Anderson Cooper is Shocked That the Insurance Industry is Feeding Right Wing Radio Hosts Talking Points
By Heather Saturday Aug 15, 2009 5:00pm
Add Anderson Cooper to the list of main stream media hosts that at least bothered to have industry whistleblower Wendell Potter on their show. Cooper is just shocked that right wing writers and radio hosts are taking their talking points from the insurance industry. I wasn't surprised given they're already reading off all of the RNC talking points for the day that are sent to them.
COOPER: You say that insurance companies intentionally -- and I quote you -- "confuse their customers and dump the sick, all so they can satisfy Wall Street investors."
How are they intentionally confusing customers and dumping the sick?
WENDELL POTTER, FORMER EXECUTIVE, CIGNA: Well, they confuse customers by not just being transparent, by not providing the information that -- a lot of us need.
A lot of people don't know that their insurance is inadequate. And that's why so many people are finding that they are in the ranks of the underinsured, because they just don't have any idea that their -- their coverages are not good enough.
They dump the sick by purposely looking at applications when someone files or has medical claims, whether you have a major illness or a major accident. If you buy your insurance through the individual marketplace, outside of your employer, you have to disclose whether or not you have had a preexisting condition.
If you leave something out, if you forget something, or don't even know something that is relevant that might be in some doctors' notes, the insurance company will use that as justification to cancel your policy.
COOPER: The forms I have seen on my insurance things are incredibly complicated. They make your head hurt. Are you saying that is intentional?
POTTER: It is very intentional. These companies make billions of dollars a year. They could certainly make these forms a lot clearer and a lot more easily understood. But it's not a priority.
COOPER: CIGNA, for the record, denies that they dump customers.
And they told us -- and I quote -- that "CIGNA complies with all regulatory requirements regarding setting rates and policy terms, consistent with our mission to provide individuals with a path to health, well-being and sense of security."
COOPER: Is that kind of statement you used to write?
POTTER: It is. And I'm not surprised.
For one thing, the regulations are not adequate to protect consumers. That's one thing. And it should be part of reform to keep this kind of from happening.
Senator Rockefeller, in the Senate, has asked CIGNA and I'm sure probably other insurers to come and make sure that they are telling the truth, because you can look through transcripts when these executives talk to Wall Street analysts, and you will hear them use the word purge. So, it is there. They -- they -- they acknowledge it. They say they do when they're talking to analysts, but they say they don't when they are talking to other people.
COOPER: You are also alleging that the health care industry right now is engaging in what you say are dirty tricks to stop health care reform from being passed.
What kind of dirty tricks are you talking about? And just specifically, to be clear, are you accusing CIGNA of engaging in these tactics?
POTTER: Not CIGNA. I'm talking about the industry, because, during my career, I served on a lot of industry committees through the trade associations and on a lot of trade groups that were funded by the -- oh, excuse me -- front groups that were funded by the industry.
The way it works is that the industry will hire big P.R. firms that create these front groups that have names that have no association with the insurance industry, and it is these front groups that do the things that you are seeing right now, that try to destroy health care reform by using terms like government takeover of the health care system, or we are heading down toward a slippery slope toward socialism, or we're going to kill your grandpa because of this health care reform bill.
COOPER: You're saying that language is written by insurance companies?
POTTER: Absolutely.
COOPER: But, I mean, the folks who are showing up at these meetings, I mean, they are not being backed by -- they're not being paid to go there. I mean, there is a legitimate anger. There is a legitimate opposition, concern not just about health care, but about massive deficits and government intrusion.
POTTER: Yes, the other thing that they do, the other way that they work is the P.R. firms have very good connections with people that those folks listen to.
They have very close ties with the conservative radio talk show hosts and commentators and editorial page writers, and they feed the talking points. They feed the...
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: Did you used to do that?
POTTER: I did, absolutely.
COOPER: What do you mean feed talking points to radio talk show hosts?
POTTER: Well, these P.R. firms have very close ties, they have good relationships with the producers, with the talk show hosts themselves, that will say, look, you need to understand this about health care reform or you need to know that, if this bill passes, then this is going to represent a government takeover the health care system.
It is not true, but it is the kind of language that the talk show host will welcome, because it is ideologically in synch with their world view.
COOPER: Interesting discussion.
Wendell Potter, we would like to have you back. Thank you very much.
POTTER: Thank you very much.
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He thinks he is "cute", so being stupid maybe is expected? Hell, I don't know; but I have pretty much no respect for this ass hat as well. he fits right in with scarborough, the prick that took of on MTP, and half a dozen other stuffed shirts that like to appear "objective", but instead they appear lame and totally ignorant to any FACT.
Pathetic excuse for media personalities. Media whores is more like it....gotta play nice and bend over for the guests so they can get them back on again.
I don't agree. I think Cooper is not at all a winger and he and Rick Sanchez are probably the only 2 "reporters" on CNN that actually try to dig out the facts instead of spewing propaganda.
It was at the very least refreshing to see him let this guy speak. It's CNN not MSNBC. I think we'll all agree MSNBC does lean left. CNN plays to whoever will listen. I thought Cooper did a decent job regardless of his of his phony surprise.
when CNN was the standard of objectivity around the world. What a difference a few Republican Administrations make!
all agree that MSNBC leans left
"reporter" = newsmodel
maybe cooper is the best newsmodel that cnn has. very possible. he does read the headlines well, and looks good on the tube. infotainment at its finest.
is what my friend and I call them.
I wonder if he's 'shocked' at what he's been told, or 'shocked' that he has to act 'shocked'.....
just sayin'
insider. Cooper has to ask the questions, not give the answers. His job, I think, is to challenge anything he perceives to be dishonest. He is far from the worst of them.
brightest bulb on the string. He got where he is because he's a Vanderbilt. Period.
i did not know that. jesus.
thanks for the 411
"Little Gloria, Happy at Last," Vanderbilt jeans, and fought with her co-op over the presence of Bobby Short -- I think he wanted to move in, she sponsored him and the neighbours were all "Not a black guy in my building."
and I appreciate Wendell Potter telling it like it is but shouldn't there be some sort of "payola for propaganda" investigations into this? I'm sure money has changed hands. Otherwise, it's just another 3 minute segment on tv that's quickly forgotten.
Most of this Nation's Media are pulling the same bullshit that brought us the Iraqi bloodbath. They are collectively laying down, bending over with their heads in a pillow begging The Health Care Murderers to "Please be gentle".
Wendell Potter is a courageous fellow.
The Health
InsuranceDenial Corporations are blood suckers.http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/08/15-0
!!!!
I heard that. Sigh....I voted for him.
Shocked, yes SHOCKED I am that insurance industry money is fueling this hysteria!
Ah, thank you!
MSM Host: [sotto voice] Oh, thank you very much.
MSM Host: Well, that's all we have time for today. Thanks for watching!
This is the same guy who used to stand in the middle of a hurricane reporting how windy it was.
Everything must be news to this guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1DEG6BWgp0
You are too freakin' funny....
How can he be so ignorant about politics in this country? I'm assuming(probably wrong) that he went to school for journalism, I know he's been in the media for a long time. Is he just faking it or what.. I'm really confused why he has his position there when he can't connect the dots that aren't even hidden.
I don't know about any degrees but he did spend a considerable amount of time traveling the world. He went to places and talked to people the regular MSM wouldn't want to get close to because of cootie fears. That shows an unusual amount of couriosty for a regular MSM host. But yeah, he can be a real tool a lot of times, just not all the time.
All the worst sins ever of humanity from the comfort and safety of ones living room or chair.
From AssociatedPress channel on YouTube:
Obama Targets Insurance Industry in Town Hall
CNN the first name in ignorant disbelief
Hey Anderson, news flash! The sky is indeed BLUE!
POTTER: Well, these P.R. firms have very close ties, they have good relationships with the producers,
including yours ANDERSON!!!!
to make cooper idiocy even more pathetic wendell potter broke his story over a month ago
i guess until CNN whitewashes a subject it is simply unimaginable, eh?
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/pr...
Do you really think he's going to watch real news? He's got to watch how good he looks on tee vee.
mirror mirror on the wall who is the hunkiest newsmodel of them all
me!! me!! me!!
Now that the death panel crap is being mocked, people over here (deep south bible belt) are now saying that the line 'if you like your insurance, you can keep it' is a lie because employers will stop providing insurance, and there will be a new law that says insurance companies can't write new policies after the first year the new laws take effect. I'm googling and looking, but could sure use some help finding links to refute this bullshit.
Anyone have any links?
Try googling the new law and I'll bet you can't find it either.
the bill emanating from the greedy claws of max baucus and his coven of campaign money receptacles in the finance committee did roll out a possible bill--which omits a public option, mandates indiv health insurance BUT does NOT require employers to cover their employees health insurance.
which, being my normal shrill, is worse than what currently exists.
the obama admin made a strategic error (possibly fatal) in immediately dropping single payer as their position and starting negotiations with a public option. now that the corporatists, blue dogs, whores (redundant, i know) and others have had their chance to gnaw at the reform-bone, we are down to possible legislation that must give the insurance co a perma-boner.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
After weeks of secretive talks, a bipartisan group in the Senate edged closer Monday to a health care compromise that omits a requirement for businesses to offer coverage to their workers and lacks a government insurance option that President Barack Obama favors, according to numerous officials
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/re...
What the insurance companies want is coverage mandated by the gov. for all individuals. Mandated drug coverage, too. If you do not buy it, you are fined until you do. This coverage will be from the private companies, because there will be no government alternative. Sweet, huh?
sweet as gorilla knuckles
No jokes here from me. Major screwing here without even anything from McDonalds, much less a real dinner. That last part was a joke. Sorry. I couldn't resist. This is a give away for the insurance companies. Wall Street got some, time for these thieves to get some, too. I think we will be lucky to see the final draft before it becomes law, and if we do see it, we won't be given enough time to read it. Plus, there will be add-ons during the few minutes before it becomes law. Probably so someone can tack on those F-22's. Rush's "bend over" fantasy will finally come true.
"if you like your insurance, you can keep it" is not in question. the question is who pays for it. and there is a chance it will be you, not your employer.
YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR FULL COVERAGE HEALTH INSURANCE. IT'S CALLED "TAXES". YOU ARE JUST NOT GETTING THE BENEFITS! THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IS!!
SEND YOUR CONGRESSMAN/PRESIDENT OBAMA THE MEMO.
FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING.
CONYERS H.R. 676. NOW.
Abbybwood, R.N.
Proud Member of Physicians for a National Health Program
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/08/15-0
up. If they make those statements, make them prove it. It is extremely difficult to prove a negative. How can you prove something does NOT exist. Them that believes it, needs to prove it. Don't let them put their burden on you. Anyone can say anything. That does not make what they say true. That should get you started.
HR 676 ("MediCare For All Act") is one plan that will be voted on the Floor of the House of Representatives this Fall.
HR 676 will:
and:
From: HR 676 Summary:
It's dead.
But until those 218 cowards stand up in the House and vote "NO" on the one piece of legislation that actually is the most fiscally conservative and practical and that will cover EVERY American....
It.....is.....NOT.....dead.
According to Rep. Olver, who I met with this past Wednesday here in The Berkshires, there are about 180 "YES" votes now for Conyers H.R. 676. That means we only need another roughly 40 votes to pass it.
I have no idea where those 40 votes might be. And it may be impossible.
But I won't give up hope until I'm sitting there watching the votes on C-SPAN and the final tally is announced.
He just asked questions, so I don't know what the hell you are talking about. Can you please point exactly where the shock is?
Wendell Potter did an exceptionally informative interview with Bill Moyers on PBS last month. Go to PBS.org to watch the entire interview. I cannot recommend it highly enough!
Does anything Anderson put out for discussion was prefaced by "You are also alleging..", or "What do you mean feed talking points..." which evidence of a couple of things..
1) He has NO CLUE what he's talking about which in his case would not surprise me, or
2) He been told by his CNN mis-management to set this guy from Cigna up so critics can take cheap pop-shots at him so it seems like nothing he says is of value, or
3) He, Anderson ,simply doesn't care what's going on here. He's got his so screw you dweebs...
My take it's a combo of the three... he rarely has an opinion or self-belief about much of anything...just a puff piece...as he is.
He's not as obnoxious as the other corporate bobble heads but he is just as deceitful. I'm sure he knows about the damn talking points and is just pretending to be objective.
but sometimes my limits are pushed.
You remain, as ever, a half-wit stooge.
Come on. Anderson Cooper is not that damn stupid. How could he not know this, I thought it was common knowledge among the rich. He's just playing us for stupid I think. I am glad someone is reporting it though because there seems to be a lack of it.
There's a group called 60plus that's running tv ads here in FL very critical of the HC bill and wikipedia has this to say about them.
A final criticism leveled by the AARP is that because it lists no dues-paying members and receives the majority of its contributions from the pharmaceutical industry, the group is simply a front organization for the pharmaceutical industry.
Its issues and causes mirror those of only one of the two major United States parties, the Republicans
Anderson Cooper has to play to his audience/viewers. I suspect his viewers are mostly old or mostly stupid. so what if he acts like he does not know this? In his mind he probably thinks that his audience does not know it either so they will take him seriously and want to learn right along with him. Hopefully they learned something from this segment. And if they did the job was accomplished. Correct?
For the most part I agree but he is stretching it to make that claim.
Not much of a journalist I guess. Just a celebrity wanna-be.
These jerks on the right bring up the Meme that you will not be able to keep your insurance etc etc. Somebody mentioned that subject up above in these comments. I have thought about this and I really don't know what the big deal would be to change insurance companies. They say you can keep your doctor if you change. So what is the big deal? If you have insurance through your employer and if your employer discontinues offering insurance and you took the public option what is the big deal?
There are many examples or Corporate America putting their profits before their customers, and employees. As a matter of fact the majority of corporations will outright do harm to customers, and employees so that they can make more money, and have their name praised on Wall Street. People are paying them their hard earned money, and are receiving nothing of substance in return. Corporate America is dishonest, greedy, and lacks any compassion by their nature. It's difficult to believe that anyone hasn't caught onto what the corporations, and Wall Street is doing. Yet sadly a lot of people ignorantly believe that capitalism is a system that will treat them with fairness, and honesty. Corporate America see customers, and employees as their cash cows, and enemies.
In the current health insurance reform debate climate, where the nut-jobs are coming out of the woodwork, Wendell Potter has to be right-wing-nut public enemy numero uno. I am so afraid that some wacko's gonna make an attempt on his life. You know the health Insurance Industrial complex would like this whistle blower to just disappear, and there are tons of tea-baggers who're wacked in the head enough to oblige them.
This guy, right now, is a bigger hero than any other in this health reform debate. He needs secret service protection.
Wendell Potter has been on PBS and MSNBC and all over the Inter-tubes for at least a month. I'm not sure when Anderson did this interview, but if he's to be considered as a MSM-cablenews biggie, he'll have to do better -- he surely was acting in this clip.
If he did not know that insurance companies (like all major corporations, regardless of the product they're peddling) have in-house communications and contracted PR firms spewing lies in order to persuade or dissuade the consumer (someone like J the P), then he should not have his own 'news' show on CNN....or any place else, for that matter.
Cooper used to the right wing feeding him talking points
and paying the shareholders fair market value.
Where are the rich liberals or democrats? They should make a commercial of this guy and air it!
Duh?
As you can see from the health insurance CEO salaries, the industry and Wall Street emphatically embrace single-player wealthcare.
We're just human ATMs to all of them.
He is acting bewildered because what Potter is saying is not in sync with what CNN wants people to believe. Anytime an uncomfortable truth rears its head in an interview aired on CNN, the interviewer immediately takes an aggressive challenging stance or acts "shocked" and says we'll have to look into this and bring you back. The latter so it will appear that there's a good chance the interviewee is lying and their intrepid reporters (Matt Drudge readers) will have a chance to investigate.
The whole thing is effing bullshit.
Of course the health insurance industry is made up of venal bastards who'd sell their daughters to an Arab sheik if they thought they wouldn't get caught. What did Cooper think they were, Sunday School teachers?
But maybe CNN screwed up firing Aaron Brown
No more CNN for me, despite Cooper or Sanchez or even King for entertainment surrounding celebrity death. And yes, they messed up big time getting rid of Aaron. I will not watch because the fact that they keep Dobbs tells me they don't care about the truth anymore. So goodbye Don Lemon as well.
Why didn't we see Cooper crying his faux tears of outrage at thousands of Angelenos standing in line to get desperately needed healthcare? But he's shocked that health insurers write policies so as to minimize their costs and obligations?
Good grief. I guess Cooper would also be shocked that water is wet. And I agree that Aaron Brown needs to return to CNN. What a joke they've become.
He's shocked, shocked I tell you.
I know this is late to the discussion, but I just found this amusing: CIGNA says it "complies with all regulatory requirements regarding setting rates and policy terms, consistent with our mission," etc.
Um, shouldn't it be complying with "all regulatory requirements" regardless if they are "consistent" with the company's mission or not?
These are the same insurance companies who ganged up to kill ERA 30 years ago, because they might have to pay women a living wage and cover contraceptives. They paid willingly for unnecessary hysterectomies, until activists outed scammeister MD's, but will not cover contraceptives.
We have an African-American president, those darned unisex bathrooms the Christians decried (thank God and enterprise for Porta-Potties!), homosexual marriage is imminent. All without ERA.
Illegal immigrants have the same right to social services as Americans. All without ERA.
Women's wages are still tanked, our jobs still are the first exported to Golden Triangle and methmaker countries, and white men take our jobs now if those jobs have insurance benefits. All without ERA. Obama will allow and encourage the insurance companies to cut working women and children out of any benefits, so he can keep those campaign contributions coming. Some change. Drag the SOB out of the White House and let Michelle and the kids take his job!
Anderson Cooper has been reporting the news with his head up his arse, and you never reported that on the Sunday Bobblehead thread. Many of us would have turned the computer off just to watch that awesome sight.
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