Spin, Doctor?

ABOUT 1,000 PORTLANDERS gathered at Terry Schrunk Plaza
outside city hall on Saturday, August 29, for a “Let’s Get it Done”
rally on health care reform. Before the event, the Mercury caught up with keynote speaker Wendell Potter, the former
communications director for global health insurer Cigna. Potter quit
his job in the spring and has since turned into a vocal whistleblower
for reform.

MERCURY: Did you have a big salary and private jet
travel?

WENDELL POTTER: I did. I had a very, very good salary. I had
bonuses, stock options, and I traveled in corporate jets. It was a very
good lifestyle.

Do you miss it?

On one level it’s hard to give up that kind of lifestyle, but on the
other hand, I’m much happier now. I feel like I’m doing much more
honest work now.

Is the battle over health reform all about money for the
insurance companies?

It’s all about money. The one thing these companies know how to do
best is to make money off of sick people.

What made you decide to leave the industry?

A couple of years ago when I was visiting relatives in Tennessee, I
saw there was a health expedition being held in Southwestern Virginia,
and I went there out of curiosity. When I went through the gates of
[the] fairgrounds, where this was being held, I was just stunned. It
was almost like a lightning bolt had hit me. To see hundreds and
hundreds of people standing in line in the rain waiting to get care
that was being provided by doctors volunteering their time, free of
charge, to those who couldn’t otherwise afford to get this care. And
they were providing this care in many cases in animal stalls.

How important is it for supporters of reform to contact
their legislators?

It’s vitally important. It’s not enough for us just to vote for
people who we believe are going to be doing the right thing. We have to
show them we expect them to follow through. Otherwise, the only calls
they’ll be getting will be from employees of insurance companies and
the people they can persuade to make calls on their behalf. That’s
what’s going on right now. [You can call Senator Ron Wyden at
202-224-5244, Senator Jeff Merkley at 202-224-3753—Eds.]

People such as Rachel Maddow, Sanjay Gupta, and Bill Moyers have
asked health insurance industry people to be on the same program with
you, but they have refused?

Oh yeah. Many, many, many times when I’ve been on TV or on radio or
interviewed for print articles, the insurance industry has refused or
said they just couldn’t find anyone who was available to be on the same
program with me. This is the kind of thing I would have done when I was
in my old job.

How important is the public option of health care reform?

Vitally important. This would give people an extra choice. It’s not
taking choice away, and it’s not a government takeover of the health
care industry, which is what the insurance industry would like us to
believe. It’s what their shills are trying to tell us, but it’s not
true. It will help bring premiums down, it will be an affordable way
for people to get insurance coverage, and it will be a counter to the
Wall Street-run health care that we currently have.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden hasn’t come out in favor of a public
option.

That’s right, he hasn’t. He’s got his own legislation he’s been
advocating for. I guess I can understand his point of view that he’d
prefer his own legislation. When it gets to the point where it’s clear
his version of reform might not make it, maybe he’ll come around to
saying the best option, really, is for there to be a public insurance
option.

So you’re not concerned that he still hasn’t come out and said,
“We need this public option?”

You know, there are many members of congress who haven’t come out
and said it. And part of the reason is because of the disinformation
that is out there. That’s why it’s so important for people to start
saying, “I don’t buy this anymore. I know where these lies and
disinformation are coming from. And so, Senator Wyden, you need to
understand that we know what’s going on, and we fully expect you to get
behind a public option.” People need to tell him that.

So they send these statements that say they’re in favor of reform,
but they’re not?

They’re not. It’s deception. They’re in favor of reform if it
benefits the health insurance industry. Their interests are to benefit
them and their investors more than the American people.