Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Desperation: Democrats Blame Obamacare Woes on GOP
Townhall.com ^ | 10/24/2013 | Guy Benson

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 don’t 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 party’s liking. This is absurd. Moreover, it’s not even a very good explanation for most of these problems. Maybe CMS turned lead contractor because they couldn’t 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 wasn’t 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.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 0bamacare; abortion; blame; deathpanels; desperation; obamacare; zerocare
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-44 next last
To: tatown

Yes he will....


21 posted on 10/24/2013 12:23:15 PM PDT by JSteff (It was ALL about SCOTUS.. We are DOOMED for several generations. . Who cares? The Dem's do & voted!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: JSteff

Don’t allow Obama to repeatedly alter the law. Today he decreed that there will be a six week delay. This is completely beyond his power.

But I don’t expect a peep out of the Republicans. Do you?


22 posted on 10/24/2013 12:24:57 PM PDT by Ray76 (Remember the Barrycades!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: GilesB

Yes they will...


23 posted on 10/24/2013 12:26:06 PM PDT by JSteff (It was ALL about SCOTUS.. We are DOOMED for several generations. . Who cares? The Dem's do & voted!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: bert

When Democrats are calling for that they really mean Republican heads.


24 posted on 10/24/2013 12:27:57 PM PDT by JSteff (It was ALL about SCOTUS.. We are DOOMED for several generations. . Who cares? The Dem's do & voted!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the Cross

It was Bush’s fault!!!!!!!

:0 :) :)


25 posted on 10/24/2013 12:31:18 PM PDT by ZULU (Impeach that Bastard Barrack Hussein Obama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ray76
But I don’t expect a peep out of the Republicans.

Yes, many will but the MSM will not give them 5 seconds of air time so many of the uninformed class will never see it.

Now back to the issue I raised to your comment; how was the repulicans, or anyone else to get in when the doors were physically locked? Again, can you explain your statement?

Read my tag line. Did you?
26 posted on 10/24/2013 12:36:45 PM PDT by JSteff (It was ALL about SCOTUS.. We are DOOMED for several generations. . Who cares? The Dem's do & voted!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the Cross

While this sideshow has everyone’s attention the Republican Establishment is going to force through Amnesty.


27 posted on 10/24/2013 12:38:29 PM PDT by Count of Monte Fisto (The foundation of modern society is the denial of reality.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JSteff

Suggest you re-read the thread. You injected your comment about locked doors after my comment.


28 posted on 10/24/2013 12:39:16 PM PDT by Ray76 (Remember the Barrycades!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the Cross

Related: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3083001/posts


29 posted on 10/24/2013 12:50:30 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
Calling all FReepers for an analogy or metaphor ... "Caption this Absurd Lie ... blaming the GOP for 0bamacare?!!

There must be a great one for this.

"Blaming the GOP for 0bamacare is like blaming ______________ for ______________."

Pro-Lifers for Planned Parenthood.
The Jewish People for Hitler.
Betty White for Miley Cyrus

30 posted on 10/24/2013 12:51:53 PM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CSM

CSM, that might be just a smile if, like all things that arise from that party it has a definite possibility of being true....


31 posted on 10/24/2013 12:52:58 PM PDT by JSteff (It was ALL about SCOTUS.. We are DOOMED for several generations. . Who cares? The Dem's do & voted!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the Cross
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 party’s liking.

I caught this but I don't remember offhand which lackey was trying to impose
it on the Conservatives. I think it was McCain or Rubio who was denigrating the
Conservatives for not helping find a solution to help the RATs fix it by saying
that the opposition to Zerocare was not helping our country or some such BS.

32 posted on 10/24/2013 12:54:23 PM PDT by MaxMax (Pay Attention and you'll be pissed off too! FIRE BOEHNER, NOW!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the Cross
What gall. What arrogance. What utter shinola! Flop Sweat! Big Time!

Don't be so upset!

All communist systems require the identification and punishment of wreckers. After all, if the five year plan goes awry, what other explanation could there be?

According to Obama's friends, there are at least 25 million capitalist roaders who must be eliminated in order for the Revolution to succeed. If you paid attention to the White House Christmas tree, you would know that a revolution is not a dinner party.

The Republican leadership has been selected to play the role of Emmanuel Goldstein.

It's really a shame people don't study communism anymore.

33 posted on 10/24/2013 12:57:32 PM PDT by Jim Noble (When strong, avoid them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bert
Lets make it a productive event



34 posted on 10/24/2013 1:05:01 PM PDT by MaxMax (Pay Attention and you'll be pissed off too! FIRE BOEHNER, NOW!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the Cross

Liberalism is a mental disease; proof positive.


35 posted on 10/24/2013 1:11:15 PM PDT by ExTexasRedhead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ray76
Ray, I suggest you recall the facts of the situation.

From the Washington Post 9/10/09: Democratic staff for the House oversight committee informed their GOP counterparts today that the majority has changed the locks on the committee's hearing room. While Republicans previously enjoyed their own key to the room, they will now have to request access from Democrats. This followed a bitter partisan argument in which Republicans refused to take down a video from their website that contradicted Dem explanations about a closed-door meeting on the Countrywide VIP loan scandal.

Ray I suggest you learn how to use Google if you can not recall historical facts. Again I ask; what could the republicans do if the doors were LOCKED??? Factually that was the situation as of 10/09....

And you say to that ......?
36 posted on 10/24/2013 1:17:01 PM PDT by JSteff (It was ALL about SCOTUS.. We are DOOMED for several generations. . Who cares? The Dem's do & voted!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: JSteff

I suggest you get a grip.

I responded to post 3 not your later post. #3 was about Democrats blaming Repubs and getting away with it because Democrat supporters are dumb. My response was that Repubs will do nothing and will actually help Democrats. Then to answer your question I posted #22. Will the Repubs speak up against Obama’s illegal decree, or will they do nothing? They’ve done nothing so far. They have run diversion by bringing up Amnesty.

There’s plenty Repubs can do here and now. They’re not doing it.

Now quit being a troll.


37 posted on 10/24/2013 1:51:31 PM PDT by Ray76 (Remember the Barrycades!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Ray76
Is a troll someone who asks you questions about your anti republican leanings? Not in one posting of yours have I seen you getting on Dems about what they do. Yes the republicans (like every other politician) do not go after the dems and obama, but lord sakes man, stop doing the job of a dem party hack.

As far as which post it was addressed to, factual history, is factual history. You did not recall the facts or the era and I think I saw it in another post on FR or the web in general that the pubs could not even get in the hearing room for the health care discussion!

So it angered me then, and I remember history, it angers me now that the dems and dem handlers play this beat up the conservative over his supposed failings, but IGNORE THEIR OWN PARTY. DEMS!

But worse is when the conservative base jumps on with the dems against the pubs! Yet the whole thing would not be where it was at if the dems had voted with the country in mind, and over 4 million conservatives DID NOT VOTE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION! So they have no room to complain cause by not voting they did vote FOR O.

O could have been voted out in a historical loss if they had voted against nim in the election! Part of the reason we are where we are at is because of conservative who can not see the good of the country and the constitution first.

Do you have any kid's? You don't teach them by kicking them for mistakes.. you encourage them to do the right things.. and you show them by example. Then if they don't do it right too many times, you never let them do that again. But while you have them working on something for you, it is only after they ignore you multiple times you punish them then.

Even then you do not embarrass them in public.. or you will never get them to work with you towards your aim... teach them the right way.

At a certain point if they don't get it right ever, they never get it right and with some you never count on them for anything else. With politicians then the punishment is the get voted out, but either you recall them or not vote them in again.

That is what our system was designed to work like. But beating them up while they are still in office will mean you get no more positive actions for you. That is just stupid.

Have you sent the same excoriating treatments to the dems? Do you work against them all the time? Did you vote?

When I was hard on you it was because, as I said, I did not see you bad mouthing the dems. But you did sound like a dem operative. Hold your beatings to send in private or on the phone. Work to solve the situation in your favor and to your ends, not just to use them as a whipping post for your frustration.
38 posted on 10/24/2013 4:42:05 PM PDT by JSteff (It was ALL about SCOTUS.. We are DOOMED for several generations. . Who cares? The Dem's do & voted!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: JSteff

Dems are filth. Make you feel better? It’s a given.

I’m conservative not Republican - they sell out over and over and over and over and over.

“Factual history of the era”? Look buddy, the facts are that I was responding to a specific post that had nothing to do with past history. Save the lecture.

Go away.


39 posted on 10/24/2013 5:09:25 PM PDT by Ray76 (Remember the Barrycades!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: MeshugeMikey

LOL


40 posted on 10/25/2013 9:43:12 AM PDT by b4its2late (A Liberal is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-44 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson