this is why politicians are duchebags - UnitedHealth Lobbyist Announces Big Fundraiser for Pelosi As She Begins Backing Off Public Option from Open Left - Front Page

 by David Sirota

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the first time today suggested she may be backing off her support of the public option. According to CNN, Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid "said they would support any provision that increases competition and accessibility for health insurance - whether or not it is the public option favored by most Democrats."

This announcement comes the exact same day as Steve Elmendorf, a major lobbyist for UnitedHealth, blasted this email invitation throughout Washington, D.C.:

From: Steve Elmendorf [mailto:steve@elmendorfstrategies.com] 
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 8:31 AM 
Subject: event with Speaker Pelosi at my home

You are cordially invited to a reception with

Speaker of the House 
Nancy Pelosi

Thursday, September 24, 2009 
6:30pm ~ 8:00pm

At the home of 
Steve Elmendorf 
2301 Connecticut Avenue, NW 
Apt. 7B 
Washington, D.C.

$5,000 PAC 
$2,400 Individual

To RSVP or for additional information please contact 
Carmela Clendening at (202) 485-3508 or clendening@dccc.org

Steve Elmendorf             
ELMENDORF STRATEGIES 
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS SOLUTIONS 
900 7th Street NW Suite 750  Washington DC 20001 
(202) 737-1655

Coincidence? I'm guessing no.