FORBES: Don't Buy The GOP Narrative That Obamacare Is A Tax On Middle Class (Important Distinction)

[markpkessinger]

This article, now appearing in Forbes, points out a very important distinction that must be made concerning the Supreme Court's decision:

[font size=5]Don't Buy The GOP Narrative That Obamacare Is A Tax On Middle Class-It's A Lie Designed To Mislead[/font]

<. . . >

In the opening paragraphs of Chief Justice Roberts’ opinion, he clarifies that the law specifically does not involve a tax. If it did, Roberts clarifies, the Court would have had no choice but to reject the case for lack of jurisdiction as a tax case cannot be brought until someone is actually forced to pay the tax. This is, as we know, not the case.

The fact that the Court found that the mandate was constitutional under the taxing authority granted Congress by the Constitution is an entirely different matter. This finding does not reduce the individual mandate to the status of a tax—it merely says that as the penalty for failing to purchase health insurance will fall to the Internal Revenue Service for collection, it was something Congress could provide for under its Constitutional authority.

While I grant you that this gets a bit into the weeds, the effort that is being made by the GOP to use the Court’s basis for decision as a weapon fails on its face and is completely disingenuous. There is a difference between the levying of a tax and the Court finding Constitutional authority for Congress under the taxing authority. But then, anything that is more complicated than your basic “See Spot Run” first grade reading primer has always been fair game and fodder for the GOP message machine which would prefer to base their arguments on misstatements than educating and enlightening its base.

Full article at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/06/28/dont-buy-the-gop-narrative-that-obamacare-is-a-tax-on-middle-class-its-a-lie-designed-to-mislead/

I would add that this is much like penalties assessed on people who fail to timely file tax returns. Such penalties are not taxes, per se, but the authority to assess those penalties arises directly from Congress' authority to tax.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

1. In that video posted here on DU featuring Keith O with Stephanapolous . . . .

. . . one of those wingnut yahoos used that very talking point ie: that "Obamacare is a huge tax increase on the middle class". I thought: "wtf?" And this is why. It's pure complete horseshit.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Ok fess up, when did Katrina Van Der Huevel took over as editor

of FORBES?

(Editor of The Nation)

[markpkessinger]

3. LOL!

I've been kinda wondering about that myself . . .

[bluedigger]

4. This was in Forbes?

I guess I'll look west for the sunrise tomorrow morning.

[Beartracks]

5. This just in!! EVERYthing the GOP does is completely disingenuous. n/t

[Kablooie]

6. It's true. They don't seem to have the capability of dealing honestly anymore.

Every single point has to be covered in lies and misinformation.
Nothing is allowed to be presented with evidential accuracy.

They have been doing this so long that explaining their position accurately has become a forgotten skill.

I sure hope the swing voters, which are the only ones who really count, will understand this.

[JDPriestly]

7. Correct -- it is under the tax and spend authority and therefore constitutional, but

it is a penalty.

[demwing]

8. Kicked

& Recd