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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy Obamacare’s critics have to make stuff up
Posted with permission.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/why-obamacares-critics-have-make-stuff
Why Obamacares critics have to make stuff up
10/18/13 01:07 PM
By Steve Benen
With the federal government re-opened, and the debt ceiling raised, the political world can slowly adjust to some semblance of normalcy or at least as normal as the conditions were a few months ago.
At Fox News, that means a few specific things, including an effort to convince viewers that the shutdowns effects on the U.S. economy werent that bad, followed by an effort to I kid you not focus on another round of Benghazi conspiracy theories.
But it also means reinvesting in the crusade against the Affordable Care Act. Eric Stern has a fascinating item in Salon this morning on one Fox segment in particular.
As Hannity called on each of them, the guests recounted their Obamacare horror stories: canceled policies, premium hikes, restrictions on the freedom to see a doctor of their choice, financial burdens upon their small businesses and so on.
These are the stories that the media refuses to cover, Hannity interjected.
To his credit, Stern listened carefully to the couples stories, but noticed that they didnt sound plausible. So he tracked each of the guests down to ask some follow-up questions.
First was a North Carolina couple that said the health care law is hurting their construction business, forcing them to keep their employees at part-time status. As it turns out, what they said on the air was simply made up.
Then there was a woman who was paying over $13,000 a year in premiums, who was recently told by her insurer that her plan was being terminated. This was proof, she told Hannity, that when Obama said consumers could keep their plans if they wanted, it wasnt true. What she neglected to mention on the air is that, thanks to the law she opposes, she can sign up for coverage through an exchange and save several thousand dollars a year for better insurance.
Finally, there was a Tennessee couple who said theyre facing a rate increase of 50% to 75%. Asked if theyd shopped around in the new marketplace, the couple said they refuse, which is a shame when Stern checked for them, he found a plan for them that would cut their health care costs by 63%.
So what are we left with? Three Fox News horror stories that really arent that horrible after all.
Whether Hannity knew his guests were pushing bogus, politically motivated stories is unclear fair minded folks can draw their own conclusions but a related concern has lingered for quite a while. If the dreaded Obamacare were really so awful, and is poised to hurt so many families, shouldnt Fox and other opponents find it easier to find real anecdotal evidence?
In other words, Hannity would have us believe Obamacare victims are everywhere. If so, why cant he find real ones to appear on his show? Why mislead the public so brazenly?
liberal N proud
(60,344 posts)Time and again the right resorts to fiction to support their agenda.
FSogol
(45,525 posts)BluegrassStateBlues
(881 posts)From the people who think it didn't go far enough to the RW assholes who want to go back to the good ole days of people dying without insurance.
russspeakeasy
(6,539 posts)IronLionZion
(45,528 posts)I always like to ask Republicans what their party has ever accomplished for this country and I usually get blank stares or some mindless blabber about tax cuts or freedom from terrorists.
ffr
(22,671 posts)I boycott all things Fox. It's corrosive.
As a high information type person, I pride myself on finding out things for myself and reserving judgement until I have weighed the alternatives.
Turns out, the ACA is going to save me money and I'll have a "richer plan" according to my insurance agent. It won't convince Fox viewers, but then, I don't care about what they think. They get what they deserve.
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)We need more of this kind of journalism. Lots more.
Cha
(297,655 posts)moral bone in his body.
And, shame on this brainwashed idiots going on his show lying their damn heads off.
Saviolo
(3,283 posts)and everything to do with ideological purity. It is far more important to those people to win than to be anything, including good, moral people.
I made a journal about it recently:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023873654