Obamacare - Similar to Plans for Federal Employees?

While campaigning for the presidency in 2007, then Senator Obama promised: "Everyone will be able to buy into a new health insurance plan that is similar to the one every federal employee, from a postal employee in Iowa to a Congressman in Washington, currently has for themselves." (See HERE) "Number one, I think we should have a national pool that people can buy into if they don't have health insurance similar to the ones that most of us who are in Congress enjoy right now." (See HERE as quoted HERE, see also HERE) "My attitude is, that since you are paying my salary as taxpayers, you should have health care that is at least as good as mine." (See HERE as quoted HERE)

During the presidential debates in 2008, Obama pledged: "If you don’t have health insurance, you’re going to be able to buy the same kind of insurance that Sen. McCain and I enjoy as federal employees." (See HERE as quoted HERE)

In some respects this promise has great appeal, particularly for liberals who style themselves as the champions of equality.

It is encourage to learn that at least some politicians believe that the ruling class should not be treated better than those they govern when it comes to things like health insurance--that is, as long as the politicians aren't blowing so much rhetorical smoke.

Surprisingly, there was an amendment enacted and signed into law as a part of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), which took Obama at his word and encourage health insurance parity by removing federal workers from their current federal plans and moving them into the state insurance exchanges just like everyone else. (See HERE and HERE and HERE)

Sounds good?

Now, if Obamacare actually provided "a new health insurance plan that is similar to the one every federal employee...has for themselves," then this amendment and associated requirement wouldn't have been be a problem. Would it?

Yet, there was such a huge uproar that Obama presumptuously waived the requirement in violation of federal law. (See HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE)

Clearly, Obamacare isn't similar or even close to the insurance plan for federal employees, and the Leftist LUNC here is that Obama's promise for insurance parity was so much rhetorical smoke.

Senator Rand Paul has said, "I find it absolutely despicable that Mr. Obama, his administration, and the elected officials who shoved this mandate down the throat of Americans are now giving themselves waivers." (Quoted HERE)

Fox News reported: "'While the administration has handed out waiver after waiver and exemption after exemption for the well-connected in Washington, they have done nothing to lower health care costs for families in Michigan,' said Dave Camp, chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. Camp said the OPM ruling is the 'latest proof' of impending failure for the reforms and pledged that Republicans would keep trying to repeal them." (See HERE)

Carrie Lukas, a contributor to Forbes, commented: "Hypocrisy isn’t anything new in politics.  But as Americans see the ruling class once again wriggling out of laws and programs imposed on everyone else, they may finally decide that enough is enough:  It’s time to get big government out of our lives too." (See HERE)

Michael Tanner of the NYPost opined: "If you’re puzzled why ObamaCare is so polarizing, consider how a law that’s ostensibly about fairness — health care for all — can be so unfair. Favored groups like unions and some businesses have carved out exceptions for themselves, while the average American could see their hours cut or their job eliminated....Despite the Internet shorthand, Congress is not “exempted” from ObamaCare. Still, Congress is being treated differently than millions of other Americans who stand to lose under ObamaCare." (See HERE)

Ironically, though, there are reporters within the Obama-supportive media, who are self-proclaimed "fact checkers," attempting to deny or spin this reality. (see HERE and HERE)

Not only isn't Obamacare comparable to federal employee plans, but the fact that the Obama administration and the Democrat congress that voted for it are now taking a pass on the legislation that bears their name and is their baby, is very telling. Putting a twist on an old say, "can you trust a cook that doesn't eat his own fixings?" The best indicator of the undesirability of Obamacare is that the very people who voted for the bill (without reading it), along with their staff, have now opted out.

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For an explanation as to why these Leftist LUNCs occur, please see: Gov: Wrong Tool for the Right Job - Introduction and Cold Nanny as well as The Politics of Compassion, Emotions, Ignorance, Denial, Blame-Shifting, and Victimization