Reader comments
Group says big insurance bought Hatch's vote

backwards | 5:49 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

Moveon.org had it backwards as do many people. Most organizations that donate to politicians do so because of the tendency of that congressman to vote a certain way. A lot of people believe that Congressmen vote a certain way because they get donations when they usually get donations because they vote a certain way. Just like Democrats get money from Moveon.org because they vote for killing the business community, especially small business. I suppose every politician that votes the way Moveon.org would like and who receives donations from their members would be offended if we all assumed that their vote was "bought" by Moveon.org. It still all comes down to the guys we agree with are heros and the guys we disagree with are crooked good-for-nothing dishonest bought-and-paid for politicians. I find Moveon.org's insinuations to be dishonest and simplistic and that they add very little to the civic dialogue of our country. You can add Glenn Beck, Hannity, Rush, Howard Stern and Bill Maher to the list as well. They all make their money by driving wedges between Americans. Shame Shame

Dave | 5:58 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

If Move-on is opposed to Hatch, that is a good reason to give Orrin our support!

Constitutionalist | 6:10 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

Moveon.org are just extreme liberals who want to take away your quality health care and control your life instead of you controlling your life. Moveon and B.O. can both move out of the way!

Comments continue below

Jim McCormick | 9:58 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

When you consider that the members of the Senate Finance Committee have collectively accepted just barely under $50 million from the health insurance industry over the last ten years, Senator Hatch really isn't a unique offender. The real issue here is campaign finance reform. This country was established by and for the people. Allowing business to make substantial contributions toward the finance of political campaigns provides these entities with preferred access and the opportunity to influence the outcome of issues that affect them at the expense of the citizens of this country.

Anonymous | 11:13 p.m. Oct. 14, 2009

Agree. That still makes Hatch Wrong.

John C. | 12:30 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

What is wrong is that they are trying to pass a health care bill that takes peoples choices away is what bothers me. When I heard that the bill would penalizes someone for not having health insurance is just unbelievable. I heard the argument as to why but I don’t believe it at all. It makes as much since as the old deters prisons did. You can’t bay you bill well its off to jail for you tell you pay it. It wasn’t that long ago for me and my family that we couldn’t afford health insurance let alone a steep penalty.
They are truly taking our freedoms away little by little and its disturbing how many people are gladly putting on the shackles of slavery on themselves. This is one example way the founding fathers didn’t want big government.

Moveon.org gets it wrong - again | 7:36 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

You can be sure that the insurance industry plays both sides of the aisle. Check the contributions to Harry Reid and Max Baucus.

They hardly bought Orrin Hatch, or any of the other 39 Republicans that don't support. ( I include Ms. Snowe as she isn't for the legislation as it stands.) These senators know a bad deal when they see one. On this one, they did not have to go to any of the healthcare parties and ask: "Does this bill make sense?" Was obvious to them pretty early in the game.

Barrett | 9:34 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Who ya gonna believe? Sen. Hatch or MoveOn?
Sen. Hatch of course!
MoveOn needs to move on outta town!

Astro Turf | 11:56 a.m. Oct. 15, 2009

And the liberals accuse conservatives of sponsoring fake grass roots events? Move on off a cliff

Not Hatch | 12:10 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

I don't believe Hatch - I'm a fairly conservative person, but have seen the amount of our health dollars going to the insurance industry. It is out of control, and we need to eliminate these middlemen. Every other advanced nation provides medical care to ALL of its citizens for less money than we do, more efficiently, with equal or better health outcomes.

Senator, figure out a way to make this happen!

wallofvoodoo | 12:32 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Duh? Name a vote in the legislature that isn't bought. If the insurance industry would simply use all the money to wine & dine them, they could easily keep rates/costs down.

It goes to show that without adressing a bunch of other issues, campaign finance reform being one, the health care problem will continue to be a problem.

Another Constitutionalist | 12:36 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

In a "Legislators For Sale" segment on Aug 3, Countdown’s Keith Olbermann slammed a number of members of Congress for acting more in the interests of their health industry campaign donors than their constituents who so clearly FAVOR health care reform.

"Because the insurance industry owns the Republican Party. Not exclusively. Pharma owns part of it, too. Hospitals and HMO's, another part. Nursing homes, they have a share. You name a Republican, any Republican, and he is literally brought to you by campaign donations from the health sector."

Unfortunately, this problem isn't limited to Republicans; there are also Democrats whose allegiance is also skewed more towards corporate interests than their constituents.

Including Max Baucus which explains his watered down ineffectual "reform" bill.

Search for "msnbc olbermann aug 3 transcript" and read the facts yourself.

Better yet, go to "OpenSecrets", the nonpartisan guide to big corporate money’s influence on U.S. elections and public policy.

The real issue here IS campaign finance reform. Corporate interests have definitely bought preferred access and the opportunity to influence the outcome of issues that affect them at the expense of the citizens of this country.

Hatch is a sellout.

Howie | 12:46 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

I am not a fan of Sen. Hatch but this rally was good for a laugh. Dems take millions of dollars from special interests groups every year and Move.org don't seem to be protest on their steps. Anyone who bought into this staged event as a rallying cry for government healthcare are probably the same folks following the Jon and Kate plus 8 divorce minute by minute.

cbird | 1:23 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Sorry guys, but I don't care how we get Health care for everyone so I will continue to attend every event that I can. What are you all doing to make your voice heard? Or don't you care?

Robert Watson | 2:02 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Senator Hatch calls it as he sees it - in our opinon Moveorg is another organization the same as ACORN.

Heidi Phillips | 2:11 p.m. Oct. 16, 2009

I'm positive that Orin Hatch would vote against the health bill even if he didn't get a dime from the insurance group.

The bill is over 1000 pages long. I really don't think it's a good idea to have government be in charge of our health. We may be the only country in the world that doesn't have socialized healthcare. That may be why most of the medical discoveries and technology comes from American doctors.

Around p. 800 of the bill it requires government workers to come to your home and tell you how to raise your children. This bill just gives government more access to running our lives.

An Obama spokesman admitted that getting rid of state regulations that will allow insurance companies to compete nationally will lower premiums, but he said that they don't want to take that route--it doesn't fit in with their plans.

I'm sure Moveon.org and such like have paid millions to and pressured congressmen to vote for the bill. And if they were outside my window taunting me, I wouldn't be as nice as Hatch was.

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