The politics of the ObamaCare decision

American Thinker ^ | June 28, 2012 | Thomas Lifson

[definitelynotaliberal]

It looks to me that there are some sweet lemons for conservatives in the ObamaCare decision. Before we burn the chief justice in effigy, let's read the decision and think about the implications.

First of all, upholding ObamaCare is going to energize opposition to Obama, and the determination to elect a Congress that can repeal and replace it. Just a day ago, the MSM was telling us it would be a plus for Obama if the act were held unconstitutional because it would take the issue off the table and weaken his opposition.

On the other hand, as Rick Moran points out, "it gives Obama a big boost; everyone likes a winner.

I have no doubt that the same media will now proclaim it is a big victory, a change in momentum, a blow to the right. I also expect Sudden New Respect for Chief Justice Roberts. I am not going to hold that against him.

For one thing, the Court went nowhere near claiming the Commerce Clause means the feds can force us to do anything. The CJ and the majority (remember, by joining the majority he got to write the opinion) relied on the taxation power, by defining the mandate penalty as a tax. In other words, they seem to have in effect said, Yeah, the Democrats lied when they claimed they weren't raising taxes. Big deal! What do you expect?

[Doctor 2Brains]

How much trouble are we in???? How gone is the country?
Right now, a “conservative” who’s been on this forum since 2002 is arguing with me via the private mail function that Roberts did the right and just thing. Because it is a “tax” it’s all good he says. I explained to him that what makes it unconstitutional is the fact that, yes, it’s a tax, but it’s a tax to do a thing which the fed gov is NOT entitled to do. I said to him that liberals and 5th graders don’t know of limited, enumerated powers but I thought conservatives on FR did. Here is his next mail to me and my response…
Dr. 2 Brains: “THE FED GOV HAS ZERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AUTHORITY TO TAX AMERICANS TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE, OR SS, OR MEDICARE, OR WELFARE, OR NEEDLES FOR CRACK HEADS, ETC, ETC. ETC. ETC. ETC. ETC”
The idiot: “Fair enough. Since I’m so ignorant and it’s such common knowledge, etc., it should be easy for you to point out which amendment repealed Article I, Section 8, Clause 1, and the 16th Amendment of the Constitution. I can’t find one. Or are you saying you’re anti-Constitutional?”

Dr. 2 Brains: “It is PRECISELY Art 1, Sec 8 that makes obama care unconstitutional. That is the enumeration, genius. It limits the fed gov to certain enumerated powers, forcing health care down our throats is not one of them. You have a very very very long way to go in your education.”

[cableguymn]

How far gone are we?

Look up..

See the lip of the cliff... way..way..way up there?

That is how far.

I’ve been working all morning. I got a txt saying it was upheld. I figured Kennedy was the one.

Roberts??? WFT

[SMARTY]

The government of the U.S. has become the tower of Babel.

It defies comprehension.

How twisted and unprincipled do I have to be to agree that this most recent SCOTUS ruling will be a good thing for ME?

[Steely Tom]

If the party affiliations were reversed, and the Supreme Court had struck down a GOP-passed, conservative-oriented law in this way (striking down most of the substance, but making a crucial but symbolic change by forcing it to be called something the GOP had refused to call it and denied it was), the Democrat left would have reacted instantly.

First, it would have ignored the entire substance of the SCOTUS decision. It would simply pretend it never happened.

Second, it would hammer away at its symbolic victory relentlessly, through every possible avenue.

If our side takes this approach, we will hammer at the fact that this is a huge tax increase, that the Democrats lied when they said it isn't a tax, and that Obama lied when he promised that no family making less than $250K would see a tax increase during his administration.

[InterceptPoint]

For one thing, the Court went nowhere near claiming the Commerce Clause means the feds can force us to do anything.
++++++++++++++++++++
LOL. True, they can only make us buy a Chevy Volt by taxing us if we don’t. A simple “penalty” would be unconstitutional. Referring to the Commerce clause is a no-no.

And this is somehow supposed to be a big plus for our side? I don’t buy it.

[goldstategop]

Dream on!

Mittens is going to repeal ObamaCare? Don’t make me laugh.

Single payer is constitutional. Chief Justice Roberts said so, that’s why! If the government has the power to tax the economy to regulate private insurance companies and impose mandates on them, you can bet it has the power to tax the economy to pay all health care costs.

Unlike most conservatives on here, I’ve always previewed where the future is leading us and conservatives will make their peace with it. They always do. The politics of the Supreme Court decision today, no doubt about it, is a huge win for statism.

That’s the bottom line.

[goldstategop]

We’re going to be forced to pay for health costs - whether through taxes or through indirect subsidies like in Obamacare.

Its all constitutional - and soon enough, the Left will press to drop the indirect subsidies smokescreen. We can thank Chief Justice Roberts for taking them a long way towards their goal and ending any notion of limited constitutional government in this country.

And I don’t see Republicans are going to stand on principle against something which is very popular with voters: have someone else pay all their medical bills. Its human nature.

That and we live in a country full of morons.

[CommerceComet]

The politics of the Supreme Court decision today, no doubt about it, is a huge win for statism.

Statism will get another big boost this November whether Tweedledee or Tweedledum wins. Obama will push the progressive boundaries out further and Romney will consolidate progressive gains to date and put the Republican stamp of approval on them. Neither outcome is good for our country. We face a bleak next four years.

[MaxMax]

Hey Doctors, start gearing up to receive your paycheck from the Gov Unions because
you will be forced into the union or lose your medical license to practice.
Especially if you have outstanding student loans. Oh and
you will also be compelled to participate by taxing you well above everyone else.

Dare you refuse to participate?

The elephant in the room are the Doctors. There is no Gov care without them.