Post by philunderwood on Nov 2, 2013 9:03:50 GMT -5
www.qando.net/?tag=cronyism
Blatant cronyism? Most likely, yes …
By Bruce McQuain
This on-line debacle that’s so embarrassed the Democrats and the Obama administration? It is likely the result of blatant cronyism. The inept hiring the incompetent:
A tech firm linked to a campaign-donor crony of President Obama not only got the job to help build the federal health-insurance Web site — but also is getting paid to fix it.
Anthony Welters, a top campaign bundler for Obama and frequent White House guest, is the executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group, which owns the software company now at the center of the ObamaCare Web-site fiasco.
UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Quality Software Services Inc. (QSSI), which built the data hub for the ObamaCare system, has been named the new general contractor in charge of repairing the glitch-plagued HealthCare.gov.
Welters and his wife, Beatrice, have shoveled piles of cash into Obama’s campaign coffers and apparently reaped the rewards.
Beatrice Welters bundled donations totaling between $200,000 and $500,000 for Obama’s campaign during the 2008 election cycle, according to campaign- finance data compiled by Center for Responsive Politics.
Well, how sweet is that? Give a little, get a lot! And while this certainly isn’t the first administration or political party to practice cronyism, it certainly is the most open about it. One would almost think they believe that they are entitled. A spoils system of sorts.
UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest health-insurance companies in the country and spent millions lobbying for ObamaCare.
The insurance giant’s purchase of QSSI in 2012 raised eyebrows on Capitol Hill, but the tech firm nevertheless kept the job of building the data hub for the ObamaCare Web site where consumers buy the new mandatory health- insurance plans.
QSSI has been paid an estimated $150 million so far, but officials couldn’t say how much more the company might collect on the repair contract.
Whatever happened to the belief that there should be a distance between politics and business? Once, it was a point of integrity to ensure there was no shadow or hint of a possible conflict of interest?
Now? Just line up at the trough, those that gave the most get the most. As for the work? Just like every other government program (except health care), they’ll be glad to overpay for shoddy work.
And here we are.
“I’m extraordinarily frustrated,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) after top Obama-administration officials gave Senate Democrats a private briefing on the state of the Web-site repairs.
He said they were losing confidence the site could be quickly fixed.
“I don’t think there’s confidence by anyone in the room. This is more of a show-me moment,” said Merkley.
I don’t think there’s confidence by anyone in the country – except, of course, the “true believers”.
~McQ
Blatant cronyism? Most likely, yes …
By Bruce McQuain
This on-line debacle that’s so embarrassed the Democrats and the Obama administration? It is likely the result of blatant cronyism. The inept hiring the incompetent:
A tech firm linked to a campaign-donor crony of President Obama not only got the job to help build the federal health-insurance Web site — but also is getting paid to fix it.
Anthony Welters, a top campaign bundler for Obama and frequent White House guest, is the executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group, which owns the software company now at the center of the ObamaCare Web-site fiasco.
UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Quality Software Services Inc. (QSSI), which built the data hub for the ObamaCare system, has been named the new general contractor in charge of repairing the glitch-plagued HealthCare.gov.
Welters and his wife, Beatrice, have shoveled piles of cash into Obama’s campaign coffers and apparently reaped the rewards.
Beatrice Welters bundled donations totaling between $200,000 and $500,000 for Obama’s campaign during the 2008 election cycle, according to campaign- finance data compiled by Center for Responsive Politics.
Well, how sweet is that? Give a little, get a lot! And while this certainly isn’t the first administration or political party to practice cronyism, it certainly is the most open about it. One would almost think they believe that they are entitled. A spoils system of sorts.
UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest health-insurance companies in the country and spent millions lobbying for ObamaCare.
The insurance giant’s purchase of QSSI in 2012 raised eyebrows on Capitol Hill, but the tech firm nevertheless kept the job of building the data hub for the ObamaCare Web site where consumers buy the new mandatory health- insurance plans.
QSSI has been paid an estimated $150 million so far, but officials couldn’t say how much more the company might collect on the repair contract.
Whatever happened to the belief that there should be a distance between politics and business? Once, it was a point of integrity to ensure there was no shadow or hint of a possible conflict of interest?
Now? Just line up at the trough, those that gave the most get the most. As for the work? Just like every other government program (except health care), they’ll be glad to overpay for shoddy work.
And here we are.
“I’m extraordinarily frustrated,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) after top Obama-administration officials gave Senate Democrats a private briefing on the state of the Web-site repairs.
He said they were losing confidence the site could be quickly fixed.
“I don’t think there’s confidence by anyone in the room. This is more of a show-me moment,” said Merkley.
I don’t think there’s confidence by anyone in the country – except, of course, the “true believers”.
~McQ