George Will Traps Liberals on Obamacare

Well, garsh, I guess if you put it in capital letter, it MUST be true! So, "Obamacare IS constitutional"...so THERE, you blue MEANIES!

OTOH, "sticks and stones may break my bones," but Leftist, second-rate jurists don't make it constitutional. Since jurists have been bending the Constitution to justify their desires instead of ruling on law, constitutionality has had to be decided on a case by case basis. So until the case gets to the US Supreme Court—or expressly been denied a hearing by the Supremes—spouting off about what "IS" constitutional merely proves how much you don't know.

When I say it is IS constitutional it means that it has constitutional precedence. I cited the Commerce Clause, the Necessary & Proper Clause, and Congress' right to tax as clear precedence in this instance. As such, until it is adjudicated as not constitutional it is for all intents and purposes, constitutional.
As to your implication about 'jurists bending the Constitution, I suggest you focus on the recent Citizens and New Mexico Supreme Court rulings that, essentially, weakened (if not nullified) individual rights. I find it ironic that Conservatives get so worked up about Obamacare and supposed loss of rights when a real ACTIVIST conservative court is actually diminishing individual rights. And where is the outrage in these...

Walker, since ObamaCare is a tax how does this match Obama's pledge not to raise taxes on anyone making less than 250,000?

I didn't say Obamacare created additional individual taxes. The context for that reference about taxes was the constitutional precedence and basis (i.e. its authority) for the legislation. Although the right will never in a million years admit this, once the program is in place it should cost less to obtain health insurance for those making under 250,000 than it does now. The entire point of Obamacare is to control costs, something the current system has not, and does not, do at all.

What do you mean Rights? It turns you and your money into a Resource the Government can uses any way it wants. Put this in your pipe and smoke it. Once the president is set into Law what stops the State you live it from requiring you to inter into a Contract to suit their benefit then the City.

Typical Dem stretching of the Constitution.
The Commerce Clause gives Congress the right to regulate commerce among the States. It is meant to prevent one State from taking unfair commercial advantage over another. Unfortunatley I founding fathers set up the government so that the federal supreme court decides if what the federal government does is constitutional or not. Idiotic ruling such as Wickard v Filburn (1942) has enabled the feds to rule anything that could affect commerce among the States. In a free market system, every transaction has some affect on the whole. That is why the system works so well. So the commerce clause is quickly losing its appeal as the defacto reason Congress can regulate anything.
The Necessary and...

becolby,
I appreciate your response and analysis. I am not so sure I am 'stretching the Constitution', however. Remember, the original post was whether Obamacare is Constitutional. My response was - and is - so far, it is. Period. Now, SCOTUS may disagree later but that is to be determined. Your analysis of the clauses is good but, in the end, it ends up as an honest difference of opinion between you and me whether the various rulings in support of these rulings have been good or bad.

Amen SGT!

Mass intrusion and control? What on earth are you talking about? What is wrong with the government telling people to pay for their own health care, instead of making others pay for it? Conservatives want the government to pay for everything for them. Here's a thought, take some responsibility for your life and PAY FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH CARE! Geez, how sad that the government even has to tell people to buy health insurance.

Did I make myself clear? I AM TIRED OF PAYING FOR YOUR HEALTH CARE. Pay for it yourself!

No Jeffrey it is the Democrats who want to pay for everyone's else health care. Notice how they roll out commercials throwing grandma off the cliff because the Republicans want you to pay for your own health care. Notice how the Democrats roll out little Susie with some awful disease and want everyone to pitch in for her health care. Why don't they let us pick what our health care covers? I don't want coverage for alcohol abuse, transgender surgery, pregnancy care, or a bunch of other things I don't need.

Some meds are, apparently, better to keep on schedule with.

Don't you hate it when you attempt verbal jujitsu and wind up smacking yourself in the face?

Actions speak louder than words Fred. Lets see if he backs up his words with actions. My neighbor runs a rig similar to the Deep Water Horizon. They brought it into the Gulf right before the DWH blew up. He says, they still can not get a permit to drill in the Gulf. Who am I to believe, my neighbor whose lively depends on the oil and gas industry or the liar Obama?

lively = lively hood

Well gee, let's see the last rig blew up and we're not sure why so let's put another one in there and see what happens.

Fred, where do I begin, you've given me so much to work with here.


It really isn't surprising that the corporations that OWN these media corporations want you to believe that:

1.) Corporate taxes are too high (when they are lower than they have ever been in our history)

Our corporate tax rate of 35% is the highest or second highest rate in the ENTIRE developed world. No other country even comes close to our corporate tax rate.

2.) Tax cuts for the rich create jobs (when it is DEMAND that creates jobs)

You truly do not understand even basic economics Fred. Poor people typically do not create jobs. People with money that own businesses are the ones that create jobs. Yes, demand is part of the equation....but you need to have supply...

What did Reagon get in return?

A nice pen.

Ok that was funny! Fred are you here to point out that R's make mistakes too, and that we need to learn from our mistakes, and not be so hypocritical? What are you trying to say

Hey Bryan, thanks for being reasonable.

My main point is that we have two choices with regards to health care in the USA.

Option #1: Repeal "ObamaCare" and repeal the EMTALA law that Reagan signed in 1986. This would allow us to REFUSE emergency life-saving health care to anyone who cannot afford it and anyone who does not have health insurance.

Option #2: Make everyone pay for health insurance since EMTALA already provides a de facto health insurance policy that covers emergency health care.

Fred,

OK, here's how it happens in Democrat land:

1) Democrats pass a bill giving free stuff and expanding the government
2) A Republican president signs the bill
3) The Democrat controlled Congress is held blameless by the Democrats forever.
4) Democrats only blame the Republican as if there was not one Democrat that voted in favor of the bill.

Bryan, would you be willing to help Fred?

Nope! I'm in the industry of synthetic composites, thought you and I may have something in common.

Fred is frightened by truth. He has adopted the posture of a child. He can only answer questions with questions. Would you be willing to help him?

Whay are you asking me if I want to help Fred? Thats twice now!

Still too embarrassed?

LMFAO.

How many years of GDP destruction and unemployment rate increases did Republican Hoover preside over?

Answer: all 4 years of his Presidency.

Do you want to discuss Hoover? OK but let's start with the three easy yes or no questions I asked Fred.

When the economy crashed under Hoover he responded quickly with bigger government and more regulation. How'd that work out for him?

Hoover was just another progressive.

The big lie. Tell me, if you love this country so much, why do you support policies that will destroy it? The only reason liberals support destructive policies is because either, they are stupid, or they are evil: stupid as to the fact that what they support is destructive, or evil in that they know what they support is destructive, but that is their goal, to destroy the country of their childhood, their parents and ancestors' culture.

I am tired of humoring and expecting the best from miscreants like Fred. Rather than assuming that liberals have the best intentions, but are just stupid, it is safer to assume that they are evil. Once one determines that they are evil, then one knows how to combat this enemy within.

Are you planning anything other than trolling this thread with ad hocs all day? Don't you have a productive notion to share with THers?

Almost anything would be better than you have done today.