Having Big Pharma say that somebody is too corrupt even for them, is a new low — even for Donald Trump. The White House and the pharmaceutical industry were discussing a major deal to lower drug prices, finally. This is one of Trump’s talking points that he often touts but has done nothing about, like the magical hidden health care plan we keep hearing about, but never see. The pharmaceutical deal fell through when the administration came up with the idea that $100 cash cards be sent to millions of seniors right before the election. The carnival optics and naked opportunism were too much and the pharmaceutical industry said no dice.
"We could not agree to the administration’s plan to issue one-time savings cards right before a presidential election"
PhRMA confirms *on record* that WH wanted Ed McMahon-style payments to seniors pre-Nov@jmartNYT & @maggieNYT on a botched drug deal ?https://t.co/7WCdSqQ7Ey pic.twitter.com/TqDyLSfrL5
— Alex Burns (@alexburnsNYT) September 18, 2020
For two powerful political forces that have often been at odds over the last four years, the prospect of a bargain offered coveted public relations victories. For years, the drugmakers have long been criticized for sky-high, opaque pricing for products that are often far cheaper in other countries. With a deal, the industry would get to project public spiritedness in the midst of a pandemic, while Mr. Trump would be able to deliver an immediate, long-promised benefit to voters over 65, with whom he is faring considerably worse in polls today than he did in 2016.
Now neither side can claim bragging rights.
White House officials pointed a finger at PhRMA, maintaining that divisions in industry ranks over the financing of the agreement undermined negotiations. That’s precisely what Mr. Meadows told the trade group last month he would say if they did not reach a deal, according to a PhRMA email at the time. […]
Some officials in the drug industry, though, said they found it mystifying that Mr. Meadows would play what they saw as political hardball with some of the same private-sector companies that Mr. Trump is pressuring to deliver the October surprise he craves the most: a coronavirus vaccine.
Two reasons for that: Trump and his cabal are on the ropes, so they’re desperate and also, they’ve seen bullying techniques work in lieu of diplomacy so many times in the past four years, they’re committed to that line of endeavor. They don’t know any other way. But it is amusing that Trump would step on the very toes of the industry that he needs so desperately to bail him out with a vaccine. Maybe that’s an admission that even he knows his timetable is sheer fantasy.
Another wild story. The WH could have gotten great headlines with a solid deal. Instead, the deal soured over the desire for a PR gimmick https://t.co/YxLjFnp4D7
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) September 18, 2020
The Trump White House scrapped a potentially life-saving plan to mail face masks to Americans during the pandemic but reportedly pushed to send $100 cash “Trump cards” to seniors before the election. https://t.co/cvBYrCbJfL
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) September 18, 2020
So apparently Trump's pharma deal fell apart because big pharma refused to mail out $100 Trump Cards to seniors right before the election. Trump was checked because big pharma displayed some morals. He was out "moraled" by the PHARMACEUTICAL industry. ??
— ANTIFA means Anti-fascist (@ReneeLasswell) September 18, 2020
Wonders never cease. Not in Trump world.
Good, they have some guts.
No, sense. Why taint your rep with him if he’s unwilling to play ball?
I think what happened with this entire Trump phenomenon, is Trump believed that he could push his reality TV schick to unlimited levels. Now he’s finding out that there is a limit. It must be blowing his tiny mind.
I’d take the card and vote for Biden.