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Stuart G

(38,359 posts)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 01:04 PM Dec 2012

Report: Cancer Center Chief funneled millions to Freedom Works : Talking Points Memo

Last edited Fri Dec 28, 2012, 01:43 PM - Edit history (1)

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/12/richard_stephenson_freedomworks.php?ref=fpb

additional information from: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/freedomworks-tea-party-group-nearly-falls-apart-in-fight-between-old-and-new-guard/2012/12/25/dd095b68-4545-11e2-8061-253bccfc7532_story.html


Eric Lach-December 27, 2012, 11:03 AM3639

The Washington Post’s story of former House Majority Leader Dick Armey’s attempted coup of the tea party group FreedomWorks had the political press buzzing on Wednesday. But in the background, behind the dramatic account of a high-stakes D.C. power struggle, Amy Gardner’s story also supplied some answers to one of the abiding money mysteries of 2012 election.

In early November, several news outlets ran stories about a Knoxville, Tenn. man named William S. Rose III. Over six weeks that began in late September, using two newly formed companies with no other apparent purpose, Rose gave more than $12 million to FreedomWorks. The donations made Rose’s companies among the biggest corporate donors of the election cycle. In response to the press interest over his motivations, Rose released a six-page statement, denying that he or his companies were “shadowy” but insisting that the business of one of the companies, Specialty Group, was a “family secret” that would be kept secret “as allowed by applicable law — for at least another 50 years.”

The Post’s story this week reported that the money given by Rose’s companies actually came from Richard Stephenson, a “reclusive Illinois millionaire” and the founder and chairman of the board of the for-profit Cancer Treatment Centers of America. From the Post:

Rose, who could not be reached for comment, has said publicly he would not answer questions about the donations. But according to three current and former FreedomWorks employees with knowledge of the donations, the money originated with Stephenson and his family, who arranged for the contributions from the Tennessee firms to the super PAC. Brandon, Freedom Works executive vice told colleagues starting in August that Stephenson would be giving between $10 million and $12 million, these sources said. Brandon also met repeatedly with members of Stephenson’s family who were involved in arranging the donations, the sources said.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Money made from Cancer Treatment Centers of America, ultimately goes to Freedomworks...something to think about..when watching all their ads.
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Report: Cancer Center Chief funneled millions to Freedom Works : Talking Points Memo (Original Post) Stuart G Dec 2012 OP
Everyone that is being driven to these for profit centers needs to realize he hates them. freshwest Dec 2012 #1
We don't call it the Cancer Industry for nothing. nt patrice Dec 2012 #3
Yes, and there's a lot to be said about that, more than I'll go into here. freshwest Dec 2012 #4
All of the way up to and including its quite healthy thank you very much subsidiary: Hospice Inc. patrice Dec 2012 #14
That's for damn sure!! tartan2 Dec 2012 #33
I've had doctors - MD's, mind you - who told me if it was cured half the hospitals would close down. freshwest Dec 2012 #39
jeezus h. christ BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2012 #6
How much do you think "Cancer Treatment Centers of America" ...spends on ads?..also consider this... Stuart G Dec 2012 #12
So true. BTW, no self-respecting oncologist would work at Cancer Centers of America. nt SunSeeker Dec 2012 #18
One of the worst days of my dad's life was the day he went there. lark Dec 2012 #20
ah that's one way of creating their 'superior' survial stats azurnoir Dec 2012 #28
:( BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2012 #41
Gotta prevent the people from doing anything about the quality of our food,water,air, don'tcha know. patrice Dec 2012 #2
Ah, it looks like you 'went there!' Good call, patrice. freshwest Dec 2012 #5
Yes, my first husband had pretty good insurance, but Cancer Co. treatment would have required patrice Dec 2012 #15
I have a great friend whose brother also recieved first rate care in Texas through freshwest Dec 2012 #24
I have a sister who received the absolute ultimate effort from KU Med & aside from the fact that patrice Dec 2012 #37
You know, every time I saw one of those commercials I thought, Chorophyll Dec 2012 #7
Me too. geardaddy Dec 2012 #11
Snake Oil Cons otohara Dec 2012 #26
Yep. Chorophyll Dec 2012 #27
Does he also sell snake oil cures & wishfull thinking that the cancers is gone. Historic NY Dec 2012 #8
The cancer engulfing our country, paid for by cancer patients suffering.... Pachamama Dec 2012 #9
How about this disgusting fact about Cancer Treatment Centers of America...from Wikipedia Stuart G Dec 2012 #10
Appeal to the national heart by getting people to donate to help those in need.... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2012 #19
It's brilliant when you think about it. bluedigger Dec 2012 #13
Does anyone know xxqqqzme Dec 2012 #16
Not surprising. I read a few years ago they were teabaggers. I would take my chances catbyte Dec 2012 #17
Cancer Centers of America & Cancer Treatment Centers of America two different companies.Which one? judesedit Dec 2012 #21
Cancer Treatment Centers of America....that is what this about..I was wrong .sorry Stuart G Dec 2012 #43
Both exist. Two different mentalities on the methods of treatment...unless they've changed judesedit Jan 2013 #44
What the Hell....this makes me sick april Dec 2012 #22
Making money off of other people's misery libodem Dec 2012 #23
Republican Family anti-American Criminal Values Berlum Dec 2012 #25
New to me. Simply horrible. We must get profit out of the delivery of health care services. byeya Dec 2012 #29
...it's enough to make me sick. SoapBox Dec 2012 #30
Does anyone know about the wounded warrior glowing Dec 2012 #31
MAY THE FUCKER DIE HIS OWN HORRIBLE DEATH DainBramaged Dec 2012 #32
The tiny print in their ads EC Dec 2012 #34
does this Stephenson family own lots of stock in any tobacco companies? 0rganism Dec 2012 #35
Is Cancer Centers of America affiliated with Cancer Treatment Centers of America? polly7 Dec 2012 #36
As a healthcare worker, I have long been VERY suspicious of Cancer Centers of America. BigDemVoter Dec 2012 #38
I just knew there was something scummy about them. Odin2005 Dec 2012 #40
Add to the fact they don't have an emergency room in any of their 5 regional "hospitals". blueclown Dec 2012 #42
Bet they use libodem Jan 2013 #45
I'm assuming that's exactly what they do. blueclown Jan 2013 #46

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
1. Everyone that is being driven to these for profit centers needs to realize he hates them.
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 01:12 PM
Dec 2012

Freedom Works, etc., is only about providing anything to the well-off, who can pay for it, and the rest can FOAD. Those who have no other chance for employment than this man's clinic, I hold harmless. Since they didn't create this immoral system of health care in this country.

But FreedomWorks is where the money being made off from those dying of cancer is going to be used. Obviously the man has made too much profit off of their suffering that he has money to buy off Dick Armey and keep this gang of villains working to destroy democracy.


patrice

(47,992 posts)
14. All of the way up to and including its quite healthy thank you very much subsidiary: Hospice Inc.
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 02:03 PM
Dec 2012

tartan2

(314 posts)
33. That's for damn sure!!
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 03:17 PM
Dec 2012

A billion dollar industry within a trillion dollar health care industry!! Even if we had a cure they wouldn't dare release it after all what would happen to the "Cancer Industry"?

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
39. I've had doctors - MD's, mind you - who told me if it was cured half the hospitals would close down.
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:21 PM
Dec 2012

I don't ascribe to all the various cures, alternative or otherwise, but I don't mock those who have it and respect their right to make their choices.

But I still say -- there should be NO profit in this. NONE. Life should not be equated with money. Period.

Stuart G

(38,359 posts)
12. How much do you think "Cancer Treatment Centers of America" ...spends on ads?..also consider this...
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 02:00 PM
Dec 2012

So now we know where some of the profits go. Guess who ultimately pays for much of that cancer treatment for people over 65???
think about it..
....Medicare, helps fund organization which sends profits to Koch front group to destroy medicare...



lark

(23,003 posts)
20. One of the worst days of my dad's life was the day he went there.
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 02:37 PM
Dec 2012

He had a totally horrible experience, was end stage, spent a lot of money on immediate plane trip, motels, car rental etc. then got there and they dismissed him the same day they admitted him. Said the treatments he'd been getting were state of the art (NOT at all what they told him repeatedly over the phone), nothing more could be done, go home.

Now I hear this about them, well just F them to hell and back. I just hope they need help some day and get treated the same way dad was, with lies, half truths, and no caring at all.

azurnoir

(45,850 posts)
28. ah that's one way of creating their 'superior' survial stats
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 03:04 PM
Dec 2012

be very selective of which patients you chose to treat, happens more than you might know too

thank you for sharing this and hoping for healing for you and your family

BlancheSplanchnik

(20,219 posts)
41. :(
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 12:05 AM
Dec 2012

I don't watch a whole lot of teeveee. Sometimes when I visit friends we do hang out and watch smell-o-vision, though....and just the other night that's what I did.

Of course, there were the "Cancer Centers of America" ads. They were really sucking me in. I was responding to the seductive message---*here* you will get good care. *here* you will be treated as a human being and *here* we understand your fears in ways that no one else does...........

It really had me going: feelings of relief and safety. (No I don't have cancer. I just fear it. Like everyone else.)

I've always hated the lies of advertising, ever since I was a kid. This is just unconscionable. (oh yeah....repukes=corporatists=sociopaths=no conscience)

patrice

(47,992 posts)
15. Yes, my first husband had pretty good insurance, but Cancer Co. treatment would have required
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 02:09 PM
Dec 2012

a mortgage on our home & he wouldn't do that.

My second husband didn't try Cancer Co. He relied on Medicare and, though I've seen several cases up close and personal, he got some of the best care I have seen. So very very very much depends upon who INDIVIDUAL persons are and what their relationship is to what is happening.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
24. I have a great friend whose brother also recieved first rate care in Texas through
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 02:49 PM
Dec 2012
Medicaid, just before Perry cut it out.

She was glad he had those extra years and then passed from other causes with good hospital care and treated with dignity, as was her sister for many years at home, with emergency care. It prevented the families from going into poverty. Yet Perry found money to give his pals and still resists any money to help the poor.

My disdain for Republicans comes not from the character of the individuals, although some are outright scoundrels. It comes from their entire philosophy of governance, like the Libertarian and Tea Parties, that those who find themselves in temporary or long-term need should FOAD.

This is a wasteful way of thinking, to grind a person down to nothing, to poverty and death, for the profit of others. It is not a philosophy of governance but a destruction of society as a whole to be reduced to feudalism. It's sick.

patrice

(47,992 posts)
37. I have a sister who received the absolute ultimate effort from KU Med & aside from the fact that
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 05:33 PM
Dec 2012

she had a decent house, which they never asked her to mortgage btw, she was practically indigent.

We figure KU, that's University of Kansas Medical Center/School, added about 2 years to her life.

My first husband had 3 months. My second husband got about 2 years (and died on our 8th wedding anniversary).

There have been others & my biggest critique has to do, once again, with the nature of machines and systemic mechanics, including, I'm sorry to say, some rather robot like people, probably stressed out to be honest, but at least in some cases, prompting one to ask what some people's motives for being in the medical field might be.

Chorophyll

(5,179 posts)
7. You know, every time I saw one of those commercials I thought,
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 01:37 PM
Dec 2012

something's weird about this. I had a feeling there were some Christian-fundy roots or something. Very interesting.

Pachamama

(16,874 posts)
9. The cancer engulfing our country, paid for by cancer patients suffering....
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 01:50 PM
Dec 2012

Wow....the image is disgusting.....

Stuart G

(38,359 posts)
10. How about this disgusting fact about Cancer Treatment Centers of America...from Wikipedia
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 01:52 PM
Dec 2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_Treatment_Centers_of_America

look down the page to "Contoversy"

Cancer Treatment Centers of America was the subject of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaint in 1993. The FTC alleged that CTCA made false claims regarding the success rates of certain cancer treatments in their promotional materials. This claim was settled in March 1996, requiring CTCA to discontinue use of any unsubstantiated claims in their advertising.[8] CTCA is also required to have proven, scientific evidence for all statements regarding the safety, success rates, endorsements, and benefits of their cancer treatments. CTCA was also required to follow various steps in order to report compliance to the FTC per the settlement.
 

Spitfire of ATJ

(32,723 posts)
19. Appeal to the national heart by getting people to donate to help those in need....
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 02:18 PM
Dec 2012

Then funnel the money into a group that says, "Fuck those people!"

When are people going to wake up and realize the Republicans are just plain EVIL?

I mean,...this is the kind of thing you would attribute to the fictitious Christian Devil.

bluedigger

(17,077 posts)
13. It's brilliant when you think about it.
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 02:01 PM
Dec 2012

Use profits from treating cancer victims to fund group which is for deregulation of industry, thereby allowing more carcinogens into the environment, which leads to more profits.

xxqqqzme

(14,887 posts)
16. Does anyone know
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 02:11 PM
Dec 2012

if it is Patricia Clarkson doing the voice over for the ads? It sure sounds like her. I have tried several times to find it but haven't been successful.

catbyte

(34,170 posts)
17. Not surprising. I read a few years ago they were teabaggers. I would take my chances
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 02:12 PM
Dec 2012

with local doctors, not those scumsuckers.

Stuart G

(38,359 posts)
43. Cancer Treatment Centers of America....that is what this about..I was wrong .sorry
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 01:45 PM
Dec 2012

In my original post I identified this wrong. I am sorry. In addition to this apology,....
.... I have looked at "Cancer Centers of America"..in a couple of searches...Cancer Centers of America does not appear to exist ..
.every link to that title ...takes me to a story about " Cancer Treatment Centers of America"..so..I assume..there is no place with that name..........................Stuart G.

libodem

(19,288 posts)
23. Making money off of other people's misery
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 02:48 PM
Dec 2012

Should be illegal. I think they invite patients with hopeless cases and rook them for exams, X-rays scans, and bloodwork, just to start. Evil. Someone had a piece here at DU citing very crooked practices and extremely aggressive bill collection. They go after the surviving family for payments.

 

glowing

(12,233 posts)
31. Does anyone know about the wounded warrior
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 03:13 PM
Dec 2012

Project? It has the scammy sounding music and country stars shilling for it. It comes off to me like another funneling organization making money off of Vets.

EC

(12,287 posts)
34. The tiny print in their ads
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 03:24 PM
Dec 2012

made me believe they were some kind of scam to begin with and I decided long ago that if I got cancer I did not want them treating me. It's like the store front kidney dialysis places...they are there for the money.

0rganism

(23,855 posts)
35. does this Stephenson family own lots of stock in any tobacco companies?
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 03:49 PM
Dec 2012

I don't know, but it sure as shit wouldn't surprise me. Fuckers like this enjoy making money on both sides of an illness, ethics be damned.

polly7

(20,582 posts)
36. Is Cancer Centers of America affiliated with Cancer Treatment Centers of America?
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 03:54 PM
Dec 2012

I believe I read something about them getting into hot water for misleading advertising quite a few years ago.

BigDemVoter

(4,149 posts)
38. As a healthcare worker, I have long been VERY suspicious of Cancer Centers of America.
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 08:00 PM
Dec 2012

This just confirms the fact that they're a bogus organization, and they very probably have poorer outcomes than any run-of-the-mill regional medical center.

From the way they brag, one would think they're a second MD Anderson or Sloan Kettering. What bullshit.

Odin2005

(53,521 posts)
40. I just knew there was something scummy about them.
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 11:43 PM
Dec 2012

Based on their commercials, they come across as the place the 1% go for cancer treatment.

blueclown

(1,869 posts)
42. Add to the fact they don't have an emergency room in any of their 5 regional "hospitals".
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 01:34 PM
Dec 2012

I wonder how many sick, sick patients they send from their 5 hospitals to a nearby hospital that has emergency services? I would guess quite a few. Why don't they have an emergency room in any of their hospitals? Because it's a money-loser.

They also do not take Medicaid and require an arm and a leg if your primary insurance is Medicare.

libodem

(19,288 posts)
45. Bet they use
Sun Jan 6, 2013, 02:44 PM
Jan 2013

911 and ship the patients when they turn critical. Then they don't have to count that death in their outcomes. Skews the data.

blueclown

(1,869 posts)
46. I'm assuming that's exactly what they do.
Sun Jan 6, 2013, 08:00 PM
Jan 2013

Also, emergency care has several statutory requirements that can make it extremely expensive. By not having an emergency room, they can avoid incurring those costs, which are unavoidable by other hospitals.

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