It is unfortunate that a foreigner, Rupert Murdoch, can have so much control over domestic policy debates. Moreover, he gets ad money from the very people and industries that his reporters then go on to promote. In other words, big pharma will advertise in one of Murdoch's outlets and it seems in return, Murdoch's propagandists will wage a battle on big pharma's behalf.
The latest propaganda item from the Murdoch propaganda empire comes by way of The New York Post:
"A sea of 150 white-coated doctors, all enthusiastically supportive of the president and representing all 50 states, looked as if they were at a costume party as they posed in the Rose Garden before hearing Obama's pitch for the Democratic overhaul bills moving through Congress.
All this to provide a visual counter to complaints from other doctors that pending legislation is bad news for the medical profession.
"Nobody has more credibility with the American people on this issue than you do," Obama told his guests.
The president was flanked by four white-coated doctors at a podium as he delivered his pep talk.
The Republican National Committee shot back with a response from Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), who was an orthopedic surgeon before being elected to Congress.
"Today, the president wants you to believe that the medical community supports his government takeover of health care. Don't be fooled," Price said.
He said he had spoken to "thousands of my colleagues" who oppose the Democrats' legislation.
House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) said large numbers of doctors fear it would cripple their ability to care for patients."
Obama hosting a photo-op with - gasp - doctors who support his health-care reform policy? One would think that from such a reaction, Obama used soldiers as stage props in a propaganda photo-shoot supporting the Iraq war. Oh wait, that was George W. Bush abusing the US military and forcing soldiers to participate in a scripted event in which they praised their leader.
But that aside, is the above article correct when it states "all this to provide a visual counter to complaints from other doctors that pending legislation is bad news for the medical profession."
To support this statement, the author points not to medical professionals, but to Republican members of Congress (granted, one used to be a doctor).
Well, obviously since Rep Tom Price was a doctor he would certainly have an unbiased opinion on the issue. Unless of course one looks at his campaign donors, then the picture becomes very different:
In 2008, the top donors to Price were:
- Health Professionals $553,25
- Insurance Industry $90,650
- Pharmaceuticals/Health Products $52,850
His overall career donors are exactly the same:
- Health Professionals$1,894,424
- Insurance Industry $241,261
- Pharmaceuticals/Health Products$173,300
The article mentions that Price was a doctor before running for office to give weight to their propaganda, but they do not mention that he is entirely owned by big pharma, insurance, and other such interests.
The other authority that The New York Post uses to support their claim that the majority of physicians are opposed to Obama's health care reform policy is Rep. John Bohner whose largest campaign donor is the insurance industry:
- Insurance $919,306
