Congressional Republicans are getting hammered,
justifiably, for their latest “smarmy” and hypocritical attack on Obamacare, as
they view the 1-year delay in the business mandate as an opportunity to move in for
the kill.
justifiably, for their latest “smarmy” and hypocritical attack on Obamacare, as
they view the 1-year delay in the business mandate as an opportunity to move in for
the kill.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is at the head of this
pack – a group that is the political equivalent of a mob armed with pitchforks –
claiming so very disingenuously that delaying the business requirements but
maintaining the health insurance mandate on individuals is hurting the little
guy.
pack – a group that is the political equivalent of a mob armed with pitchforks –
claiming so very disingenuously that delaying the business requirements but
maintaining the health insurance mandate on individuals is hurting the little
guy.
“I never thought I’d see the
day when the White House, the president, came down on the side of big business
but left the American people out in the cold as far as this health care mandate
is concerned,” said Cantor, feigning outrage.
day when the White House, the president, came down on the side of big business
but left the American people out in the cold as far as this health care mandate
is concerned,” said Cantor, feigning outrage.
So, Cantor is now concerned that
government policy is bowing to Big Business at the expense of the working poor
and middle class? Isn’t this the same GOP leader who quietly cheered every time
a state turned down the Medicaid expansion aspect of Obamacare?
government policy is bowing to Big Business at the expense of the working poor
and middle class? Isn’t this the same GOP leader who quietly cheered every time
a state turned down the Medicaid expansion aspect of Obamacare?
Cantor and other Republican
lawmakers also fail to mention that the Obamacare approach – giving the
uninsured tax breaks so they can buy private insurance at an online marketplace – was and
still is a conservative idea that was previously championed by Mitt Romney, the
party’s 2012 presidential standardbearer.
lawmakers also fail to mention that the Obamacare approach – giving the
uninsured tax breaks so they can buy private insurance at an online marketplace – was and
still is a conservative idea that was previously championed by Mitt Romney, the
party’s 2012 presidential standardbearer.
They also consistently talk about
Obamacare as if it is a new system for all of America. No, the business mandate
will affect less than 4 percent of the nation’s employers and only about 2.5
percent of the population will be using the health care “exchanges” to purchase
coverage.
Obamacare as if it is a new system for all of America. No, the business mandate
will affect less than 4 percent of the nation’s employers and only about 2.5
percent of the population will be using the health care “exchanges” to purchase
coverage.
Over at Slate, they are
having a field day pointing out the hypocrisies of Cantor and House Speaker
John Boehner as demonstrated by the lawmakers’ sudden shift from countless
attempts to repeal Obamacare to complaining that the new timetable is unfair to
the uninsured.
having a field day pointing out the hypocrisies of Cantor and House Speaker
John Boehner as demonstrated by the lawmakers’ sudden shift from countless
attempts to repeal Obamacare to complaining that the new timetable is unfair to
the uninsured.
While Cantor prepares a
38th House vote for repeal, the GOP leadership is banging away at
the idea that the new set-up is unfair and individuals deserve the same relief.
38th House vote for repeal, the GOP leadership is banging away at
the idea that the new set-up is unfair and individuals deserve the same relief.
The Washington Post’s Matter Miller takes it from there:
“The same relief? How dumb do they think Americans are?
“‘Relief’ from the certainty that they’ll have access to
group health coverage no matter their health status?
group health coverage no matter their health status?
“‘Relief’ from income-based subsidies if they need help
to buy a private health plan?
to buy a private health plan?
“‘Relief’ from finally knowing that they can never go
broke from serious illness in one of the richest countries on earth?
broke from serious illness in one of the richest countries on earth?
“’Relief’ from the job-lock that binds countless
Americans to large employers when they’d rather start a business or work on
their own, but fear that if their family has any health issues they’d be left
to fend for themselves?
Americans to large employers when they’d rather start a business or work on
their own, but fear that if their family has any health issues they’d be left
to fend for themselves?
“’Relief’ from at last joining the community of advanced
nations that view health coverage for all as an essential feature of a decent
society, a view embraced decades ago even by conservative icons such as
Margaret Thatcher?”
nations that view health coverage for all as an essential feature of a decent
society, a view embraced decades ago even by conservative icons such as
Margaret Thatcher?”
The editorial board at USA Today, takes a slightly different approach in attempting to shame the Republicans’ overtly political
and damaging approach.
and damaging approach.
USA Today recalls that the Republican-backed Medicare
prescription drug program of 2006 suffered through a far more rocky rollout
than Obamacare. Yet, no one on Capitol Hill called it a “train wreck” or
attempted to sabotage the new law. There were glitches and literally tens of
thousands of stories about seniors who couldn’t navigate the system or get the
help they needed. Eventually, however, “goodwill, patience and sincere effort
by just about everyone involved ironed out the kinks” in Medicare Part D, USA Today noted. “It’s so popular
now that no one would dare try to eliminate it.”
prescription drug program of 2006 suffered through a far more rocky rollout
than Obamacare. Yet, no one on Capitol Hill called it a “train wreck” or
attempted to sabotage the new law. There were glitches and literally tens of
thousands of stories about seniors who couldn’t navigate the system or get the
help they needed. Eventually, however, “goodwill, patience and sincere effort
by just about everyone involved ironed out the kinks” in Medicare Part D, USA Today noted. “It’s so popular
now that no one would dare try to eliminate it.”
The nation’s largest newspaper pointed out that
Republican tactics regarding opposition to Obamacare have been shady from day
one, particularly the fear-mongering (such as “death panels”) that continues
three years later regarding potential loss of medical care by individuals.
Republican tactics regarding opposition to Obamacare have been shady from day
one, particularly the fear-mongering (such as “death panels”) that continues
three years later regarding potential loss of medical care by individuals.
Here’s a taste of the editorial:
“Having lost in Congress and in court, they (Republicans)
are now using the most cynical of tactics: trying to make the law fail. Never
mind the public inconvenience and human misery that will result.
are now using the most cynical of tactics: trying to make the law fail. Never
mind the public inconvenience and human misery that will result.
Their assault is under way on several fronts. The most
disturbing is a concerted attempt to keep the public ignorant about how to use
the health care exchanges where uninsured people will be able to sign up for
coverage beginning Oct. 1.
disturbing is a concerted attempt to keep the public ignorant about how to use
the health care exchanges where uninsured people will be able to sign up for
coverage beginning Oct. 1.
First, Republicans
limited the use of government money to spread the word. Then, when the
administration reached out to the NFL and other major sports leagues for
help in publicizing the new health care exchanges (through public service
announcements), the opponents resorted to intimidation.
limited the use of government money to spread the word. Then, when the
administration reached out to the NFL and other major sports leagues for
help in publicizing the new health care exchanges (through public service
announcements), the opponents resorted to intimidation.
Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, fired
off a letter to the NFL … (and) in a particularly smarmy warning, McConnell
and Cornyn told the NFL to let them know whether the Obama administration
retaliated against the league for not cooperating — the clear implication being
that if the league did help inform the public about ObamaCare, Senate
Republicans had their own methods of retribution. It is an appalling abuse of
power, and the
NFL meekly yielded.”
off a letter to the NFL … (and) in a particularly smarmy warning, McConnell
and Cornyn told the NFL to let them know whether the Obama administration
retaliated against the league for not cooperating — the clear implication being
that if the league did help inform the public about ObamaCare, Senate
Republicans had their own methods of retribution. It is an appalling abuse of
power, and the
NFL meekly yielded.”
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You are aware, hopefully, that firms are not hiring full time anymore and filling positions with part time in order to avoid this mess? If you don't know this, shame on you.