The Democratic National Committee is attacking Tim Pawlenty for giving a paid speech on healthcare reform to America’s Health Insurance Plans’ annual conference Thursday in San Francisco, accusing him of being in the pocket of the health insurers.
“We know now why Tim Pawlenty has endorsed the Republican plan to end Medicare as we know it – and give seniors vouchers to go in the pockets of health insurance companies – it landed him a paid gig speaking to their executives in San Francisco today,” wrote the DNC in a statement released Thursday.
“Perhaps being bought and paid for by the health insurance executives is something Tim Pawlenty is fine being known for, but it won’t help future seniors who will be forced to pay more for less in terms of health care if Republicans get their way and end Medicare. Perhaps pocketing thousands of dollars in cash to give a speech outlining his plan to repeal health reform is a plus for Tim Pawlenty, but it won’t help seniors afford their prescription drugs or preventive care, it won’t help young people access health insurance and it won’t help people being denied coverage based on a pre-existing condition,” said DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse in the statement.
“Tim Pawlenty has been bragging about giving Americans some hard truths lately. Well, here’s a hard truth for Tim Pawlenty: raking in thousands of dollars for yourself while siding with insurance company profits over affordable healthcare for the rest of us will not go unnoticed. We’ll make sure of that,” Woodhouse concluded.
Pawlenty spokesperson Alex Conant brushed off the attack as a political ploy.
(Tim Pawlenty debuts new word, ‘ObamneyCare’)
“This lame attack is just more evidence that President Obama has a campaign plan, not an economic plan,” he emailed. “Given the inordinate amount of attention the DNC spends on Governor Pawlenty, it’s clear they recognize that Pawlenty’s record of results is a stark contrast to Obama’s empty rhetoric. We’re not going to be lectured by Democrats who have failed to address out-of-control health care costs, deficits and unemployment.”
The speech was booked through Leading Authorities, a company that works with groups to provide a speaker for their events. They had not responded to request for comment at time of publication.
Politico reported that AHIP spokesman Robert Zirkelbach said the speech had “been on the schedule for quite some time,” and was not coordinated with Pawlenty’s campaign for president.