Posted on 10/24/2013 11:56:54 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross
The Obamacare recriminations are underway. Stuck with an unpopular law whose launch has been an unmitigated disaster, the Democratic Party has morphed from a ruthless, unified political machine to a frantic, zig-zagging tornado of blame. The White House would like you to know that the Department of Health and Human Services was chiefly responsible for the implementation process. HHS counters that the White House ultimately runs the show, and that Sec. Kathleen Sebelius' hands were effectively tied by her relative lack of power. Some Democrats are blaming the private sector contractors who were brought in to help craft healthcare.gov (conveniently ignoring the facts that the Obama administration hand-selected each contractor, and that the administration foolishly chose to appoint itself head contractor). Not so fast, say the private sector firms, refusing to be scapegoated. Indeed, at Congressional hearings today, representatives from one such company swore an oath to tell the truth, then proceeded to lay waste to the White House's blame shift:
[Four separate tweets at the link]
Members of the administration will testify next week. Buy your popcorn now. Meanwhile, Congressional Democrats are splintering off into various camps. Some want an open enrollment extension fix. Others agree with Marco Rubio, who's calling for a lengthy delay of the individual mandate tax. (Both of these "solutions" would actually make things worseif other major provisions of the law aren't simultaneously delayed). Several elected Democrats and former Obama administration figures are calling for heads to roll over the meltdown. Vulnerable 2014 Democrats are frenetically searching for ways to distance themselves from their party's signature law, as "frustrations" mount over its "screwed up" carousel of failures. Nice work, guys. But when all else fails, Lefties' inevitable, reactionary, catch-all response never changes: Blame Republicans. Juan Williams took a stab at it earlier in the week, now Howard Dean (of "repeal Obamacare's rationing board" fame) is getting in on the action:
[Howard "Scream" Dean video at the link]
I've been on a Megan McArdle kick recently -- the woman has simply been en fuego in her analysis of the Obamacare trainwreck -- so I'll let her take the wheel for a few sentences:
Nor can you really blame the Republicans -- an argument that makes sense only if you dont examine it very closely. It starts by assuming (but never stating) that the administration passed a law that didn't work as written, and then posits a civic duty for the opposition not to oppose laws that they oppose, but instead to help the majority party turn an unworkable law into something more to said partys liking. This is absurd. Moreover, its not even a very good explanation for most of these problems. Maybe CMS turned lead contractor because they couldnt get more funds to hire private help, but lack of funds does not explain why HHS took so long to write regulations and specifications, keeping insurers at loose ends until as late as this summer, and preventing their biggest contractor from writing code until spring. It does not explain why officials decided to launch a system that was so badly behind schedule, or to keep insisting, against all evidence, that it wasnt broken.
Republicans in Congress voted unanimously against this law. Republican governors who chose not to set up their own state exchange were exercising their prerogative under the law, which was written and passed exclusively by Democrats. That the administration was "caught off guard" or whatever when Republicans chose not to cooperate with the unpopular law is also their own damn fault. Beyond that, those GOP governors who declined to expand Medicaid under Obamacare were both looking after their state's bottom line, and following the Supreme Court's Obamacare ruling. Seven justices declared that forcing states to expand Medicaid was unconstitutional. Blaming Republicans may be a path to knee-jerk catharsis for some liberals, but it's a totally unconvincing argument to even remotely independent-minded observers.
These turds attempt to blame the very people who have fought this unworkable, unConstitutional, unAmerican, written & passed exclusively by democRATS trainwreck of legislation now that it is shown to be the disaster that Republicans said it was going to be all along?!!! It's absurd beyond belief!
Bush’s Fault!
They know they can get away with it because their supporters are dumbed down and the media will repeat their lies with a straight face.
They passed the bill without one Republican vote. They LIED about it all the way through. They locked all Republicans from meetings to debate the issue.
Democrats are hideous scum!
“They know they can get away with it because their supporters are dumbed down and the media will repeat their lies with a straight face.”
Beat me to it. I see it the same way.
And the Repubs will do nothing. Well actually they will help out with diversionary tactics like Amnesty.
Bush and those Darned Amish!
you hadnt heard about W’s grandfather having had TIES...with the AMISH?
So they blame the government shutdown on Republicans for wanting obamacare to be delayed, and now the democrats want obamacare to be delayed?
We should shut it down again for demanding this (and blame them)
A certain that the “new media” is doing its job right.
McCain will issue a statement at any moment in support of the contention that Obamacare’s failures are in fact the fault of the Tea Party wing of the GOP.
Looks like an Obamadork pile.
Smells like an Obamadork pile.
I won’t even think of tasting - I’d never put my mouth close to anything that slime dweller was suspected of expelling.
But - indeed - it IS AN OBAMADORK PILE.
Sorry, libs, but this piece of sh*t is yours, all yours, and I’m gonna enjoy watching your little smarmy faces rubbed in it.
I wonder if these people consider themselves smarter than Ted Kennedy who famously stated
socialism hasn’t worked in the last 6000 years of recorded history because it hasn’t had ME to run it.
Beyond MSNBC and Andrea Mitchell, I don't think much of the rest of the media will be able, or even have any desire, to try and peddle this complete piece of sh*t argument.
It is patently absurd on its face and demonstrably false. I want to watch Newt debate Wolf on this on CNN at 7:00pm tonight.
Actually, the GOP will blame the Tea Party, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Rand Paul.
I’m waitin for it. I hope I’m wrong but I wouldn’t be surprised at all. They’re out hawking Amnesty. Way to go Repubs, change the topic, create a diversion.
I'm all for it. We can start on the web fiasco tyrants right after Lois Lerner and the criminals at the IRS
Now THAT is the limit! It beats all records for shameless Liberal mendacity!
How CAN they demonstrate their idiocy so consistently and still take themselves seriously!?
Fascists just doing what they do. When their heavy handed, iron fisted, central government dictats fail, they must blame their political opponents. After the blame begins to be accepted, then it is easy to demonize and eventually the public will begin to clamor for action. What action will be deemed necessary for the common good? Punishment of course!
I am beginning to understand the Democrats fixation on high speed rail! All the quicker to the gulag for us evil political opponents!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.