Bloomberg: Clinton attacking drug prices is "calculated risk"

[portlander23]

Bloomberg: Hillary Clinton Fixes Sights on Ripe Target: Prescription Drug Prices

It's a calculated risk by the front-runner, who has steered clear of other corporate targets pursued by rival Bernie Sanders.

Hillary Clinton may have found the perfect target to show that she'll be as tough on corporations as her Democratic presidential rival, Bernie Sanders: Big Pharma.

Targeting rising drug costs has become an important part of Clinton's presidential campaign, even as she continues to defend the Affordable Care Act, offering her a populist issue to keep pace with Sanders's pursuit of the liberal vote.

Going after pharmaceutical companies is a calculated risk by Clinton, who has steered clear of other corporate targets pursued by Sanders, including breaking up the big banks and restoring Glass-Steagall financial regulations on those institutions.

Related:

The Hill: Clinton: Cooperation, not speeches, is needed to regulate Wall Street

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Must have polled well, gone over with focus groups. nt

[djean111]

2. Yes, "Calculated", not heart-felt.

And, of course, the looming trade agreements will make corporate drug profits soar. Those "gold standard" trade agreements.
So her new stance on drug prices seems a bit hollow.

[riversedge]

4. Sanders is doing the same.

[Perogie]

6. He has a long record of fighting high drug prices.

That makes your comment invalid.

From 2007
http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4513445/sen-bernie-sanders-speaks-prescription-drugs

From 2000
http://articles.latimes.com/2000/dec/04/news/mn-60970

There's a difference between Saying something so you can get elected and getting elected because you say something.

[riversedge]

7. Sanders calculated it now for his campaign but the media does not admit it

[SidDithers]

11. ...

Sid

[Motown_Johnny]

10. So in the year 2000 he calculated it for the year 2015?

If so, the man is a super genius. We need someone with that type of vision in the White House.

[frylock]

13. Crafty!

[Hortensis]

14. THIS is what I meant by support for Sanders' positions EMPOWERING CHANGE.

The electorate is all powerful when we choose. When we don't exercise our responsibility, which is usually, others grab the opportunities and power shifts to them.

In this case, as predicted by virtually all experts, support by the ELECTORATE of Bernie's taking on Big Pharm is enabling all Democratic politicians to take stronger positions against special interests. Power of the people at work.

[HereSince1628]

3. Calculated? Have they abandoned spontaneity, already?

I think it's simpler. She really wants to own the healthcare issue, and near universal outrage made this position pretty safe.

[Hortensis]

15. LOL. Of course. Spontaneous campaigning is all the rage right now!

Agree that taking on drug costs is a natural for someone for whom healthcare has always been an important issue, but I guessed she might wait to take on Big Pharm until after she was elected.

[Vinca]

5. What's the risk? Will their donations stop?

[Motown_Johnny]

9. She will flip on it. No real risk for anyone here except the American people. n/t

[Clayton Clay]

16. The script goes "Everything Clinton says and does is calculated"

Must...follow...script.

Say media robots.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. "... Clinton, who has steered clear of other corporate targets pursued by Sanders.." says it all.