Florida Candidate Recommends People Buy Prescription Drugs Outside U.S.

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News ^ | Unknown

[Tickled Pink]

PUBLICATION:     Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

DATE:     8/29/2002, Thursday

HEADLINE:     Florida Candidate Recommends People Buy Prescription Drugs Outside U.S.

Aug. 28--Democratic congressional candidate Carol Roberts pledged Tuesday to continue providing information on how to illegally get cheaper American-made prescription drugs from Canada. Responding to a flurry of negative media reports, she vowed to defy the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by operating her toll-free hotline that encourages buying prescriptions from Canada over the Internet and by phone.

The FDA warns that it can't attest to the safety of U.S. drugs purchased outside the country, so it prohibits consumers from buying them. But the agency admits it doesn't have the resources to enforce its ban, and state and local prosecutors say they won't take action against consumers who violate the law.

"Our system is keeping drug prices intentionally high. I think it's an outrage," Roberts said during a gathering in West Palm Beach.

"Drug companies are making Enron-style profits on America's prescription drug consumers while spending literally billions on advertising and marketing, as well as on lobbying Congress to bar limits on their profits. It has to stop."

A spokesman for Roberts' challenger in the District 22 race, 11-term U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw, R-Fort Lauderdale, criticized her hotline.

Shaw's campaign manager, Larry Casey, called it a "reckless, selfish gimmick."

"There's a lot of folks she's putting at risk," Casey said. "She's playing with people's lives."

Reducing the cost of prescription drugs is a hot-button issue in a district heavily populated by senior citizens that stretches along coastal and western Broward and Palm Beach counties.

The hotline set up by Roberts, a Palm Beach County commissioner, asks callers to leave a message. Her campaign then mails a packet explaining how to buy drugs online from Canada and provides a list of companies offering drugs.

The FDA cautions that if Americans attempt to buy prescription drugs outside the country, there's little consumers can do to make sure the drugs aren't expired, stored improperly or coming from an unlicensed pharmacy.

Federal legislation to legalize the purchase of drugs from Canada has been introduced, but the law would require the FDA to sign off on medications' authenticity before they reach consumers. The House hasn't voted on the measure.

Standing in front of a sign stating "Save on Drugs Call 1-866-Rx-CAROL," Roberts brandished a letter from Palm Beach County State Attorney and fellow Democrat Barry Krischer declaring that Florida law doesn't punish anyone for purchasing American drugs abroad, even though the practice is a violation of federal law.

She also came with statistics supporting her cause: American drugs are two or three times cheaper in Canada. Also, she said, the out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries was $480 a month in 2000.

A supporter, Florence Furman, 81, of West Palm Beach, told the crowd that she's been buying American drugs from Canada for a year and has saved hundreds of dollars every month. Another supporter, Tony Fransetta of the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, urged Shaw to debate Roberts on the prescription drug issue.

Casey said Shaw is prepared to debate her two times, but it won't be on just the single issue of prescriptions.

Since news reports on the hotline began running last week, Roberts said she's gotten more than 100 calls from people in and out of the district. But if callers think the practice is legal, they aren't hearing otherwise from Roberts. One campaign flier declares that she's providing "information for seniors to legally buy their prescription drugs from Canada."

Her spokesman Stephen Gaskill said she may add information to future fliers about the FDA's warnings.

"We're looking at the language and we're considering what to do with that," he said.

[Tickled Pink]

So it's okay with Krischer to buy drugs illegally through his (Dem) Carol Roberts' website--since she is a pal and a Democrat.

And yes, it is that Carol Roberts.

[Ann Archy]

She will be elected.

[JohnGalt]

The Everybody Lies about Prescription Drugs Defense?

Rush, bring this to an end already, and renounce your past support for the war on some drugs.

[Tickled Pink]

I did a search of FEC contribution records to see who Krischer has given campaign money to in the past. I didn't find any listing for him (under either Barry or Bernard), but I did find a listing for someone who would appear to be his wife:

KRISCHER, EVA
WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409
PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD/TE

ROBERTS, CAROL A
VIA CAROL ROBERTS FOR CONGRESS
06/18/2002 250.00 22991396640

http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/qind/

Funny of all the people in the world, this would be her only contribution.

[Maelstrom]

Make the Canadian taxpayers pay for your prescription drugs! Use socialism against the socialists...

I love it!

[Tickled Pink]

From Roberts' own website:

At a Board of County Commissioners meeting on October 1, 2002, Commissioner Roberts presented a proclamation declaring the month of October, 2002 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Palm Beach County. l to r: State Attorney Barry Krischer, Commissioner Roberts, Laura Johnson, Chief of Domestic Violence Unit, Chief Assistant State Attorney Ted Booras,

[WackyKat]

Good for Carol Roberts. I consider the people fighting pharmaceutical trade restrictions to be heros

Neither she nor Limbaugh should be prosecuted

[Tickled Pink]

So if Limbaugh had just ordered OxyContin from Carol Roberts by calling her toll-free number at 1-866-Rx-CAROL, he would be free and clear--at least according to Barry Krischer.

[Tickled Pink]

Standing in front of a sign stating "Save on Drugs Call 1-866-Rx-CAROL," Roberts brandished a letter from Palm Beach County State Attorney and fellow Democrat Barry Krischer declaring that Florida law doesn't punish anyone for purchasing American drugs abroad, even though the practice is a violation of federal law.

Democrat Barry Krischer, Roberts pal and the man behind the prosecution of Limbaugh.

[Liberty Valance]

Oh well, Time for Rush's show...E...I....B!!!!!!!!!!
Bye bye

[putupon]

'RATs vs. RINO's, and the 'RATs are on the Free Trade side this time.

Go figure.

[Orangedog]

The hypocracy on this site regarding Limbaugh's drug problem is so thick you need a chainsaw to cut through it. You get all the crap about "Well this is different because he wasn't taking them without a prescription to get high!" Sounds a lot like "Well this is different because he only lied on the witness stand about sex."

Now the rallying cry is "Politically motivated witch-hunt!" Yeah, maybe...maybe even more than maybe. But don't expect too many more people than the most die-hard fans to come to a protest march. Why?...because all of the drug warriors have conditioned the sheep not to care when the machinery of the drug war comes down on someone, even if they are just a user.

No, Rush isn't going to do any jail time, nor should he. But he's going to be processed on the drug war assembly-line of "justice" just like anyone else. It's going to cost him some lawyer fees and some embarrassment, just like everyone else.

I'll give the "Save Rush" crowd some respect when they finally admit that this drug war crap has gotten out of control instead of just trying to get a pass for their guy.

[jbstrick]

OK, I'll admit it.

It's out of control. No what. I have not idea what to do. I don't think leagalizing will be the solution.

I'm open to ideas...

[WackyKat]

Well said. It is shameful that the same people who rightly criticized the sleazy tactics of the Clintonoids for years are now using the same tactics to defend Rush.

What hypocrites

[BCrago66]

You're new here - but now you know. The rule is that you do not change the headline of anything you post. Keep the original headline, then add comments below.

Now that that's over with, you're post is non-sensical. It is not clear that simply providing information violates any FEDERAL law. It is clear that what she did violated no FLORIDA law - placing her actions outside Krischer's jurisdiction.

Welcome to FR :)

[Helms]

Get this guy a real tie and a damned haircut:

Barry's going to Hell for what he's doing to Rush Limbaugh, especially for copying my hairdo.

[WackyKat]

I bet Krischer can't spew Bible verses the way Van Impe can!

[Tickled Pink]

I see the moderators have changed the title to reflect the title of the article I posted--and probably rightly so. It does however confuse the issue and de-emphasizes what made it news-worthy.

For the news is that a famously fierce Bush hater (Carol Roberts) is friends with the very man who is leading the charge against Limbaugh, Barry Krischer.

And, ironies of ironies, she is running for Congress while providing drugs illegally through her toll-free number. And it looks like Krischer has contributed to her campaign (and this is the only campaign he has contributed to).

Of course the resident Bush haters and Johnny-one-notes (Anti-WODs) will do their best to turn this into yet another pointless discussion about the war on drugs.

This information of selective, politcally motivated prosecution doesn't interest them. In fact, nothing seems to interest them--except arguing for the legalization of drugs.

I'm only surprised that they haven't followed their spiritual leader, George Soros, into the folds of the DNC. Or have they? You can buy a lot of internet posters with the kind of money he has been throwing around for years.

[Orangedog]

Of course the resident Bush haters and Johnny-one-notes (Anti-WODs) will do their best to turn this into yet another pointless discussion about the war on drugs.

This information of selective, politcally motivated prosecution doesn't interest them. In fact, nothing seems to interest them--except arguing for the legalization of drugs.

Let's see, you carp about politically motivated attacks on one side and then launch one of your own (and a baseless and erroneous attack at that). Yep...getting thicker by the minute.

[Tickled Pink]

Thanks. I'm actually a re-tread from 1997. But I will try to keep your sage counsel in mind. (Funny, how I used to be called a "brown-shirt hall monitor" for complaining about changes in titles.)

As I mentioned in my previous post, I think my title was warranted, given that the import of the article was not reflected by the original (year old) headline. I suppose I could have added an addendum to clarify it.

As for my post being "non-sensical," I contend that you have entirely missed the gist of it. As have some others apparently.

It was intended to highlight some of the political connections behind Limbaugh's prosecution. It also meant to point out the hypocrisy (sic) of the Krischer, who is seemingly backing Roberts' campaign.

But apparently these points are too subtle for today's FR. Alas.