“The White House announced the resignation of green jobs adviser Van Jones early Sunday morning. In a departure letter, Jones, whose extensive record of radical politics became public in recent weeks, said he was the victim of a “vicious smear campaign” and that “opponents of reform” had used “lies and distortion” against him.
Observers had been predicting Jones’ departure after word spread that Jones signed a 2004 petition supporting the so-called “9/11 Truther” movement; that he was a self-professed communist during much of the 1990s; that he supported the cop-killer Mumia abu-Jamal; that in 2008 he accused “white polluters” of “steering poison into the people of color communities”; that he was affiliated with an anti-American publication called “War Times” from 2002 to 2004; that in 2005 he said, “You’ve never seen a Columbine done by a black child”; and that earlier this year he called Republicans “a–holes.” When controversy erupted, Jones apologized for the “Truther” episode and his remarks about the GOP.
Jones as a favorite of Valerie Jarrett, who is one of President Obama’s closest advisers. “We were so delighted to be able to recruit him into the White House,” Jarrett said in August. “We were watching him — really, he’s not that old — for as long as he’s been active out in Oakland. And all the creative ideas he has.””
“But it was Jones’ radical politics that did him in. He left a long trail of statements, many of them on video, covering a variety of hot-button political and racial issues. The controversy over those statements grew slowly at first but snowballed in recent days, and Jones’ fate was signaled by the White House on Friday, when spokesman Robert Gibbs declined say that President Obama continued to have confidence in his green jobs adviser.”
Here is the big story regarding Van Jones, his past and the Main Stream Media continuing to give Obama a free ride.
“Coverage of the Jones controversy was a case study of some of the deep divisions within the media. Fox News’ Glenn Beck devoted program after program to Jones’ past, and a number of conservative blogs were responsible for finding some of Jones’ most inflammatory statements. Yet even as the controversy grew — and even after Jones himself apologized for some of his words — several of the nation’s top media outlets failed to report the story. As late as Friday, as the Jones matter began to boil over, it had not been reported at all in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the evening newscasts of ABC, CBS, and NBC. Although the Post and CBS went on to report the Jones story on Saturday, the Times did not inform its readers about the Jones matter until after Jones resigned.”
In case you thought we had forgottten about Obama being guilty of curruption, probably just as guilty as Rod Blagojevich, think again. The Citizen Wells blog series on why Barack Obama should be indicted and arrested will return soon. In the meantime, here is an interesting article for your consideration.
From the Hawai’i Free Press, September 17, 2008:
“Nadhmi Auchi is an Iraqi whose Baathist ties go back to 1959. A formerly high-ranking official in Iraq’s Oil Ministry, Auchi left Iraq at the end of the 1970s. His wealth then grew exponentially as a procurer of arms for Saddam Hussein’s government during the Iran–Iraq war. He is now one of the richest men in Britain. Saddam Hussein in 1995 selected BNP, which later merged with Paribas, as the sole conduit bank handling Oil-for-Food transactions. This Clinton-era arrangement was changed in 2001 by the incoming Bush administration.
A secret $3.5 million loan from an Auchi company to key early-money Barack Obama fundraiser Antoin Rezko was exposed while Rezko was awaiting trial on fraud and money-laundering charges earlier this year. Rezko’s bail was revoked and police showed up banging on the doors of his Wilmette Chicago mansion to drag him off to jail early in the morning of January 28th. Auchi’s loan to Rezko had come on May 23, 2005 but had not been disclosed to the Court as required in his bail agreement. Three weeks later, on June 15, 2005, Rezko’s wife assisted the Obamas in the purchase of their South Chicago mansion by purchasing a next-door undeveloped lot being sold with the house.
According to the Times of London, “Mr. Rezko’s lawyer said his client had ‘longstanding indebtedness’ to Mr. Auchi’s General Mediterranean Holding (GMH). By June 2007 he owed it $27.9 million. Under a Loan Forgiveness Agreement described in court, M. Auchi lent Mr. Rezko $3.5 million in April 2005 and $11 million in September 2005, as well as $3.5 million transferred in April 2007. That agreement provided for the outstanding loans to be ‘forgiven’ in return for a stake in the 62-acre Riverside Park development.”
Rezko’s relationship with Barack Obama goes back to at least 1990, when Obama’s law firm did work relating to thousands of now-decaying Rezko apartment units in South Chicago. Rezko was a key early-money fundraiser in Obama’s state Senate campaigns and his failed run at the U.S. Congress.
According to TheTimes of London, “Mr. Auchi first met Mr. Rezko after the 2003 Iraq war and they have a business relationship.” At the time Auchi was facing the possibility of extradition to France. The Times of London explains: “Mr Auchi was convicted of corruption, given a suspended sentence and fined £1.4 million in France in 2003 for his part in the Elf affair, described as the biggest political and corporate scandal in post-war Europe. He, in a statement from his media lawyers, claims he is appealing against the sentence.”
Allow me to introduce you to Nadhmi Auchi. He was charged in the 1950s with being an accomplice of Saddam Hussein, when the future tyrant was acquiring his taste for blood. He was investigated in the 1980s for his part in alleged bribes to the fabulously corrupt leaders of post-war Italy. In the 1990s, the Belgium Ambassador to Luxembourg claimed that Auchi’s bank held money Saddam and Colonel Gadaffi had stolen from their luckless peoples. In 2002, officers from the Serious Fraud Squad raided the offices of one of Auchi’s drug companies as part of an investigation of what is alleged to be the biggest swindle ever of the (British National Health Service). With allegations, albeit unproven, like these hanging over him, wouldn’t you think that British MPs would have the sense to stay away?”
“Here are some questions reporters should be asking Barack Obama:
Senator Obama: Lehman Brothers owes over $250 million to a bank owned in part by Nadhmi Auchi’s holding company. Auchi was a key financial backer of Tony Rezko. Sources indicate you met Auchi twice when he visited Chicago in 2004. If elected, how will your relationship with Rezko and Auchi affect your policy towards Lehman Brothers?
Senator Obama: There are reports that Nadhmi Auchi was in 2004-2005 seeking US residency while appealing his French court conviction in the ELF-Aquitaine case. If elected, would you look favorably on a US residency application from Auchi?
Senator Obama: You stated that the Lehman bankruptcy shows that Americans cannot afford four more years of the Republicans’ “failed philosophy”. Can Americans afford a President whose home was purchased with the assistance of now-convicted-felon Tony Rezko, a man characterized as having “permanent indebtedness” to Nadhmi Auchi?”
Yesterday, August 26, 2009, the Citizen Wells blog presented an article about Obama’s ties to SEIU, a group that claims to be a union representing working people.
“SEIU,Service Employees International Union, thugs have been a prominent feature at many of the town hall meetings on health care. Did you ever wonder why they were there. This article from American Thinker on January 6, 2009, months before these town hall meetings, will shed some light on their presence.”
Today, August 27, 2009, a great commenter on this blog alerted us to another article referring to SEIU as the new mafia.
“SEIU, The New Mafia”
“We all have heard about the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) during the 2008 general election. Even more recently, the SEIU was active in being “ushers” at the Tampa town hall meeting on August 6, 2009 sponsored by Florida State Representative Betty Reed (D-Dist. 59) with special guest, Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL), on the topic of healthcare reform. It was no surprise that SEIU members acted on their best, I mean, not on their best behavior when using mafia-like tactics in preventing ANY proud American willing to practice their first amendment right of free speech.”
“Furthermore, the SEIU advocates for illegal alien employment as evidenced by their adopted amendments and resolutions from their 2008 convention in Puerto Rico! Yes, in an economic climate where LEGAL immigrants and Americans are losing their jobs, the SEIU writes “How To” guides for employers if they are subjected to an I.C.E. raid. This would partly explain their behavior at town hall meetings around the country as they do not want the COMMON SENSE voice being heard about some of the issues surrounding the healthcare crisis; i.e. illegal aliens who receive free healthcare at the American’s expense!”
“So, I’ve browsed the SEIU’s 2008 amendments and resolutions and provided specific examples of how their intended goal of promoting jobs in all industries for all people actually has counterproductive practices. On face value, this organization is just the street level thug division of the Organize for America movement which is an extension of the Obama’s 2008 campaign. In fact, I actually feel sorry for SEIU members for being exploited by the liberals to advance their agenda instead of filling their ranks with people that fully understand issues and grasp the severity of their actions.”
Obama’s SEIU Thugs Attack a Black Conservative Outside Russ Carnahan Town Hall.
The following comes directly from the SEIU constitution. There is so much unAmerican, anti business, marxists propaganda there that I had a difficult time deciding what to include.
Resolution # 102a Adopted at the 2008 SEIU Convention
Building Workers’ Strength with Comprehensive Immigration Reform
SEIU members have many reasons to stand united for comprehensive immigration reform.
All working people face lower pay and benefits when some hard-working, taxpaying workers are driven into an underground economy because they are denied legal status.
The political strength of working people is seriously undermined when millions of workers are denied the right to vote because they have no real path to citizenship.
Our primary mission – to unite all working people for a better future – cannot be achieved as long as many workers face exploitation and discrimination.
Our communities are weakened when politicians eager to exploit divisions pass laws that result in workers being denied access to drivers’ licenses and insurance or qualified high school graduates being denied a college education.
As a result of the U.S. Senate’s failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform last year, we have seen an alarming increase in local laws that target immigrant workers and their families, along with costly deportation raids that make headlines but do not realistically fix a broken system. Deportation threats without reform have pushed undocumented immigrants further into the underground economy, dividing the workforce and driving down wages and benefits for all working people.
When the Bush administration announced a federal attack on undocumented immigrant workers, including a new policy on “no match” Social Security cases, SEIU developed a tool kit and held legal trainings to educate employers and workers on their rights in the event of a worksite raid and/or “no match” letter.
As the federal crackdowns increase, so do state and local laws that target immigrant workers and fuel fear, hate, and division in communities across the country. Legislation in states such as Arizona, Oklahoma, and Virginia that deputizes local law enforcement and empower them to persecute undocumented immigrants will cost billions in taxpayer dollars, but solve nothing.
We will oppose initiatives including guest worker programs if they do not provide future immigrant workers with a safe, orderly, and legal process that includes full protection of U.S. laws and a pathway to citizenship.
SEIU members will continue to help immigrant workers organize to unite their strength with us.
Resolution # 105b Adopted at the 2008 SEIU Convention
Justice for All: Reforming Our National Healthcare System
This Moment Calls for Our Leadership
Our nation’s healthcare crisis has touched every kitchen table, every worker, every boardroom, and every patient and continues to grow worse each day. 48 million people in the United States have no health insurance and hundreds ofmillions more are under-insured, making it difficult or impossible for them to access quality health care;
SEIU will bring its full resources to this fight in the form of national membership mobilization, political action, and local resources to amplify our voice on this issue and be prepared for the real healthcare reform work that begins on November 5, 2008 with a newly elected President and Congress.
3. While we continue to defend employer-based plans that provide quality healthcare for our members, the current employer -based health care system is not a realistic foundation for 21st century health care reform, particularly given the competitive challenges of a global economy.
Further be it resolved:
To win national healthcare reform SEIU members pledge to:
Help to build and grow Healthcare United, an organization of both union and non-union nurses and healthcare workers, and support the work of Americans for Health Care — to speak out with healthcare consumers to help lead the fight.
Resolution # 106a Adopted at the 2008 SEIU Convention
Quality Public Education for All
A high quality, universal public education system is crucial to ensuring equal opportunity for our children. But our nation’s children do not have equal access to a quality public education. The opportunities provided by public schools have been selective and have excluded too many of our children. Millions of children of working families, particularly in lower income communities, do not have access to schools in which all students can thrive.
Resolution # 107 Adopted at the 2008 SEIU Convention
Rebuilding the Middle Class
Commit 50% of the growth budgets and 50% of non-growth staff during the first 100 days of the 111th • Congress toward the passage of Employee Free Choice and healthcare reform.
Resolution # 115a Adopted at the 2008 SEIU Convention
Solidarity with Latin America and the Caribbean
Today, progressive, democratically elected movements continue to grow in strength across Latin America and the Caribbean. Currently Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela are increasingly committed to fighting against poverty and illiteracy and for a more just society.
Resolution # 122 Adopted at the 2008 SEIU Convention
Resolution on the Campaign for the New American Dream
WHEREAS in February 2008, the International Executive Board endorsed Barrack Obama to become the next President of the United States, and since that time SEIU members and leaders from around the country have worked tirelessly in primaries and caucuses from Oregon to Pennsylvania, from Texas to Wisconsin, in Puerto Rico, Indiana, Ohio and other states. We have also built upon our successes in the 2006 Congressional General Elections in 2008 to preserve a democratic seat in Massachusetts, elect a progressive democratic in Maryland and make unprecedented gains in difficult congressional districts against anti-worker candidates.
SEIU will help expand the work of nonprofit entities such as Mi Familia Vota, Strengthen Our Lives (S.O.L.), and The American Dream Fund so that all working people, including immigrants, will be active and united.
SEIU,Service Employees International Union, thugs have been a prominent feature at many of the town hall meetings on health care. Did you ever wonder why they were there. This article from American Thinker on January 6, 2009, months before these town hall meetings, will shed some light on their presence. And while your reading this article, note the mention of Robert Blackwell, you remember, the man who received many favors from Obama and donated a lot of money to Obama’s campaigns.
“Pay-to-Play Politics, the SEIU and Obamacare
The Governor of Illinois, for all his well-documented faults, has performed at least one valuable public service. He has made it clear to the meanest intelligence that our new President-elect emerged from a hopelessly corrupt political culture. Barack Obama oozed from the same stinking Chicago swamp that produced Blagojevich, and a man whose formative years were spent wallowing in the muck with such creatures isn’t likely to be long in White House before the stench of pay-to-play politics begins to pervade the place. That this has important implications for the future of health care in this country has already been demonstrated by a brazen episode of cronyism involving one of America’s most prestigious health care institutions, the University of Chicago Medical Center.
It is no secret that, immediately following Obama’s election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, UCMC created a new position called “Vice President for Community and External Affairs” and bestowed it-along with a lavish salary-upon Michelle Obama. It is less well known, however, that one of her husband’s cronies subsequently received preferential treatment in a UCMC contract bidding process. Specifically, the medical center altered its normal procedure for soliciting contact proposals so that longtime Obama “friend” and political donor, Robert Blackwell, could submit a bid to upgrade UCMC’s intranet. Naturally, officials of the medical center deny that the expanded process was in any way connected to Obama’s influence, but Blackwell Consulting was awarded the $600,000 contract.
What does this have to do with national health care policy? Well, Mr. Obama achieved his November victory with more than a little help from such “friends.” These benefactors paid a lot to put him in the White House, and they weren’t all motivated by a desire “make history.” Among the most generous of Obama’s supporters was another entity that has figured prominently in the Illinois culture of corruption — the Service Employees International Union. According to CNSNews, the SEIU’s political action committee made “more than $27 million in independent expenditures” in support of Obama’s presidential campaign while its members “knocked on 1.87 million doors, made 4.4 million phone calls, registered 85,914 voters and sent more than 2.5 million pieces of mail.”
In return for all this largesse, the SEIU wants help in unionizing the health care industry. And a clear sign that Obama intends to provide that assistance can be found in his nomination of California Representative Hilda Solis, the hand-picked candidate of SEIU President Andy Stern, for U.S. Secretary of Labor. Solis made her priorities clear during the press conference at which her nomination was announced: “As secretary of Labor, I’ll work to strengthen our unions …” And a key strategy in “strengthening” unions will be an aggressive program to organize health care workers. Indeed, she has a track record of doing just that. As it was phrased in the gleeful news release from SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West, “She has stood alongside healthcare workers as they fought to form unions in their hospitals.”
The Trent Franks town hall meeting on Saturday, August 22, 2009, in Kingman, AZ is stirring up a lot of controversy. According to the Mojave Daily News, Franks was reported as saying:
“Franks said there was not enough evidence that Obama is not an American citizen. He did say there was a lot of conflicting evidence of Obama’s citizenship and that he was considering filing a lawsuit, the only congressman to do so. Franks asked why the president did not simply produce a birth certificate.””
The Citizen Wells blog has reported on the town hall meeting as well as further comments coming from representative Franks office.
A comment was posted by a citizen from AZ:
“I have emailed Rep Franks several times,…. and He has responded to me each time….by email and also snail mail letter. Pretty much saying that obama has been vetted and all is in order. MAYBE we should email him some info to WAKE UP his mind a little bit. You prepare what you want and I will make sure he gets it. I will email it and I will also send him a certified letter. WHAT do you think? (I also emailed Sen Mccain,…. but never received any response at all)”
Today we received this comment from travelbugs:
“I just got off the phone with Congressman Franks office. He said that he did not say he would pursue a lawsuit, but rather that he would pursue looking into this. I also explained that it is much more than the long form birth certificate. I further stated that he had to simultaneously ask for the college records and passport records to be opened up to fully understand the depth of this. The staffer said they have been flooded by calls today about the birth issue and he took my message down, in great detail, and promised to pass it along to the Congressman. Everyone needs to call and relay this same information. He can get a fake birth certificate, but he cannot forge the passport and college records as well. These elements are critical to bringing about the truth!”
Politico is now reporting the following:
“Franks in July: Obama ‘born in Hawaii'”
“A month before Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) told a town hall audience that there is not enough evidence that President Barack Obama is a natural-born citizen, he told an interviewer that he believes Obama was “born in Hawaii.”
According to the Mohave Daily News, on Sunday, Franks told a town hall audience in Kingman, Ariz., that there is conflicting evidence as to whether the president was born in the United States. According to the report, the Republican congressman called on Obama to produce his birth certificate and threatened to sue the president over the issue.
But in July, when a camera crew from the liberal blog FireDogLake approached Franks to ask if he believed the so-called birthers, who dispute whether Obama was born in the United States and would therefore be ineligible to serve as president, Franks made his anti-birther position pretty clear.
“I believe Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, stayed within the United States and, therefore, is a constitutionally natural-born citizen of this country,” Franks told the blog’s Mike Stark.”
I, Citizen Wells, today, August 24, 2009, submitted a request to meet with Trent Franks. I will keep you informed of what comes of this.
So, representative Trent Franks, what is your position on Obama’s eligibility and not presenting a legitimate birth certificate? Your constituents and the American public want to know.
Yesterday, the Citizen Wells blog presented an article about a town hall meeting hosted by representative Trent Franks of Arizona. Here are some exerpts:
“The other main issue dealt with numerous speakers questioning Obama’s birth certificate and why there wasn’t an investigation into whether he is a naturalized citizen. One woman said a newspaper announcement of his birth in Hawaii was not sufficient. Another asked how he could have a passport without a birth certificate.
Franks said there was not enough evidence that Obama is not an American citizen. He did say there was a lot of conflicting evidence of Obama’s citizenship and that he was considering filing a lawsuit, the only congressman to do so. Franks asked why the president did not simply produce a birth certificate.”
A comment was posted by a citizen from AZ:
“I have emailed Rep Franks several times,…. and He has responded to me each time….by email and also snail mail letter. Pretty much saying that obama has been vetted and all is in order. MAYBE we should email him some info to WAKE UP his mind a little bit. You prepare what you want and I will make sure he gets it. I will email it and I will also send him a certified letter. WHAT do you think? (I also emailed Sen Mccain,…. but never received any response at all)”
“I just got off the phone with Congressman Franks office. He said that he did not say he would pursue a lawsuit, but rather that he would pursue looking into this. I also explained that it is much more than the long form birth certificate. I further stated that he had to simultaneously ask for the college records and passport records to be opened up to fully understand the depth of this. The staffer said they have been flooded by calls today about the birth issue and he took my message down, in great detail, and promised to pass it along to the Congressman. Everyone needs to call and relay this same information. He can get a fake birth certificate, but he cannot forge the passport and college records as well. These elements are critical to bringing about the truth!”
I, Citizen Wells, today, August 24, 2009, submitted a request to meet with Trent Franks. I will keep you informed of what comes of this.
Here is a notice of the next town hall meeting hosted by representative Franks. It was taken from his website:
“UPCOMING TOWN HALLS
Questions? Comments?
Join me for a Town Hall meeting near you:
Aug 25: Maricopa County hide
Time:
5:00 – Congressman Franks will host a screening of “33 Minutes,” a half hour film about America’s missile defense in a new missile age.
6:00 – Congressman Franks’ opening remarks, town hall question & answer session
Location:
Community Church of Joy
21000 N. 75th Avenue
Glendale, AZ 85308
(Located just north of Loop 101 on the west side of 75th Avenue. Meeting will be help in the worship center, in the main sanctuary.)
In August and September, Health Care for America Now and our partners are making sure Congress hears from voters all across the country. Join us. Host a house party. Plan a rally. Visit your Members of Congress’ town hall meetings. Rally. Make your voice heard. Take action. Pass health care reform.
Don’t let the Obama controlled organizations keep you from voicing your concerns.
US representative Trent Franks of Arizona, conducted a Town hall meeting, Saturday, August 22, 2009, in Kingman, AZ. Health care reform, national defense and illegal aliens and even fraudulent ACORN were discussed. However, what was most interesting about Trent Franks’ comments was his questioning Obama on not producing a birth certificate and indicating he may initiate a lawsuit. I am not certain if representative Franks really understands the eligibility issues, but at least he understands that there may be a problem.
Here are three action items for us to address:
1. Make certain that Trent Franks understands the serious eligibility issues surrounding Obama as well as his complete hiding of his past.
2. Encourage Trent Franks to initiate a lawsuit and provide data and resources.
3. Let Trent Franks know that we will support his efforts to represent the American people and uphold the US Constitution.
Here are some exerpts from the Mojave Daily News:
“Franks goes on the attack
Sunday, August 23, 2009 12:01 AM CDT
PACKED HOUSE: U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, from Arizona’s 2nd District, held a town hall meeting Saturday in Kingman discussing issues ranging from health care reform to President Barack Obama’s citizenship. JIM SECKLER/The Daily News
Congressman critical of Obama’s policies”
“KINGMAN – A big, boisterous crowd largely supported an Arizona Congressman, who lambasted the Democratic president and his policies.
Rep. Trent Franks, a Republican representing Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District that includes Mohave County, held a town hall meeting Saturday afternoon at a jammed-packed Kingman church.
Franks started the town hall off by showing a half-hour video on the country’s missile defense system. The movie warned of threats of a missile attack by rogue nations such as North Korea and Iran and the need to protect the country with a missile defense shield.
Franks then criticized President Barack Obama on every issue starting with the president’s lack of understanding of the threat by terrorists to launch an attack against the United States. The conservative Republican also said he voted against the federal stimulus bill and the Cash for Clunkers program, which he said benefited foreign car makers. He also said it would take 34,000 years to pay off the debt that Obama is accruing.”
“The other main issue dealt with numerous speakers questioning Obama’s birth certificate and why there wasn’t an investigation into whether he is a naturalized citizen. One woman said a newspaper announcement of his birth in Hawaii was not sufficient. Another asked how he could have a passport without a birth certificate.
Franks said there was not enough evidence that Obama is not an American citizen. He did say there was a lot of conflicting evidence of Obama’s citizenship and that he was considering filing a lawsuit, the only congressman to do so. Franks asked why the president did not simply produce a birth certificate.”
“Franks also called Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now fraudulent and said it should be investigated by the U.S. Attorney General. He also said the organization was committed to hurting the country and blamed the organization for requiring sub-prime loans that led to the country’s economic downturn.”
I am not certain if the people were quoted correctly or not regarding the use of the words “citizen” and “naturalized citizen.”
We must make certain that Representative Franks understands the difference.
**** UPDATE ****
I just received this from a AZ citizen:
“I have emailed Rep Franks several times,…. and He has responded to me each time….by email and also snail mail letter. Pretty much saying that obama has been vetted and all is in order. MAYBE we should email him some info to WAKE UP his mind a little bit. You prepare what you want and I will make sure he gets it. I will email it and I will also send him a certified letter. WHAT do you think? (I also emailed Sen Mccain,…. but never received any response at all)”
I certainly hope that Trent Franks did not utter words to placate his audience.
Obama recently made a deal with the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers Association, PhRMA. That will come as no surprise to you. However, this story was covered by the Huffington Post and CNN. That may surprise you.
From The Huffington Post, August 13, 2009:
“Internal Memo Confirms Big Giveaways In White House Deal With Big Pharma
A memo obtained by the Huffington Post confirms that the White House and the pharmaceutical lobby secretly agreed to precisely the sort of wide-ranging deal that both parties have been denying over the past week.
The memo, which according to a knowledgeable health care lobbyist was prepared by a person directly involved in the negotiations, lists exactly what the White House gave up, and what it got in return.
It says the White House agreed to oppose any congressional efforts to use the government’s leverage to bargain for lower drug prices or import drugs from Canada — and also agreed not to pursue Medicare rebates or shift some drugs from Medicare Part B to Medicare Part D, which would cost Big Pharma billions in reduced reimbursements.
In exchange, the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA) agreed to cut $80 billion in projected costs to taxpayers and senior citizens over ten years. Or, as the memo says: “Commitment of up to $80 billion, but not more than $80 billion.”
Representatives from both the White House and PhRMA, shown the outline, adamantly denied that it reflected reality. PhRMA senior vice president Ken Johnson said that the outline “is simply not accurate.” “This memo isn’t accurate and does not reflect the agreement with the drug companies,” said White House spokesman Reid Cherlin.
Stories in the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times last week indicated that the administration was confirming that such a deal had been made.
Critics on Capitol Hill and online responded with outrage at the reports that Obama had gone behind their backs and sold the reform movement short. Furthermore, the deal seemed to be a betrayal of several promises made by then-Sen. Obama during the presidential campaign, among them that he would use the power of government to drive down the costs of drugs to Medicare and that negotiations would be conducted in the open.”
“The deal, as outlined in the memo:
Commitment of up to $80 billion, but not more than $80 billion.
1. Agree to increase of Medicaid rebate from 15.1 – 23.1% ($34 billion)
2. Agree to get FOBs done (but no agreement on details — express disagreement on data exclusivity which both sides say
does not affect the score of the legislation.) ($9 billion)
3. Sell drugs to patients in the donut hole at 50% discount ($25 billion)
This totals $68 billion
4. Companies will be assessed a tax or fee that will score at $12 billion. There was no agreement as to how or on what
this tax/fee will be based.
Total: $80 billion
In exchange for these items, the White House agreed to:
The issues surrounding Barack Obama’s eligibility to be president are crucial, yet they are but one piece of a disturbing puzzle picture of Obama.
The Citizen Wells blog has focused on the aspects of Obama and his past that we believe are the main issues surrounding Obama, the usurper. It boils down to this:
Obama’s persona is made up of lies, deception and fraud.
Obama is a narcissist. It is all about him.
What entities are controlling Obama, the puppet?
This blog will continue to cover the important eligibility issues. However, another important aspect of Obama’s life, one that helps explain his other behaviours, is his strong ties to crime and corruption as well as his involvement in crime and corruption. It is obvious why Obama has gone to such great lengths to hide his past.
It is clear that Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Department of Justice had more than enough evidence to indict Rod Blagojevich by mid 2008 at the latest. And since Obama made possible one of the main acts of corruption that Blagojevich, Rezko, Levine, Weinstein, et al, were indicted on, Obama should have been indicted before the general election.
Why did this not happen?
Is the USDOJ corrupt?
Is the USDOJ being controlled by the “secret government” Bill Clinton spoke of?
Is the USDOJ being controlled by a foreign government?
Is the USDOJ being controlled by the Obama camp? This is a distinct possibility.
OR
Is it as simple as this
What is the common denominator of these 3 politicians?
Is this another reason why tort reform is not being pursued and why the politicians want more complicated government programs?
There are two primary criminal activities that Barack Obama was involved in that Patrick Fitzgerald is aware of and should have been working on. We will be providing details soon of the story that has been mostly overlooked.
“Ex-ACORN Vegas director to testify against group
By OSKAR GARCIA (AP) – 2 hours ago
LAS VEGAS — A former Las Vegas director for a political advocacy group accused of illegally paying canvassers to register voters during last year’s presidential campaign has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge and agreed to testify against the group and another employee.
Christopher Edwards pleaded guilty this week to two gross misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit the crime of compensation for registration of voters. He agreed to testify against the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, known as ACORN, and Amy Busefink, a former regional voter registration director.
The case threatens the group’s ability to operate in Nevada, with the possibility that the group could have its status as a nonprofit corporation revoked, said Conrad Hafen, chief deputy attorney general for Nevada.
Hafen’s said Edwards’ testimony strengthens the state’s case against ACORN and Busefink.
“It adds to the evidence that we already have,” Hafen said Wednesday. “It makes a strong case that much stronger.”
Busefink’s lawyer, Kevin Stolworthy, said she plans to fight the charges. A lawyer for ACORN did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment from The Associated Press.
Prosecutors said in court documents that Edwards, Busefink and ACORN created a bonus incentive program that paid canvassers an extra $5 per shift if they turned in at least 21 voter registration cards at the end of the day. Prosecutors said violates state laws that prevent a system that pays workers based on the number of registrations they turn in.”
Citizen WElls 