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The Reason So Many People Get Lost In Thought?

It's unfamiliar territory, of course.

Today's NY Times reports that the health reform-related statements of many lawmakers were ghost-written by lobbyists and lawyers working for biotech firm Genentech. Oops.
"Genentech, a subsidiary of the Swiss drug giant Roche, estimates that 42 House members picked up some of its talking points — 22 Republicans and 20 Democrats, an unusual bipartisan coup (!!) for lobbyists."
Of course Genentech sees "nothing nefarious" about their success, explaining that it happens all the time. They're right. It does happen all the time - over-reaching and stupidity trashing a message, I mean.

It's never been a good idea to let your hired guns do your thinking for you. And in today's environment of radical transparency - where such activity has no place to hide - it's downright embarrassing. At worst, it does your cause irreparable harm. And that's no "coup," bipartisan or otherwise.

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