Senator Lott Says He Will Back Drug Imports

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/12/politics/12MEDI.html?ex=1080131289&ei=1&en=e5239881ec9ce340

Supporters of legislation to allow imports of low-cost prescription drugs gained a significant convert on Thursday when Senator Trent Lott, the former Republican leader, said he would back the effort.

"I cannot explain to my mother any longer why she should pay twice or two-thirds more than what is paid in Canada and Mexico," said Mr. Lott, of Mississippi. "I'm switching my position."

Mr. Lott's comments came at a hearing where senators of both parties criticized Dr. Mark B. McClellan, the commissioner of food and drugs, who has led a campaign by the Bush administration to block drug imports as a risk to public health.

President Bush has nominated Dr. McClellan to run Medicare and Medicaid. Several senators had vowed to hold up Dr. McClellan's confirmation until he testified on drug imports.

Two committee chairmen, Senator John McCain of Arizona and Representative Dan Burton of Indiana, both Republicans, said Dr. McClellan had repeatedly refused to appear before their committees.

[yardwork]

1. What a great way to make policy

It takes his mother to help Lott see what millions of Americans have been screaming about for years?

[saigon68]

12. Got Fresh Air---- after he removed his Hood and Sheet

Amazing what a little fresh air will do.

Clears the brain.

I'm sure his corporate masters will tell him to put it back on, tho.

After all Bubba needs to vote for someone reliable.

[barbaraann]

18. All Republicans are like that.

They have absolutely no compassion or understanding of a problem until it touches them. They are truly empathy-challenged and their psychology allows fascists to gain control one minority at a time.

[0007]

2. Trent is off his feed, I can't believe it!

[ian]

3. Maybe he should have said something last year???

When it would have made a bigger difference in medicare policy? Oy.

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

4. Finally someone gets it

If barbara wasnt such a bitch, maybe she could talk some sense into bush :D

[ClintonTyree]

6. The rich.............

don't need presciption drug coverage. Barbara gets the best medical care available, all on the taxpayer's dime. She will until the day she dies. I know, I know, she looks as if she already has, but that's beside the point.

[saigon68]

13. She's famous ----- Her picture is already on the $1.00 bill

She has a gold plated broom to ride also

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

15. you know what i mean....

My point is that I'm glad that Lott supports Drug imports.... and that barbara's a bitch :D (in other words, the barbara getting bush to agree was just a joke making fun of barbara.)

[Kool Kitty]

5. I don't care why he changed his mind,

at least he did. Good.

[fearnobush]

7. Flip flop flip flop flip flop, Evil men trying to pretend they care.

They now are beginning to realize they will be scorned upon history with their corporate suck ass stance on ripping off Americans. I cannot accept this from Lott, he is just playing Election year politics, has to look....compassionate for the GE. Fuck him and all his evil, rotten, cheating, stealing, manipulating, career destroying, wacko Waco religious lunatics that act more like Satan then the ever loving benevolent Christ.

[eridani]

8. I bet he heard from a buttload of his constituents, too

The Gingrich congress passed a hike in the minimum wage for the same reason. And that is the answer to how a Dem president can get things through a Republican Congress. Even Rethugs do the right thing when pestered by constituents often enough.

[solinvictus]

9. Lott

Despite his faults, Lott has consistently displayed more concern for the average American than most of his colleagues. Sen. Frist, whose family business ripped Medicare off for over a billion, has been the most vocal opponent of import meds.

[TacticalPeek]

11. Throwing Lott over for Frist in his place, was,in retrospect, unfortunate.

Frist is a retainer for bushco, while Lott had some respect for the Senate as an institution.

And, Frist has the White House in his eyes.

[truthisfreedom]

10. unity schmunity. bush's thugs have decided to watch out for their own fat

*$$es. it's getting quite evident... they are more than a little sick of the complaints their constituents have about the condition of the country under bush's "watch" and if the rethuglican members of congress don't watch out, they'll suffer the same fate bush seems destined for in November... the difference being, of course, that bush was never elected and they were, once.

it's incredibly clear... lott specifically says his mother is influencing him... that's a rethuglican code word for "the people back home."

[salin]

14. Didn't Lott just break gop ranks to vote with dems on the budget bill?

On a slightly more frequent basis he seems to be willing to stand a bit further away from his own rank and file. It isn't as though he comes from a state with a more liberal constituent (such as the northeastern gopers) - so its that much more surprising.

Sticking it back to the bushies for the dumping?

Realizing that todays GOP can be malignant and acting on periodic pricks of concience?

Hard to tell. But interesting to watch.

[NewJerseyDem]

20. True

But, I think that was just because the budget had too much spending in it. Ultimately, Lott rarely has any backbone. Remember, the prescription drugs bill. He said it would cost way too much money but when he became the deciding vote on the floor, he gave in to republican pressure and voted for waiving the budget and effectively approving the bill.

[bandy]

16. Don't be fooled by his sudden compassion

it's election year! He could care less.

[amazona]

17. his mother must have whacked him upside the head

Good for her.

[neverforget]

19. Nothing like a bad bill and an election year to get them to do the

right thing.