Is Obama Too Influenced by the Health Care Industry?

Tom Dashle, who I should heretofore refer to using explicatives not suitable for this environment, has remained a health adviser to the president of the United States, Barack Obama. This should make sense, as the man was after all, Obama's choice for for Health Secretary. What does not appeal to me is the fact that the bastard has ties to the very industry that stands to benefit directly from any lobbying that Tom should do. WTF?

Can we say "Conflict of Interest"? I thought Obama was to be the tough guy on lobbyists, but apparently I was fooled along with the rest of them. Mr. Dashcle, who I always thought was the weakest link in the Democratic leadership," remains a highly paid policy adviser to hospital, drug, pharmaceutical and other health care industry clients of Alston & Bird, the law and lobbying firm."

Of course, the standard line from the man himself, Mr. Dashcle is that he is not a registered lobbyist (I think he uses the word "consultant" instead, which means exactly the same thing) and that this is somehow not a conflict of interest. His "co-worker" or "co-conspirator" if you will is none other than Bob Dole, the former Republican presidential candidate, most noted for his surprising sense of humor.

The fact is that Tom Daschle is claiming to be the "architect" if you will, of Obama's health care proposal. He often claims that the public option is not wanted, nor possible. I believe this man has accepted the health care industry's usual crap at the detriment and cost to the American public. The huge debate raging on the issue of health care is all smoke and mirrors based on a concentrated effort by the health care industry to bullshit their way into public opinion using fear tactics and lies. To me, letting people suffer, get sick, and die because they do not have health care insurance because they lack medical coverage is unconscionable. 

Seriously, check out ecoscott's article regarding the surprising amount of poverty stricken Americans and the number of Americans without health insurance coverage. The costs of health care for the uninsured are enormous. For some lab work I needed done recently, the cost (before I had insurance) was $550! If the median income of a family of four is less than $15,000, how can you possibly think that they will be able to take care of their medical needs in a preventive manner without using emergency care? Letting your health fester because you lack the income and the insurance to take care of yourself should not happen in the good ole US of A.

What I fail to comprehend at any level is why the industry is getting a special ear from Barack Obama. Since when have pharmaceutical companies been on our, and by our I am referring to the American people's, side? How many people truthfully love their health insurance policies? Barack Obama was to be a message of hope to the American people. With a democratic majority in both houses, and a "health adviser" whose advice is biased by his firm's clients, why the f- isn't he listening to the real people in this country instead of "negotiating" with the very industry that has cost more Americans their lives than any death squad Sarah Palin could ever dream of?