September 12, 2009
OLD DELAY SCAM MAKES A COMEBACK.... In 2002 and 2003, then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) had an aggressive scam operation, targeting doctors' offices. It was a straightforward scheme -- DeLay's office would call medical offices, and invite doctors to join a "Physicians Advisory Board," which an aide said would offer medical professionals an opportunity to advise lawmakers on health care issues.
Of course, there was no actual "Physicians Advisory Board." DeLay would host meaningless events, and insist that doctors contribute $5,000 to attend. Indeed, even agreeing to join the non-existent "Board" meant an expectation that doctors would pony up political contributions. DeLay used the money for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Common Cause called DeLay's scheme "predatory, deceptive and downright sleazy."
DeLay may be gone, but his scam isn't. Rep. Tom Price (R) of Georgia, head of the Republican Study Committee, has created the "Physicians' Council for Responsible Reform," which is a front operation for the NRCC. According to Price, doctors who get involved with Price's scam "will be receiving special briefings and providing input to Republican members of Congress." Participants are reassured, however, that there is "no time commitment." (This is about fundraising and sticking a name on a press release, after all.)
Doctors invited to join this not-so-illustrious group are given a number to call, which will connect them to a InfoCision call center where someone will pretend to work for the "Physicians' Council for Responsible Reform."
Slate's Tim Noah did a little follow-up.
I put in a call to Rep. Price's office to find out more about the PCRR. They referred me to the NRCC. A press representative who called back said he didn't know anything about the Physicians' Council and would have to get back to me.
I phoned the InfoCision call center and asked for some information about the PCRR. I was referred to Jessica Boulanger at the NRCC. When I phoned the NRCC, I was informed that nobody named Jessica Boulanger worked there. (Apparently, she used to.)
I phoned the InfoCision call center again and asked for Sabrina Taylor, the contact name on Fred's draft press release. I was told she was busy. I asked if Sabrina could call me back. This seemed to flummox the person I was speaking to. "Does Sabrina Taylor exist?" I asked. Yes, I was assured. I left my name and number. Sabrina didn't call back.
I phoned InfoCision yet again and asked for Candace Lyons. This was an entirely different contact listed on the version of the draft press release posted on the Think Progress Web site. Candace Lyons was also busy. Could Candace could call me back? Once again, this request seemed highly irregular. "Does Candace Lyons exist?" Yes. Candace didn't call back.
I phoned InfoCision's public relations office and got a very nice-sounding woman who said she'd get back to me. She didn't.
Let this be a lesson to medical offices everywhere -- if Tom Price's office calls, hang up.
—Steve Benen 9:25 AM
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i think that is the greatest example of american enterprise i have ever heard of since amway and/or jessie james... could i get a copy of the business plan?
Posted by: neill on September 12, 2009 at 9:46 AM | PERMALINK
I think this is the same scam that Newt Gingrich
was trying to pull on Pink Video - you have been named a winner. Would you like to send in $12
to get the book that includes names of all the winners?
Thinkprogress thought the choice was 'inadvertent'.
Posted by: catclub on September 12, 2009 at 9:48 AM | PERMALINK
Years ago, I was contacted by Trent Lott's office because my business had come to his attention as a "national leader in my industry." Trent needed me to advise him on matters of national importance to my industry. I only had to pony up $2,000 to help defray expenses.
Could I talk to Trent? No. When would he need to meet with me? Never. How, exactly, would I be advising him? Well, I wouldn't be advising him--my MONEY would be advising him.
This sounds pretty familiar.
Posted by: Domage on September 12, 2009 at 10:05 AM | PERMALINK
This is a perfectly legitimate way to raise funds in the country where Tom Delay was secretly born -- Nigeria.
Posted by: hells littlest angel on September 12, 2009 at 10:49 AM | PERMALINK
Cantankerous liberal says...
neill:
i think that is the greatest example of american enterprise i have ever heard of since amway and/or jessie james... could i get a copy of the business plan?
Not quite.
I don't believe the call center was located in India. And to be truly impressive, a republican business should have its corporate headquarters running out of subtly linked post office boxes in Bermuda.
Posted by: Cantankerous liberal on September 12, 2009 at 11:00 AM | PERMALINK
BWAHAHAAAHAA
Republicans.... always the consummate salespersons/conartists aren't they? Every last damn one of them sees people only as suckers to be fleeced. And you know what, in this country they'll never go broke or without votes will they?
Actually, come to think of it, "salesperson" isn't nearly accurate. They're more like magicians or televangelists. Always praising Jesus while sleeping with the maid and all the while getting the masses to send in money for the cause. Truly amazing how they only have to wave the flag or cross to get people so absolutely convinced to vote against they're own interests.
Posted by: oh my on September 12, 2009 at 11:45 AM | PERMALINK
Where's the ambush film crew getting to the bottom of this? Seems like Tom Price needs to clear this up.
Posted by: ML on September 12, 2009 at 12:18 PM | PERMALINK
It's not just Georgia. I received a letter just like this from my Republican Congressperson in Minnesota last month. I'd give you more info, but I put the thing in the trash where it belonged.
Posted by: Dr. John Q Public on September 12, 2009 at 2:09 PM | PERMALINK
"InfoCision call center"?
Is an 'InfoCision' calculated to make a doctor's heart beat faster?
Posted by: cld on September 12, 2009 at 2:41 PM | PERMALINK
At least, when Obama named me a member of his Kitchen Cabinet, the sum I was to send was at my discretion (what, in Polish, we call "co laska" -- whatever your benevolence is)
Posted by: exlibra on September 12, 2009 at 4:51 PM | PERMALINK
Oh, and I got a fridge magnet, too.
Posted by: exlibra on September 12, 2009 at 4:59 PM | PERMALINK
Flag of the world.
It's beautiful,
for me, to
speak about
the dream of
a tired book,
with a noise
in my heart
that stands in
the melody like
a starry behaviour.
Francesco Sinibaldi
Posted by: Francesco Sinibaldi on September 12, 2009 at 5:03 PM | PERMALINK
Conning doctors. Sting ops against ACORN. Forged letters sent to Congress.
Besides all the lies being spewed by Republicans in the news media, at town hall meetings and on Capitol Hill, what other right-wing scams are occurring across America, directed not only at undermining the truth but also the very fabric of our nation, with the intent (like during the Bush/Cheney years) of destroying everything liberal and progressive in our society?
Posted by: The Oracle on September 12, 2009 at 5:52 PM | PERMALINK
Is an InfoCision when you get your cerebral cortex removed for religious reasons?
Posted by: SqueakyRat on September 12, 2009 at 7:49 PM | PERMALINK