Health insurance company urges employees to become Teabaggers

[Cain]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/major-health-insurance-company-urges-employees-to-attend-tea-parties.php

Last week, UnitedHealth Group--the second largest health insurance company in the country--sent out a letter to its employees urging them to call UHG's United for Health Reform Advocacy Hotline to speak with an advocacy specialist about health care reform. The advocacy specialist, according to the letter, is there to help UHG employees write personalized messages to elected officials, and to arm them with talking points to use at local events in order to better oppose the public health insurance option.

TPM has obtained the letter, which you can read here, but a UHG advocacy specialist was not willing to provide TPM with a copy.

However, a source who's insured by UHG--and who also obtained the letter--called the hotline on Tuesday and says the company directed him to an events list hosted by the right wing America's Independent Party, and suggested he attend an anti-health care reform tea party sponsored by religious fundamentalist Dave Daubenmire, scheduled for today outside the office of Blue Dog Rep. Zack Space (D-OH).

UHG was not immediately available for comment.

Some conservatives have used the fact that industry groups nominally support health care reform to attack liberals and Democrats for blaming town hall disruptions and other public displays of opposition to health care reform on those same groups. Well, as you can see, it's perfectly possible for industry to have it both ways.

The Tea Partiers may be laughed at as fringe nutjobs now, but just remember what people said about similar "fringe" nutjobs in the Clinton years...they got into power, launched two wars, practically destroyed rule of law and economically ruined the nation.

FreedomWorks, UnitedHealth Group...these people don't throw money away needlessly. If they're backing the Teabaggers, its because they're useful.  And that should worry everyone.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Only if you have America's best interests at heart.

I don't.

[Jasper]

I'm cynical and jaded enough to see your point. 


FFFUUUUU-
     \

[Richter]

I'm stil seething over the fact that we encourage and support the existance of "advocacy specialists".  Has anyoneconsidered what kind of socially parasitic trash makes their living off of speaking for people who are too cowed, incapable, or apathetic to do it themselves?
(Lawyers Lite <sup>TM[/tm], kindling for the fire, first to the wall, yada yada...)

Do you have that hotline number, Cain?</sup>

[Jasper]

I'm stil seething over the fact that we encourage and support the existance of "advocacy specialists".  Has anyoneconsidered what kind of socially parasitic trash makes their living off of speaking for people who are too cowed, incapable, or apathetic to do it themselves?

Optimist.  You're assuming they are being used to speak for the interests of actual people.  Having people speak out for corporations' interests is what makes the big bucks.