Politico's Ben Smith and Ken Vogel report:
At a meeting last April with corporate lobbyists, aides to President Barack Obama and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) helped set in motion a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign, primarily financed by industry groups, that has played a key role in bolstering public support for health care reform.
The role Baucus’s chief of staff, Jon Selib, and deputy White House chief of staff Jim Messina played in launching the groups was part of a successful effort by Democrats to enlist traditional enemies of health care reform to their side. No quid pro quo was involved, they insist, as do the lobbyists themselves.
And what have we gotten out of this deal?
That's right. Since the meeting, support for health care reform has basically flatlined, while opposition has soared.
Gee, thanks for all the 'support' guys. Maybe next time we can do it better without your 'help.'