President Obama: Come Clean on "Buy an Economist" Scandal

[Christa]

For almost the entirety of the health care debate, the Obama Administration has relied on economist Jonathan Gruber to make the public case for its idea of reform - even the most unpopular parts. But as Firedoglake revealed on Friday, the Obama Administration has failed to disclose that it paid the same economist more than $780,000.

This is a huge ethical violation that undermines the entirety of health care reform. Sign our petition to President Obama:

Paying an economist $780,000 to push bad reforms without disclosing his conflicts of interest is no way to pass health care reform. The Obama Administration must come clean on its payoffs to Jonathan Gruber and any other undisclosed paid promoters.

We need to do health care reform right. But not telling the truth about reform won't help anyone.

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/gruber?source=email01112010

[tishaLA]

1. Gruber got a research grant

Krugman has already covered why this is a phony issue.

[CBR]

15. Exactly! People need to familarize with government

contracting.

[DevonRex]

2. Paul Krugman has a different take:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7439667&mesg_id=7439667

[Jennicut]

4. Thanks. I was really confused and concerned by that OP.

But it sounds like he was given a grant to do research. You can't turn around and because you don't like his conclusions say he is being paid off.

[DevonRex]

7. I wonder how many more times this'll get posted. They must be

drawing straws. "I ain't gonna post it again. You post it." "No, you post it." "No, you."

[Christa]

14. Oh please

I got this in an email from FDL ... I did not know about it as I don't sit here ALL day and read every damn post.

Give me a break, FFS.

[mkultra]

26. oh im sure it came in an email.

[ProSense]

10. Yeah, everyone who doesn't agree with them must be destroyed

including the administration.

[Captain Hilts]

3. I need to know more about this. nt

[DevonRex]

31. Love your dry humor, CH. nt

[Arkana]

5. More crap from FDL. Jane Hamsher still buddy-buddy with Grover Norquist?

[ProSense]

6. What bullshit. The guy works for the Massachusett Connector

his views are hardly a secret and haven't changed on the issue for more than two decades.

[FrenchieCat]

8. Bunch of shit created by those who don't want us to have no stinking HCR.....

and would rather see the Democratic party dead as a doornob, than see any policy progress in our lifetime.

This Claim is false, and harmful to the Democratic Party as a whole, specifically to the issue of Health Care reform, and to the American people in general. If enough buy this disinformation, the media will pick it up and run with it as a half baked scandal, kind how they did this with ACORN.

Firedoglake is not in anyway pursuing the advance of the American people;
they have their own agenda.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. Debatable:

[zipplewrath]

11. The White House didn't "hire" him

He gets a research grant from HHS. Yes, it should have been disclosed. It now HAS been disclosed. It was a grant to run various scenarios through an economic model he has developed over a period of years. They haven't "relied upon to make the case...". They used the out put of the model to make the case. They also used the CBO, and if you don't think THAT organization has some political presssures.....

This is more of the "amateur hour" problem at the White House, but in the end it isn't the same as the "secretly paid generals" issue of the past admin.

[phleshdef]

12. More FDL lies. This has been debunked. Stop spreading this erroneous shit around.

[Hello_Kitty]

20. Debunked by whom?

Gruber's pal Paul Krugman? Sorry, not good enough.

[mkultra]

28. Im sure the only one good enough for you would be Oily Taitz

[Hello_Kitty]

29. Oh oops. I picked on your e-boyfriend Paul Krugman.

Sorry. :eyes:

Does he make you get a tingle up your leg?

[mkultra]

34. Dont tell your mom, she will get jealous.

[Phx_Dem]

13. If you're going to post FDL shit, might as well include Fox News shit too.

One is as good as the other. They both heart Grover Norquist.

[Teaser]

16. Someone who is not a total dumbass would know what a research grant is.

But we're talking about firedoglake here.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cha]

39. Yeah, it doesn't pay her to actually report the facts.

She's selling out her country to fatten up her stupid coffers.

[impik]

17. I see Jane can't live more than few days out of the headlines

No facts-check, no serious research, such more and more garbage-hate of the president. What an idiot.

[geek tragedy]

18. Another fake scandal from the Firebaggers. nt

[Cha]

38. Oh, yeah..."Big Scandal Brewing"..I knew as soon as

I saw that from fdl that it was more bogus bullshit from the greedy ignorant puddlebaggers.

[TomCADem]

21. By This Same Logic - A Lot Of Climate Science Is Also Suspect. What About Intelligent Design?

Because you can trace the source of funding to federal grants. Maybe Firedog will also make common cause with James Inhofe as well. The logic is the same. Just to throw out: "President Obama: Come Clean on "Buy a Climatologist" Scandal," throw out the fact that the work of many of climatologists is funded with government research grants, and you have a controversy.

While we're at it, we should also have:

"President Obama: Come Clean on "Buy a Biologist" Scandal" due to federal funding of research on biology and research that unfairly favors those who believe in evolution over those who support creationism and intelligent design.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dionysus]

24. unfortunately, it seems they won't.

:(

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

25. Just read Krugman's article...

Apprarently I can't be objective either. I got a tax refund from the Obama Administration last year.

To quote Professor Krugman: Oy.

[DevonRex]

32. Then you're a paid operative.

:rofl:

[dionysus]

23. is this the faux scandal krugman took apart yesterday?

:rofl:

[DevonRex]

30. Why yes. Yes it is.

:rofl:

[Hello_Kitty]

35. You mean the one where Krugman said Gruber should have disclosed his contract?

BTW, he was introduced as a "paid consultant to the Obama administration" on News Hour last night. From now on there will be a disclaimer every time he speaks, writes an article, or is quoted.

No big deal. :)

[Rabrrrrrr]

27. OMG! You're right!! And I just realized that OBAMA IS PAID BY THE GOVERNMENT, TOO!!!!!!!!!!11!11!!

:eyes:

[karynnj]

36. And the ENTIRE CONGRESS is PAID BY THE GOVERNMENT!!!

[Rabrrrrrr]

37. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Everything's fucked up!!!!!!

Please don't tell me that the guys who build our public road systems are financed by the government, too!!!!!!!!

[Hello_Kitty]

33. Gwen Ifill introduced him as a paid consultant on News Hour last night. eom

[Cha]

40. The bashers looking for a scandal to rock

the White House will have to continue looking under their rocks..this isn't going to materialize for them:nopity: