Health Sector Puts Its Money on Democrats

Source: New York Times

By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ and ROBERT PEAR
Published: October 29, 2007

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 — In a reversal from past election cycles, Democratic candidates for president are outpacing Republicans in donations from the health care industry, even as the leading Democrats in the field offer proposals that have caused deep anxiety in some of its sectors.

Hospitals, drug makers, doctors and insurers gave candidates in both parties more than $11 million in the first nine months of this year, according to an analysis of campaign finance records done for The New York Times by the Center for Responsive Politics, an independent group that tracks campaign finance.

In all, the Democratic presidential candidates have raised about $6.5 million from the industry, compared with nearly $4.8 million for the Republican candidates. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York has amassed the most of any candidate, even as she calls for changes to the health care system that could pose serious financial challenges to private insurers, drug companies and other sectors.

Mrs. Clinton received $2.7 million through the end of September, far more than Mitt Romney, the Republican who raised the most from the health care industry, with $1.6 million. The industry’s shift in contributions toward Democratic candidates mirrors wider trends among donors, but the donations from this sector are particularly notable because of the party’s focus on overhauling the health care system.

People in the health care industry say the giving reflects a growing sense that the Democrats are in a strong position to win the White House next year. It also underscores the industry’s frantic effort to influence the candidates, as Democrats push their proposals to address what many polls show is a top concern among voters....

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/29/us/politics/29health.html?_r=2&ref=politics&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Several of the Dem candidates health care proposals - Ms. Clinton included - is nothing but a big ol' wet French kiss to those very industries. :shrug:

After all you wouldn't want that dirty hippie Kucinich getting the nod. Corporate America LOVES Hillary.

It's a two-fer.
1. you cripple the Democrats making it more likely they will lose the white house by backing the most thoroughly divisive candidate they have.
2. If she does win she is in your pocket which will probably garauntee that she will not get too uppity.

that Clinton would be good for the health care industry. Unless she's been misquoted everywhere, including her own campaign website, her plan requires everyone to purchase insurance coverage from private insurers. That reads to me as a big win for the insurance providers.

Instead of using the Republican 'Pray-Go' system we have now.

Democrats are finally raising more money than the Republicans. I'm sure the Clintons, ol' Rahm and the party faithful will just be tickled pink 'cause its so important that we WIN WIN WIN!!!! Of course the fact that the American people have been sold out by "the party of the people" and the "win at all costs" meme has left them all with no souls is just real unfortunate. But as long as we WIN WIN WIN that's what's important! :sarcasm: