A new talking point of the Left: older Americans against Obamacare are hypocrites

Examiner.com ^ | September 6, 2009 | Bridgette Wallis

[LibertyThug]

According to the Left, older Americans are hypocrites to protest Obamacare because they use Medicare. Many opinion articles have been written about this hypocrisy of the elderly. There was the Newsweek article titled, Health Care Hypocrisy, where Daniel Gross wrote:

[LibertyThug]

I love this one...but, I've seen it a lot since the townhall protests started.

They see the older people and laugh because they think older people are just too stupid to realize that they're getting nationalized health care (never realizing they've all been forced into paying for it) or that they're just hypocrites.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

I’ll see their ‘elderly are hypocrites’ talking point and raise them my ‘liberals are morons’ talking point.

[madison10]

Big difference between using Medicare to help pay for/pay for medical expenses and a "health" program where they ask, "Have you considered dying lately? If so, how would you prefer we help you?" If not, why not?" Exaggerating somewhat, but the idea is there.

[kabar]

Or that Medicare is bankrupt and that nine out of ten Medicare recipients have private supplementary insurance to cover what Medicare doesn’t.

[TexasCajun]

Just go ahead and call ‘em ‘assholes’ a la Van Jones.

[mountn man]

Yeah, real bright bringing up Medicare.

And how is that working out? And now they want more government run healthcare.

[Voter62vb]

I’m in...

[presently no screen name]

Medicare was forced on them - once you are 65 you have to go on it. Why can’t they continue with the private insurance they have?

[vicar7]

Not a good idea to insult folks that actually go to the polls.

[reasonisfaith]

So what it comes down to is this: are “older people” so afraid of being ridiculed and called names that they will support Obama’s waiting lists, denial of health care and death panels?

[FormerACLUmember]

A new talking point of the Left: older Americans against Obamacare are hypocrites

Maybe, but they are really, really pissed off hypocrites.

And they vote.

[Bhoy]

Nice point in last paragraph:

“Finally, is the Left sure they want to leave the impression that if people are on the government dole their opinions should be dismissed because they are on the government dole?”

What if you can’t vote unless you PAY taxes?

[redhead]

They are FORCED to use it. Doctors are FORCED to bill medicare whenever a Senior walks through their doors. We held a health-care town hall a week ago, and invited local doctors to come and tell us how the proposed bill affected them and their services. It was amazing to hear what kinds of bureaucratic hoops they were forced to jump through, the SIZE of the fines for even inadvertent non-compliance (mistakes) and more. I cannot go to a doctor without mentioning my medicare card. Virtually every time I go to see my doctor, I cost him money. Even if I pay cash for my visit, he still has to bill medicare, and the reimbursements are small.

(It would be nice to find a doctor who was willing to work out of his home for cash only. We had an old 'country doctor' in Valdez years ago wo did just that. No insurance billing, no reimbursement. We paid him cash for everything. My, how times have changed. :o(

[Dilbert San Diego]

So then anyone who gets any gov’t supplied benefit or service is a hypocrite if they don’t want to see expansion of gov’t benefits or services?

As an example, I would love to see tax simplification or flat tax rates, in exchange for doing away with various deductions/exclusions/exemptions currently in the tax law. Am I a hypocrite for that position, when I take the mortgage interest tax deduction and charitable contribution deductions?

I get the impression that Democrats from Obama on down want to get in people’s faces and get into name calling, rather than respectfully debating the issues involved.

And Obama himself wants everyone who “created the mess” to sit down and shut up.

[nathanbedford]

The loudest voice in America today in opposition to Medicare belongs to President Barack Obama.

[redhead]

"What if you can’t vote unless you PAY taxes?"

I believe that this is the way it was in the early days of the Republic. Only property-owners had the right to vote. If you didn't own property (pay taxes) you weren't allowed to cast a vote.

[Kansas58]

Medicare, as currently written law, OUTLAWS the government making ANY determination about diagnosis or treatment.

Yes, Medicare can deny claims, but not on an arbitrary basis, and Medicare can NOT tell the Doctor and Patient what to do.

Obamacare DESTROYS current Medicare, Obamacare REQUIRES the goverment to stick its nose into private decisions!

[Bryanw92]

I have to agree with the left on this one. When Obama was talking about socialized medicine and the elderly thought they’d be able to keep what they have while the rest of us got rationing, they were all for it (and for him).

But when they found out that they would not only be subject to the same rationing, but that the rationing would be based more on “from each according to his ability” than on “to each according to his need”, then they lost their excitement for it.

[mountn man]

I think it depends what tax deductions you claim. Who your charitable contributions are to. And WHO you are.

If your Charles Rangel...

[sport]

Reference your pot #18. I agree. They voted for him in droves thinking [actually knowing in their minds] that they were going to get free “health care” and money.

I remember one old White coot on television saying, “I voted for him si I will be able to retire.”

It still makes me mad everytime I think about it.

So they are getting what they deserve.