Obama Stretches Truth on Health Care Vote...

Obama Stretches Truth on Health Care Vote...


Last Monday, President Barack Obama commented on the likelihood of the Supreme Court overturning his Health Care legislation, otherwise known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). President Obama's fundamental argument was that the Court would be venturing into into "unprecedented" waters should it deem all or part of the ACA un-constitutional. There's plenty of experts on both sides who have commented on what will happen. One side's basic argument is that its a massive over-reach by the Government which violates citizen's rights by compelling everyone to purchase health insurance. The other side's basic argument is that health care, as a huge part of our economy constitutes (no pun intended) commerce and is manageable by Congress as such. The Justices have voted and are now in the process of writing their decision, which will be released in late June.

Most of us have expected President Obama to defend his biggest legislative achievement of his administration, no shock here. To not would have been a surprise. This isn't news, nor is his gentle commentary on the SCOTUS. Not hardly.

What did bother me was a comment the President made during his remarks last Monday. Here they are: (Bold mine)

"Ultimately I am confident that the Supreme Court will not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress," 


Huh? A "strong majority?"

Let's review...

In the Senate, the ACA passed by a 60-39 vote in favor of, which certainly is a majority, but I don't consider 60% on any up or down vote a strong outcome.

In the House, 219 voted yea, 212 voted against, which works out to be a 50.8% vote for passage. Since you need to have a majority, it passed with arguably the weakest of margins.

For the President to suggest in any way that the Bill passed with a strong majority is well, laughable.

SOURCES:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57408181-503544/obama-supreme-court-overturning-health-care-would-be-unprecedented/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Congress