talking up health care reform — for at least a three-week run, beginning this weekend, according to health care consumer advocate Families USA.

The ad is a collaboration between Families USA and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the major trade association for the drug industry.

The drug industry wants a seat at the reform table. In May, it joined a coalition of health care representatives who pledged to help get comprehensive reform legislation passed this year. ”At the same time, we also recognize the importance of tackling the rate of health spending growth,” Tauzin said in a May 11 statement about joining the coalition. “We appreciate that all health care stakeholders will need to make changes that lower the growth of overall health costs.”



Harry and Louise, Part 3

[Sebastian Doyle]

1. If Billy Tauzin is for something

You can pretty much guarantee that its as poisonous to the American people as the drugs he pushes.