This morning, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), including the individual mandate, which requires all Americans to buy health insurance, is constitutional. This decision marks the destruction of individual liberty, as for the first time, citizens can be forced by the government to buy a product or service.
In September 2009, President Obama told George Stephanopoulos, “For us to say you have to take responsibility to get health insurance is absolutely not a tax increase.” My opponent, Congressman Israel states on his website, "Your federal income taxes will not go up to pay for this no matter how much you earn." Today, the Supreme Court ruled otherwise, finding that the mandate violates the Commerce Clause, but is constitutional under the taxing power.
Make no mistake; this decision has broader implications that will fundamentally transform our country in ways never envisioned by our Founding Fathers. Obamacare is the largest middle class tax increase in American history. It does nothing to combat the rising costs of healthcare, cuts nearly $600 billion dollars from Medicare, hurts jobs, and will for the first time ever, allow the government to interfere in the doctor/patient relationship.
The Supreme Court did not repeal Obamacare, but a Republican House and Senate in 2012 can. The American people will decide on Election Day if Obamacare stays. I pledge to the constituents of the 3rd Congressional District that as your Congressman I will vote for the immediate repeal of Obamacare. There is more at stake than just the future of healthcare. Our democratic form of government is at risk of being transformed into an authoritarian state and I’m ready to fight against that transformation.
If you support the repeal of Obamacare, and the massive tax it levies on the American people, than stand with me, and join my team. Donate your time as a “Labate for Congress” volunteer. Donate money if you are able, and most importantly, on November 6th, cast your vote. Together we can put an end to the massive overreach of the federal government into our personal lives, and build a future for our children that they will be proud of.
Since Steve's GOP, would like to eliminate Social Security altogether, which he (and you) have yet to refute, what has he to say about modest cuts to reflect reality? Not to mention the temporary FICA cuts that surely, Republicans like Steve should applaud, right? You're losing it. Or is it "Steve" that's losing it? Or is it one and the same. Keep backpedaling.
No need to back pedal. Republicans didn't have the power to make these changes. If they get the power and try to make the changes I'd make the same arguments I'm making now. Would you?
"You can’t possibly have a job since you literally post almost 24/7 on the Patch and therefore pay no income tax." "If you do have a job it must not be very important." "who would hire a moron like yourself who can’t even articulate a cogent argument?" "The only job I could envision for you is a paid assassin" "t is pointless to have a discussion with a simpleton such as yourself." And finally: "our side doesn’t need to lob insults because we argue with facts"
By contrast, explain how you and the candidate plan to walk these drastic cuts to social programs: "Romney Tells The GOP He Is The Hero Who Will Destroy Social Security" http://www.politicususa.com/social-security-romney.html "House GOP: Eliminate Medicare, Disembowel Medicaid. Next: Social Security" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-mcmahon/house-gop-eliminate-medicare_b_875128.html "Republican Privatization to Eliminate Medicare and Social Security" http://www.americaforpurchase.com/republicans/republican-privatization-to-eliminate-medicare-and-social-security/ "FACT CHECK: Cantor Doubles Down on Plan to Privatize Social Security and Eliminate Medicare" http://dccc.org/blog/entry/fact_check_cantor_doubles_down_on_plan_to_privatize_social_security_and_eli/ "GOP Rallies Behind Perry In Push to Eliminate Social Security, Medicare" http://wonkronk.blogspot.com/2011/08/gop-rallies-behind-perry-in-push-to.html Got it, skippy? Or the planned GOP GUT JOB still over your/Steve's dimwitted head?
Paraphrasing Bill Murray, "Diane you ignorant ...."
Wow. I'd go light on the name calling if that was the most reasoned argument I could come up with. Here's a link to President Obama's real time, real world, relevant, announcement on reducing the funding of Social Security. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/23/president-obama-extending-payroll-tax-cut-boost-we-need-right-now
I also enjoyed how she seems to think the most important job skil to havel is the ability to argue.
"Romney Tells The GOP He Is The Hero Who Will Destroy Social Security" http://www.politicususa.com/social-security-romney.html "House GOP: Eliminate Medicare, Disembowel Medicaid. Next: Social Security" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-mcmahon/house-gop-eliminate-medicare_b_875128.html "Republican Privatization to Eliminate Medicare and Social Security" http://www.americaforpurchase.com/republicans/republican-privatization-to-eliminate-medicare-and-social-security/ "FACT CHECK: Cantor Doubles Down on Plan to Privatize Social Security and Eliminate Medicare" http://dccc.org/blog/entry/fact_check_cantor_doubles_down_on_plan_to_privatize_social_security_and_eli/ "GOP Rallies Behind Perry In Push to Eliminate Social Security, Medicare" http://wonkronk.blogspot.com/2011/08/gop-rallies-behind-perry-in-push-to.html So, got it this time, skippy? Or is "I'm fine with the planned GOP social safety net GUT JOB" your final answer?
Your take is obviously "I'm fine with the Democrats ACTUAL (as opposed to planned), real time, gutting of the social safety net." Still waiting for you to manage an explanation for billions of dollars being considered "modest" and cutting revenues into a program going bankrupt being "necessary".
"Tea Party Govs Say 'No' to Medicaid Expansion Nearly 1 million Floridians will be denied access to Medicaid they would have otherwise received under the Affordable Care Act if Governor Rick Scott gets his way. The Supreme Court ruling last week on the law made it easier for states to opt out of an expansion, and Sunday night the governor’s office e-mailed a statement from Scott that “since Florida is legally allowed to opt out, that’s the right decision for our citizens.” According to the Kaiser Family Foundation the Medicaid expansion in Florida would have covered 951,622 people that currently don’t have insurance. The federal government would have picked up the entire tab for the first three years, and by 2020 would still be paying 90 percent. But Scott—a former CEO of a large hospital chain who rode to Tea Party stardom and the governor’s mansion by being a rabid opponent of “Obamacare”—apparently finds the political posturing more important. Similarly in South Carolina, Governor Nikki Haley—another Tea Party darling elected along with Scott in 2010—said her state would opt out as well. “We’re not going to shove more South Carolinians into a broken system,” said a Haley spokesman. The expansion there would have provided coverage to 330,932 people." http://www.thenation.com/blog/168693/florida-and-south-carolina-tea-party-govs-say-no-medicaid-expansion
By contrast (or comparison, if you prefer) there is the long-term, well articulated and draconian GOP plan to GUT THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET -- see cites below. Math and concepts like smaller vs. larger, and temporary vs. permanent, isn't your strong suit, is it Chuck? Maybe you don't believe any of the GOP's plans to GUT the social safety net that has functioned -- and will function -- effectively for decades into the future? Just say so. But you do love to trot out GOP talking points and red herrings. Do you fish, Steve/Chuck? Next time use a hook. Still waiting for your/Steve-o's response to these GOP PLANS TO PERMANENTLY GUT "ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS":
"Romney Tells The GOP He Is The Hero Who Will Destroy Social Security" http://www.politicususa.com/social-security-romney.html "House GOP: Eliminate Medicare, Disembowel Medicaid. Next: Social Security" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-mcmahon/house-gop-eliminate-medicare_b_875128.html "Republican Privatization to Eliminate Medicare and Social Security" http://www.americaforpurchase.com/republicans/republican-privatization-to-eliminate-medicare-and-social-security/ "FACT CHECK: Cantor Doubles Down on Plan to Privatize Social Security and Eliminate Medicare" http://dccc.org/blog/entry/fact_check_cantor_doubles_down_on_plan_to_privatize_social_security_and_eli/ "GOP Rallies Behind Perry In Push to Eliminate Social Security, Medicare" http://wonkronk.blogspot.com/2011/08/gop-rallies-behind-perry-in-push-to.html Also, remember to answer back on whether Steve-the-candidate is a Rick Scott/Nikki Haley ACA-denier in disguise. I'm guessing that's a big DITTO, right Steve/Chuck?
I'll believe the loss FICA money into Social Security is temporary when they reinstitute the 2% tax. Are you still defining billions of dollars as "modest"? You go on about GOP talking points and then site The Nation. Clever. The whole Medicaid thing you've raised is interesting. You're upset people will be kept out of a program into which they have not directly contributed, but you're OK with cutting funding to safety net programs financed by dollars taken directly from worker's paychecks. Of course the dirty little secret in the new law was it exploded the growth of Medicaid. The actuaries predicted it after the bill passed but the politicians kept it on the down low. Wonder why? Those folks in Fla. and S.C. still have to be covered under the statute, right? They'll have to go to government exchanges. Isn't that a good thing? Wasn't that what you were shooting for? Aren't they going to get great care there?
You've done a real service bringing up the whole Medicaid explosion that was pretty much a secret part of the law. Nice job.
Romney Tells The GOP He Is The Hero Who Will Destroy Social Security" http://www.politicususa.com/social-security-romney.html "House GOP: Eliminate Medicare, Disembowel Medicaid. Next: Social Security" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-mcmahon/house-gop-eliminate-medicare_b_875128.html "Republican Privatization to Eliminate Medicare and Social Security" http://www.americaforpurchase.com/republicans/republican-privatization-to-eliminate-medicare-and-social-security/ "FACT CHECK: Cantor Doubles Down on Plan to Privatize Social Security and Eliminate Medicare" http://dccc.org/blog/entry/fact_check_cantor_doubles_down_on_plan_to_privatize_social_security_and_eli/ "GOP Rallies Behind Perry In Push to Eliminate Social Security, Medicare" http://wonkronk.blogspot.com/2011/08/gop-rallies-behind-perry-in-push-to.html Is Steve-the-candidate (aka "Chuck") a Rick Scott/Nikki Haley ACA-denier in disguise, too? That's a big "DITTOS", right? Modest and temporary relaxation of taxation as a stimulus to create jobs, following the Bush recession and jobless decade was necessary. Contrast that approach with the long-term, well articulated, unabashed and draconian GOP plan to GUT THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET. Math and concepts like smaller vs. larger, and temporary vs. permanent are beyond you, Chuck/Steve? Come out of the Patch closet, Steve/Chuck.
Not a single specific point on the explosion in Medicaid, wasted stimulus money, the desirability of the "health care exchanges", states not printing $, and advocating for Medicaid recipients over Medicare and Social Security beneficiaries was refuted. Actually, given some of the news of the day, it would seem thanks to yesterday's post, we're ahead of the curve on all this Medicaid and Health Care Exchanges business. No wonder why the politicians wanted to keep it all hidden from view.
Meanwhile, Steve and his alter ego keep ducking the elephant in the room -- GOP VOWS TO GUT THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET "Romney Tells The GOP He Is The Hero Who Will Destroy Social Security" http://www.politicususa.com/social-security-romney.html "House GOP: Eliminate Medicare, Disembowel Medicaid. Next: Social Security" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-mcmahon/house-gop-eliminate-medicare_b_875128.html "Republican Privatization to Eliminate Medicare and Social Security" http://www.americaforpurchase.com/republicans/republican-privatization-to-eliminate-medicare-and-social-security/ "FACT CHECK: Cantor Doubles Down on Plan to Privatize Social Security and Eliminate Medicare" http://dccc.org/blog/entry/fact_check_cantor_doubles_down_on_plan_to_privatize_social_security_and_eli/ "GOP Rallies Behind Perry In Push to Eliminate Social Security, Medicare" http://wonkronk.blogspot.com/2011/08/gop-rallies-behind-perry-in-push-to.html Steve's alter ego is a Rick Scott/Nikki Haley ACA-denier, too. Modest, temporary relaxation of taxes as stimulus to create jobs vs. permanent, unabashed and draconian GOP VOW TO GUT THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET Concepts like smaller vs. larger, and temporary vs. permanent are way over the candidate's and alter ego's heads.
Wishing you and your family a safe and happy Fourth of July.
The candidate has repeatedly refused to engage on or to refute the WELL DOCUMENTED PERMANENT DIS-ENTITLEMENT his GOP party platform intends to inflict on the most vulnerable in our society. If the candidate wishes to distance himself, that's easily done here. So far, however, it's been all dissembling, all the time, and it's obvious he's in full enfilade. Best wishes and luck to you, too.
"In view of the fact that God limited the intelligence of man, it seems unfair that he did not also limit his stupidity." To that very point, I don't know whether to be amused, or appalled, by the ignorant Tea Party supporters posting here, but I'm fairly certain that Adenauer would be amazed at the level of ignorance displayed, and their inability to employ undistorted information. It really is sad.
How much more of that do you want, Teabagger?
But we'll never know because he uses Patch as a one-way drive-by fragging opportunity. --- It's a fact: GOP can't deal with its own $7 Trillion hypocrisy. But what's $7 Trillion in unfunded mandates to the GOP? Nothing -- when the GOP proposes it! Vetted by Fox News, no less! "GOP 2012 Candidates Opposed to Repealing Bush-Era Medicare Drug Benefit" GOP defends costly Bush-era prescription program Sunday, September 18, 2011 BY RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR/The Associated Press WASHINGTON — It's a massive health care entitlement with unfunded future costs of more than $7 trillion. Many conservatives are still upset at the way it was rammed through Congress. But when the Republican presidential candidates were asked last week if they would repeal the Medicare drug benefit, they said no way. After all, Republicans created it." http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/18/gop-2012-candidates-opposed-to-repealing-unfunded-medicare-drug-benefit/