Posted on 10/30/2013 5:46:50 PM PDT by Kaslin
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius "totally blew it," during today's testimony, in Buzzfeed's estimation. We agree. Here are ten reasons why: (1) Despite calling Obamacare's roll-out a "debacle" (over which she's presided), Sebelius still attempted happy talk:
"The Affordable Care Act, by any fair measure, is working for millions of Americans." - Sebelius — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) October 30, 2013
(2) She actually said Obamacare's disastrous website "has never crashed," (!) adding that it is "functional." That claim requires some hardcore parsing to even remotely justify, and regardless, it's insanely terrible messaging. As if on cue, Healthcare.gov...crashed this morning and remained down throughout her testimony. This dichotomy produced several awkward (and priceless) visuals:
Rep. Olson holds up iPad with http://t.co/6nVcwU19CR on it, tells Sibelius "The exchange has been down during your entire testimony." — BuzzFeedBenny (@bennyjohnson) October 30, 2013
(3) When Rep. Cory Gardiner (R-CO) challenged her to enroll through the exchanges herself, Sebelius asserted that it would be "illegal" for her to do so. This is factually false. Was this a deliberate lie, or is she that ignorant of the law she's overseeing?
Sebelius STILL insisting it would be illegal for her to buy in the exchange. How does she not know this? Jesus. — Josh Barro (@jbarro) October 30, 2013
(4) When you're testifying in a very high-profile, nationally-televised hearing, and you're asked if the president is ultimately responsible for the conduct and results of his administration, muttering "whatever" is not an advisable course of action:
RT @jonward11: that's gonna leave a mark RT @charliespiering: VIDEO: Kathleen Sebelius to Congress "Whatever." http://t.co/pKIAGUJLoa — Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) October 30, 2013
(5) The Secretary said that she had "no indication" that the launch would go as badly as it has, claiming that "no one" recommended a delay. Has she ever met, say, a single Republican? What she meant to say, I think, was that no one on her crack team of experts formally proposed delaying the law (aside from all the other ones, of course). If -- if -- that's true...why not? The red flags and stark warnings piled up for months, culminating in dire admonitions and failed tests just days before the launch. How could a delay not have been on the table? And yet:
And he still won't fire me! RT@hughhewitt: "I assured him we were ready to go" Sebelius re briefing POTUS. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) October 30, 2013
(6) Sebelius doubled down on the "you can keep your plan" lie. The Washington Post's fact-checker awarded this claim "Four Pinocchios" for its comprehensive mendacity.
(7) How is it possible to both blame the contractors for your own failures and express "confidence" in them? Sebelius tried:
Tough to reconcile Sebelius effectively blaming contractors for problems & expressing continued confidence in them. — Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) October 30, 2013
(8) Facing pointed questions about data security -- some relating to today's AP scoop -- Sebelius assured Americans that she was 'absolutely committed' to protecting their private information. But being nominally "committed" to something doesn't make it a reality. For instance, this huge security vulnerability came into being despite Sebelius' prized commitment. Plus:
Also committed to working website by 10/1. RT @KatiePavlich: "I absolutely commit to protect the privacy of the American people" -#Sebelius — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) October 30, 2013
(9) Last week, HHS' private contractors indicated that they did have Obamacare enrollment figures. Yesterday, a senior administration official went to great lengths to avoid answering that question. Today, Sebelius denied having those numbers at all. Really? And why the mixed signals? I'd surmise that the contractors possess the information, but are legally forbidden to release them without permission -- which is why the CMS administrator refused to address the question directly yesterday, even under persistent questioning. The stats exist, but Sebelius doesn't want to talk about them because they're embarrassing.
(10) Unless Sebelius was attempting to channel the American people's sentiments on Obamacare, hissing "don't do this to me" into a live mic was probably a bad idea:
Kathleen Sebelius captured on hot mic: "Don't do this to me"
Krauthammer marvels at Sebelius' "pathetic, horrible, mortifying" performance, while Obamacare supporter Josh Barro wonders if the administration could have chosen a "more disastrous" spokesperson. I can think of at least one:
I'm speaking now at #Obamacare hearing, I want to say to GOP GET OVER IT — Jan Schakowsky (@janschakowsky) October 30, 2013
“BITCH”!
I was hoping to hear whose idea it was to incorporate voter registration and why into the healthcare web site. I was hoping to hear who chose the Canadian company, and what was the criteria. I was hoping to hear about the system being overwhelmed with Medicaid applicants.
You annoying mosquitoes. Stop bothering us so we can bet back to ruling the world.
I really don’t know why she doesn’t just say eff this who needs this torture and leave
Back to Topeka, Ice Queen !
I implement ERPs for a living.
I am currently implementing a system that will have 10K users, with a highwater mark of 50K or so.
We have 6 test cycles, including several full-blown performance tests.
If I was to put together a plan for even this small implementation that had 2 weeks of testing would get me and my entire team fired on day one of the project.
This is like children being given a gun and then complaining when people get hurt.
I HATE it when I have to deal with children in my industry.
I have been doing this for 35 years and it never ceases to amaze me that when we left mainframes we also left mainframe disciplines.
ObamaCare should have been tested on politicians and union thugs before it was forced onto the general public.
Crony capitalism on the march
Charge the demonrat skank with perjury.
we don’t want her back
one just wanted to kill puppies...
“It’s Inner Party stuff. There’s nothing those swine don’t have, nothing.”
Julia ‘Nineteen-Eightfour’ Chapter IV, upon producing for Winston’s approval a container of real, ground coffee beans.
Maybe a shady spot in Lansing...
Leavenworth
It should have been tested on all the rats in the House and the Senate because they voted for the unaffordable care act. Plus the entire administration
One thing we can all be sure of. There were people who knew that this turkey(website) would not fly. The technical people would have known that these problems were there all along. To go live was strictly a political decision.
One has to wonder how many Americans this administration is willing to kill in order to achieve a better(Progressive) America.
Bill Ayers, Obama's mentor, suggested it might be necessary to kill 25 million Americans in order to achieve the socialist dream.
No worries; according to El Rushbo, this is all part of the grand plan by Obama and company.
According to Rush, Obama can’t lose.
That is what she did! She used the old Arthur Carlson WKRP defense!
As God is my witness, I thought obozocare could fly!
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