Donald Trump and the GOP sink to a whole new low
The GOP, or Great Obfuscation Party, is selling a bill of goods for a bridge to nowhere, except in this case – if the public drinks the Kool-Aid – it will result in finding the nation post-election with limited or no healthcare for anyone who has pre-existing conditions. As various pundits including Rachel Maddow have been noting, many Republicans who have voted against the Affordable Care Act in Congress, or who are leading the litigation challenge against the ACA, with the primary focus being on pre-existing conditions, are now running ads fraudulently stating that they are fighting for their constituents and protecting them from the abuses of pre-existing conditions being a major hurdle to adequate healthcare.
The list is a long one, but includes the following cast of liars:
• Florida Governor Rick Scott – involved in the lawsuit challenging ACA and was involved in one of the largest Medicare frauds in history, but touts in his bogus ad, “I support forcing insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions.”
• Rep. Kevin Cramer – the sole United States Representative from North Dakota, he has been a proponent of a bill, the American Health Care Act, which would make it easier for states to weaken protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
• Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley – he is leading the Missouri efforts in the suit challenging the ACA, but on his commercial, he somehow has the temerity to assert he is fighting for pre-existing conditions. Maybe, but to make sure anyone with anything from acne on up has no chance at a real health insurance policy.
• California Rep. Dana “the Russian” Rohrabacher – he touts a unique program permitting private insurers to not cover pre-existing conditions but then allow those patients to obtain Medicare for that illness. He also advocated the AHCA and cuts to Medicaid and has no good analysis of how his proposal makes any sense. In his ads, he promotes, “That’s why I’m taking on both parties and fighting for those with pre-existing conditions.”
There are many other examples, but the bottom line is this – “President” Donald Trump on Monday rolled out procedures that make it easier for states to circumvent pre-existing coverage requirements and offer skimpy plans. Anyone who buys the BS the GOP is selling will be drinking Kool-Aid and will see they have no healthcare coverage options come post-election.
Daniel is a lawyer writing and teaching about SCOTUS, and is the author of the book “The Chief Justices” about the SCOTUS as seen through the center seat.