More Thug Politics: Obama Administration Investigates Humana’s Free Speech

obamacrats

Mark Hyman of the American Spectator noted on 2/18/09:

How soon and how far the Obama Administration will extend its attacks against its critics and the political opposition may become evident in the days ahead. Spared any serious scrutiny by most news outlets during his very brief career in public office, Barack Obama has displayed an exceptionally thin skin when he has come under a microscope or when he has suffered political and public relations setbacks.

This brewing HHS/Humana controversy was reported by Ed Morrissey at Hot Air, 9/21:

The Los Angeles Times reports this afternoon that the Department of Health and Human Services has begun an investigation into actions taken by health insurer Humana. Did they commit claims fraud with Medicare, or unfairly refuse to provide services? No — they had the temerity to commit the heinous act of free speech with their customers:

The government is investigating a major insurance company for allegedly trying to scare seniors with a mailer warning they could lose important benefits under health care legislation in Congress.

The Health and Human Services Department launched its investigation of Humana after getting a complaint from Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., a senior lawmaker usually viewed as a reliable ally of the insurance industry.

What did Humana tell its customers that is so odious to the ObamaCare proponents?

The truth:

Humana told customers that the proposed changes would result in reduced benefits for its members on their Medicare Advantage plans, and the White House accused them of spreading faslehoods. Of course, the CBO now says exactly what Humana argued all along, but even absent that, the Obama administration has no business investigating the exercise of free speech.

Senator Mitch McConnell fought back on the Senate floor:

It should surprise no one that the Obama administration would use these tactics to silence critics. This is how Obama fights.

Remember when the Obama campaign wrote to the Department of Justice demanding a criminal investigation of the “American Issues Project,” the group that produced a (true) Obama/Ayers ad?

Remember when the Obama campaign sent cease and desist letters to news outlets in Pennsylvania and Ohio because of a (true) NRA ad?

Remember the Missouri “Truth Squad”?

Remember when The White House threatened Chrysler’s Non-Tarp Investment Companies?

Remember when The White House encouraged citizens to inform on one another?

Threatening U.S. citizens is just par for the course for Obama. Sadly, it’s become the accepted way of doing things for Democrat leaders in Washington, too. Remember this from last June:

Top aides to Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) called a last-minute, pre-emptive strike on Wednesday with a group of prominent Democratic lobbyists, warning them to advise their clients not to attend a meeting with Senate Republicans set for Thursday.
Russell Sullivan, the top staffer on Finance, and Jon Selib, Baucus’ chief of staff, met with a bloc of more than 20 contract lobbyists, including several former Baucus aides.
“They said, ‘Republicans are having this meeting and you need to let all of your clients know if they have someone there, that will be viewed as a hostile act,’” said a Democratic lobbyist who attended the meeting.

“Going to the Republican meeting will say, ‘I’m interested in working with Republicans to stop health care reform,’” the lobbyist added.

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting sick of this crap.