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Judi Lynn

(160,218 posts)
Tue Jun 27, 2017, 05:39 PM Jun 2017

This Former GOP Congressman Loathed Obamacare Until He Lost His Own Coverage

06/27/2017 04:27 pm ET

Former Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.) said being unemployed with a preexisting condition made him appreciate the Affordable Care Act.
By Hayley Miller

David Jolly, a former Republican member of Congress who campaigned against Obamacare, said he’s had a change of heart since losing his own health insurance this year.

Jolly, who represented Florida’s 13th Congressional District until he was unseated last fall, opened up about his personal health care struggles during a discussion of the GOP health care bill Monday on MSNBC.

“I lost my doctor, and I lost my plan in 2013, and I was angry about Obamacare, and I ran for Congress,” Jolly said. “But in 2017, as an unemployed person with a preexisting condition, I knew Obamacare was there as a safety net if my wife and I needed it.”

Jolly became unemployed Jan. 4, when his term in Congress ended. He didn’t elaborate on his medical condition.

More:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/david-jolly-obamacare_us_59529e05e4b02734df2de1be?section=us_politics

43 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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This Former GOP Congressman Loathed Obamacare Until He Lost His Own Coverage (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jun 2017 OP
Yet another empathy-free Republican. catbyte Jun 2017 #1
Are there any other kind? Major Nikon Jun 2017 #13
You never miss your water until your well runs dry SummerSnow Jun 2017 #2
Strangely, I've never heard that one but I love it. nt raccoon Jul 2017 #42
Selfishness that never ends Kablooie Jun 2017 #3
Typical Republican response: only when I need something is it good or acceptable mnhtnbb Jun 2017 #4
That's how it always works, yet McConnell and Ryan who DID get help suddenly"forget" their past. BigmanPigman Jun 2017 #5
These people call themselves Christians too. This logic is the exact opposite of Christ's teachings. SweetieD Jun 2017 #6
These kinds of stories piss me off to no end. Bleacher Creature Jun 2017 #7
Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen & yet have believed lostnfound Jun 2017 #10
...but that is how Repubs really are...no empathy...it's only Alice11111 Jun 2017 #34
Good thing he lost his seat in Congress... subterranean Jun 2017 #8
Better hold on to your ass pal,if Trump gets his way you'll LOSE coverage again! Bengus81 Jun 2017 #9
So true Hieronymus Jun 2017 #27
These people are so freaking brainwashed Matthew28 Jun 2017 #11
Exactly +1!!! Dustlawyer Jun 2017 #36
And THIS is what needs to happen to all the deplorables. Tatiana Jun 2017 #12
That's one of the things about being a grown-up. Turbineguy Jun 2017 #14
Yeah not fooled Jun 2017 #17
This message was self-deleted by its author Turbineguy Jun 2017 #18
Great points. nt ecstatic Jun 2017 #26
My challenge with that has been their next reaction, "you can't trust ANY media" BlancheSplanchnik Jun 2017 #30
One point: Reagan wasn't "destroying free college"; we've NEVER had "free college." WinkyDink Jun 2017 #32
you raise a really good point renate Jul 2017 #43
Oh well. Suffer and die like the other millions of ppl broadcaster90210 Jun 2017 #15
The devil will need a snowblower before I care. 47of74 Jun 2017 #29
and this is the constant right wing mantra... Javaman Jun 2017 #16
So many people these days have to personally experience something... Honeycombe8 Jun 2017 #19
I'm pretty sure it's called being a 'sociopath.' crosinski Jun 2017 #22
They are called Republicans. It is a critical characteristic Alice11111 Jun 2017 #35
Conservative, no pain exists unless I feel it MiddleClass Jun 2017 #20
God damn this pisses me off steve2470 Jun 2017 #21
TFB RhodeIslandOne Jun 2017 #23
Imagine that? A rattlesnake isn't poisonous until it bites you. Alice11111 Jun 2017 #24
So sick of those clowns. What the hell is wrong with them? ecstatic Jun 2017 #25
Fornicate him 47of74 Jun 2017 #28
Only when they themselves suffer. F. him. WinkyDink Jun 2017 #31
Glad I had a say in his employment predicament. NCTraveler Jun 2017 #33
Awww... progressoid Jun 2017 #37
Thinking of others vs me, me, me IronLionZion Jun 2017 #38
Well, as every Republican zentrum Jul 2017 #39
Whatever happened to personal responsibility dalton99a Jul 2017 #40
I'm sorry, but I really despise people like this. Oneironaut Jul 2017 #41

Bleacher Creature

(11,237 posts)
7. These kinds of stories piss me off to no end.
Tue Jun 27, 2017, 06:03 PM
Jun 2017

He's basically admitting that he's entirely incapable of empathy unless he's able to see how something affects him and his family. It's disgusting and pathetic.

lostnfound

(16,138 posts)
10. Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen & yet have believed
Tue Jun 27, 2017, 09:43 PM
Jun 2017

Was Jesus describing the two different mindsets?

Alice11111

(5,730 posts)
34. ...but that is how Repubs really are...no empathy...it's only
Fri Jun 30, 2017, 01:11 AM
Jun 2017

when it happens to them or their families. Even then, it's single issue. They will change their tune about something, but only that one thing that gave them a light of reality.

subterranean

(3,427 posts)
8. Good thing he lost his seat in Congress...
Tue Jun 27, 2017, 06:25 PM
Jun 2017

otherwise he'd still be voting to repeal Obamacare. (His replacement, Charlie Crist, voted against the repeal.)

Bengus81

(6,907 posts)
9. Better hold on to your ass pal,if Trump gets his way you'll LOSE coverage again!
Tue Jun 27, 2017, 06:30 PM
Jun 2017

Join the ranks ASSHAT of those who are BEGGING to keep the ACA in place--probably mostly Republicans.

?w=600&h=461

Matthew28

(1,796 posts)
11. These people are so freaking brainwashed
Tue Jun 27, 2017, 09:46 PM
Jun 2017

That they never even consider the issue that they're attacking right up until reality hits them in the face. Let us hope that some of these people start waking up.

Dustlawyer

(10,493 posts)
36. Exactly +1!!!
Fri Jun 30, 2017, 08:33 AM
Jun 2017

Thats their problem, they do not stop to think outside of the brainwashing propaganda. The propaganda keeps them pissed off and afraid, and hating "Liberals". They believe things like Obamacare are give aways to moochers and don't stop to even understand and give independent thought what they are really about because they are told how to think about it.

If we ever get control of the WH and Congress we need to bust up the media oligarchy, enact new laws governing truth in the news, and give the FCC some teeth!

Tatiana

(14,167 posts)
12. And THIS is what needs to happen to all the deplorables.
Tue Jun 27, 2017, 09:46 PM
Jun 2017

This is the only way they will learn the lesson. You can present facts, you can offer testimonies, but until they themselves suffer in terms of their health AND THEIR POCKETBOOK, they will not have one ounce of empathy for anyone other than themselves. They are just like their narcissistic leader.

What I will say about Jolly is that I do enjoy his commentary on Lawrence O'Donnell's show now that he has had a slight change of heart. He is very anti-Trump. We need to flip more Congresscritters like him.

not fooled

(5,791 posts)
17. Yeah
Wed Jun 28, 2017, 02:05 PM
Jun 2017

Instead of living in the Faux bubble, the deplorables could actually inform themselves about the world and the consequences of policy decisions BEFORE they get enacted.

Nope, guess that's too much hard work. Apparently it's much easier to just coast along on hatred and ignorance until reality slams you in the face, then deal with the dire consequences thereafter.

Or, as I tell acquaintances who aren't deplorables but who shun politics because it's a turnoff and they "don't have time" to educate themselves and follow what's going on (vs. just turning on cable teevee which usually doesn't tell you anything): how much time will it take you to work to pay off your student loans? Years and years. Now, what if you had taken a little time to educate yourself about politics when raygun was destroying free college, then voted to protect your interests i.e. stopped him? Same applies to policy changes being made today, e.g. dumpcare. Educating yourself and voting accordingly takes a lot less time than spending your life indentured to GOPee policy decisions that put the onus on you throughout life instead of all of us working together.



Response to not fooled (Reply #17)

BlancheSplanchnik

(20,219 posts)
30. My challenge with that has been their next reaction, "you can't trust ANY media"
Thu Jun 29, 2017, 10:47 AM
Jun 2017

(Unless they're foxbots...I don't know what it will take to get them away from that cult).

I think there's a psychological thing going on too, similar to Co-Dependence, where they'd rather believe the words coming out of the abusers' mouths --slick, charming, just what they wanted to hear--than look at past actions as a map of what they'll do in future.

"He loves me (or He's on MY side). It'll be different for me"---the banner of the habitually abused, dependent personality.

renate

(13,776 posts)
43. you raise a really good point
Sat Jul 1, 2017, 12:16 PM
Jul 2017

Slogans fit on a bumper sticker but are easily forgettable and dismissable. They need to be followed up with detailed information about how the differences are vast and real.

Although I think that for practical reasons, it's the Democratic party who needs to spell out exactly what the consequences of GOP policies will be. Most people don't have the time or the resources to work it out to the last detail.

Your example of student loans is absolutely perfect. How much time will it take you to pay off your student loans? What will you sacrifice in terms of saving for a house, or a 401(k), that you wouldn't have to sacrifice with the Democratic plan? Compare and contrast: this is how the two approaches affect you PERSONALLY, and for the rest of your life. How do you like us now?

Javaman

(62,442 posts)
16. and this is the constant right wing mantra...
Wed Jun 28, 2017, 02:03 PM
Jun 2017

something is only bad when it happens to repukes, everyone else can go fuck off.

fuck this dickhead, he helped Forster his own problem.

It's like buying a car and shooting out the tires then complain that you can't drive it home.

asshole.

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
19. So many people these days have to personally experience something...
Wed Jun 28, 2017, 06:22 PM
Jun 2017

to know its benefits or failures. Why is that, this lack of empathy and inability to feel another's pain?

crosinski

(403 posts)
22. I'm pretty sure it's called being a 'sociopath.'
Wed Jun 28, 2017, 06:49 PM
Jun 2017

I suspect somewhere in our past, maybe when were down to just a few dozen individuals in Africa, only those of us left willing to feed on our own kinsmen survived. That's why we have such a large number of people now with no empathy or compassion.

It would explain a lot.

And hey, I'm talking about my own ancestors here, so it does make one consider what one would be willing to have expunged from one's DNA.

Alice11111

(5,730 posts)
35. They are called Republicans. It is a critical characteristic
Fri Jun 30, 2017, 01:17 AM
Jun 2017

of the species. They do not appear much different from other homo sapiens, but their brains lack the capacity for empathy, and often even logic. Hypocrisy, lying, and distortion are also key characteristics.

MiddleClass

(888 posts)
20. Conservative, no pain exists unless I feel it
Wed Jun 28, 2017, 06:32 PM
Jun 2017

I like the guy seems nice, until you realize the usual "I'm all right Jack" conservative mantra.

Now we need to get every conservative in Congress to see the same light through unemployment.

America would be a more compassionate country, ass holes

steve2470

(37,457 posts)
21. God damn this pisses me off
Wed Jun 28, 2017, 06:39 PM
Jun 2017

These assholes don't give a shit about their fellow humans until THEY are in the same boat. Some of the worst of humanity are in the Republican Party.

ecstatic

(32,567 posts)
25. So sick of those clowns. What the hell is wrong with them?
Thu Jun 29, 2017, 12:41 AM
Jun 2017

Why are they incapable of having empathy *before* tragedy strikes them personally?! Well... I guess a late and self-centered conversion is better than none at all. SMH.

 

NCTraveler

(30,481 posts)
33. Glad I had a say in his employment predicament.
Thu Jun 29, 2017, 10:55 AM
Jun 2017

Never thought I would enjoy voting for Crist. Sure felt good.

IronLionZion

(45,261 posts)
38. Thinking of others vs me, me, me
Fri Jun 30, 2017, 12:11 PM
Jun 2017

it's a fundamental difference between those of us who believe we all do better when we all do better, rising tide lifts all boats, society benefits from a healthy educated and confident citizenry, etc. vs those assholes who think they would be better off if others suffer, helping others means losing something.

For an interesting read, research the historical idiotic arguments opposing social security and many new deal programs during the great depression. And the end of segregation. It will blow your mind how people can be so filled with spite for others.

The individualistic nature of much of our country is why unions have been on the decline, and "universal" things are opposed.

I don't know how we can teach adults to care about other people. It appears we failed with many children too.

zentrum

(9,865 posts)
39. Well, as every Republican
Sat Jul 1, 2017, 08:43 AM
Jul 2017

......knows, "no one dies because of lack of health care access". And every Republican knows that pre-existing conditions are always life style decisions and an "individual's responsibility". And if the guy lacks employer supplied health coverage, there's always the Republican solution---"Why doesn't he just get a better job"?

It's all really easy-peasy.

Oneironaut

(5,462 posts)
41. I'm sorry, but I really despise people like this.
Sat Jul 1, 2017, 08:53 AM
Jul 2017

So, it was bad when those "evil minorities" (um... I couldn't type what he would probably really say here) were "mooching off the system," but as soon as he needed it, it was okay? That's not personal progress - its selfishness! I bet that if someone was crying near him before about being in the same situation, he would have lectured them about personal responsibility and said, "I shouldn't need to pay for YOUR problems!" Now that he needs it, being a "mooch" is a-ok!

Btw., the enlightened thinker Ayn Rand was a "no good government mooch" as well. I find nothing more deplorable than the blatant hypocrisy "let em die!" Conservatives show toward our healthcare system and insurance.

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