Drug Companies Finance Medicare Ads Touting GOP Candidates

Pharmaceutical companies profiting nicely from the new Medicare Part D(isaster) drug plan are financing part of an ad campaign supporting Republicans up for reelection. The ads are thanking certain Congressmen for supporting the bill's passage and make no mention of the fact big pharma paid a chunk of their cost. One ad supported Mike Fitzpatrick of the 8th CD in Bucks County although he wasn't even a Congressman when the bill passed the House.

This bill was rather controversial because it was written by and for insurance and drug companies. The Bush Administration misled Congress about its cost and then voting was held open for 45 minutes (a violation of House rules) until Jim Gerlach of the 6th CD was persuaded to cast his vote in support. Without that arm twisting it never would have passed in this form.

Do you think this is ethical?