A commercial is running in many districts throughout the nation. Only the name of the incumbent changes to suit the locality--in our area, it names Virgil Goode. It praises him for his vote on HR 4954, the "Republican" prescription drug benefit bill.

Here's the commercial:

"They are our parents and grandparents.

American's seniors are our heroes and inspiration.

Congressman Virgil Goode fights for them everyday. Last year Congressman Goode voted to add prescription drugs to Medicare.

Now he is working to make sure Congress enacts this legislation providing a prescription drug benefit for all seniors.

Congressman Virgil Goode has always put Virginia seniors first.

Thank Congressman Goode for fighting to add prescription drugs for Medicare and tell him you will appreciate his vote again." (Commercial, Paid for by the United Seniors Association, May 2003)

Who are the United Seniors of America and why are they running this commercial now?

Would it surprise you to learn that the money paying for these commercials (millions of dollars, nationwide) is not from their membership. This money comes in the form of "unrestricted educational grants" from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA), according to Ralph Nader's "Public Citizen" website.

The United Seniors contributed $2,000 in the 1998 election, and $2,500 to Goode's campaign in 2000, but we don't find a record of a contribution in 2002.

The United Seniors Association was started in the late '80s by Richard Viguerie, a well-known ultra-conservative direct-mail fundraising entrepreneur. It recently became a conduit for big-money advertising to benefit the pharmaceutical industry. Previously, the money had flowed through Citizens for a Better Medicare (a budget of $65 million in the 2000 campaign), but that shell lost credibility when it was exposed as being entirely a creature of the pharmaceutical industry.

Why does PhRMA want to thank Rep. Goode and the others? It is because this bill, unlike alternatives offered by Democrats, does not include provision for the containment of the cost of prescription drugs or other reforms that the industry would not welcome. And why now? Because medicare reform legislation is being considered by the Senate.

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