Oh the irony!
It was just over a year ago that Keith Olbermann was taking misinformed potshots at NAIFA and IFAPAC on his MSNBC “Countdown” program. For those who may not recall, he seemed to accuse us in a disjointed rant of everything from raising insurance premiums to manipulating medical prices. Most pointedly, he claimed NAIFA was in the business of using IFAPAC funds to “buy politicians.”
Today, the shoe is on the other foot. Politico is reporting that MSNBC has suspended Olbermann indefinitely without pay for making political campaign contributions in violation of the company’s standards for journalists.
Are we gloating? Well, maybe a little. It's funny that after speaking with such rancour about IFAPAC, Mr. Olbermann apparently isn't above buying a politician or two himself.
Hyperbole aside, of course NAIFA doesn't own any politicians. IFAPAC allows NAIFA members to be more actively engaged in the political process as they try to protect our industry and clients from the overreaches of government. PACs serve as valuable “checks and balances” in the political system due to the diversity of thought, ideas and interests they represent. Far from being part of the problem, PACs are the answer to the inherent conflict between money and politics that has existed since our nation was founded. In the final analysis, IFAPAC is a legal, open, honest and ethical way for NAIFA members to be involved in the process of participatory democracy.