The Obamacare “no tax” con
By Tom Quiner
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg-ofjXrXio&feature=player_embedded]
Obamacare stands.
In a narrow 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court upheld the key “mandate” provision. The mandate is the funding engine of this sprawling piece of legislation.
Chief Justice John Roberts was the surprising swing vote. Interestingly, Judge Roberts rejected the foundational premise of the Obama Administration, that the mandate was supported by the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. But Judge Roberts found support for the mandate, despite rejecting President Obama’s con that Obamacare wasn’t imposing a tax increase on non-participants. Said Justice Roberts:
“It is reasonable to construe what Congress has done as increasing taxes on those who have a certain amount of income, but choose to go without health insurance. ”
As a candidate, Barack Obama opposed the mandate.
Once he became president, he quickly changed his mind and fought for this key provision.
In a famous interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, which I’ve posted above, he sneered at the suggestion that Obamacare imposed a new tax. Judge Roberts didn’t buy the con. Unfortunately, in his view:
“Such legislation is within Congress’s power to tax.”
Some voters will understandably applaud the decision.
Some voters will understandably denounce it.
What is particularly disturbing is the way this legislation was crammed down our throat in a partisan fashion using smoke and mirrors to sell it.
Supporters claimed it would reduce government spending. After it was passed and we learned what was in it, we learned it is going to increase deficits a lot. Taxpayer-funded abortions were sneaked into the bill. Contraception, abortifacients, and sterilization were imposed on faith-based organizations out of the blue in direct conflict of their religious liberty. New “taxes” were crammed into the bill.
Voters can’t help but become cynical when they’ve been conned.
Mr. Obama conned us. He did it without shame. He will do it again if we give him the chance.