LePage calls Obamacare an expensive stripping away of freedom, says IRS is ‘new Gestapo’

[NWHarkness]

Source: Bangor Daily News

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage used his weekly radio address Saturday to further his long-running criticisms of the federal Affordable Care Act and explain why he is delaying its implementation in Maine.

Democrats, in their radio address last week, called the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of the law “an incredible victory for Maine people.”

LePage said the measure, which he called Obamacare, “raises taxes, cuts Medicare for the elderly, gets between patients and their doctors, costs trillions of taxpayer dollars and kills jobs.” LePage also took a shot at the individual mandate part of the law, which requires everyone to purchase health insurance or face penalties, by calling the Internal Revenue Service “the new Gestapo.”

LePage said his administration would resist implementing the Affordable Care Act, particularly an expansion of Medicaid, because of debt Maine already has on the books — including $500 million due to the state’s hospitals — and what he characterized as a welfare program that is already too generous.

Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/2012/07/07/politics/lepage-calls-obamacare-an-expensive-stripping-away-of-freedom-says-irs-is-new-gestapo/

[dtom67]

1. Riiight...

The real reason he does not implement the law is because he hates the People of Maine. Unless, of course ,you are rich. In that case, please come to his $10000 per plate fund raiser and he will go over on his back for you....

[xtraxritical]

15. The President's Administration needs to blitz the media with illustrations and explanations

of what the PPACA is doing for people right now, and what it does in the future. I've been following it closely and am very unclear as to how it pertains to my situation. Even the White House website is confusing on the issues. As it stands right wingers can say anything about it and get little rebuttal.

[LeftofObama]

2. Would someone, ANYONE, please explain to me how

affordable healthcare for everyone strips away your freedom?

If I have to hear that one more time from these chuckleheads I swear I'm going to

[bluedigger]

3. Well, first the IRS shows up in the middle of the night and takes you away.

It's a logical progression from there.

[louis-t]

5. ...and puts you in a private prison where they charge you for the privilege

of being incarcerated there while bribing judges to over-sentence so they can make more money while taking government subsidies....oh wait, that's republickans that do that.

[stockholmer]

8. did single-payer somehow get passed and I missed it?

[Cosmocat]

30. From day one, the treated this like they SHOULD have treated the Patriot Act

I tell republicans I know that, and they get all indignant and hum and haw, but there is such a big disconnect they really can't say anything.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

35. You are no longer free to start a Health Insurance company from a tiny office

that denies all claims.

[jonthebru]

42. Not to argue

but responding with that question invites another propaganda based response. I admit that few of us are prepared for the spew of nonsense that comes from seemingly intelligent people. It throws us off. The only preparation is knowledge and the ability to present it; clearly and succinctly. I admit, I can't do that very well myself.
But I do say:
A) that the tax/mandate was originally a right wing Heritage Foundation idea. Back about 20 years ago the large corporations lobbied for federal health legislation because their costs were getting to high. (I think Medicare came out of that.) [The real reason the right does not want the ACA to be complete is they know the Democratic Party will gain power from the voters for years to come. I wouldn't use that in your discussion with clowns, but its true.]

B) We are also one of the few nations with for-profit health insurance corporations that put profit before care. The fact that such a company could knock someone off for needing their service or be able to refuse someone for a "preexisting condition" is criminal as far as I can see.

C) In insurance terms the tax/mandate creates a very large risk pool; everybody. This covers the sick and when the well get sick, and they will eventually, they will be covered.

The right hates President Obama and loves power. Much of the opposition is based on Racism and what isn't, is slanted that way. It is illogical for anyone who earns less than 250k to vote for any republican, or for that matter for any knowledgeable Christian to support the Republican Party, but they do because they are brainwashed, simple as that. I wouldn't use that past statement in an argument because it would make the listener defensive and nothing would be accomplished.

If you listen to the clowns who call the Alan Colmes Show they are unprepared to support their recitation of the talking points that have been pounded into their heads. I mention his show because he is on many right wing stations and has a less stringent screen for his callers, many real brainwashed idiots get through and strip bare the rights tactic in their spewing of lies.

[Denninmi]

6. How two-faced can you get about Medicare.

The Teahadists complain constantly about Medicare and Social Security being "entitlements" and say they want them eliminated, yet they complain that the ACA "cuts Medicare for the elderly".

GOP = Group Of Perverts

[TheCowsCameHome]

17. Sorry Mr. LePage, pre-existng conditions like dual-faces aren't covered.

You'll have to handle it yourself.

[BREMPRO]

7. can't wait to vote out this boorish loudmouth idiot.

most Mainers hate him.. the dem was weak and a last minute push by the independent split the vote.. Le Page only got about a third of the vote! He just parrots RW talking points for political points.. nothing intelligent or new here...

[bluedigger]

18. He's just ticked because Rmoney didn't vet him for VP or put him on a bus tour.

"Look at me, look at me!"

[rtassi]

21. +1

[crim son]

9. It's LePage: feel free to disregard anything he says.

He's been an embarrassment ever since he took office and will be out of office very soon.

[RedStateLiberal]

10. The reason they constantly lie about the ACA

is because they have no legitimate argument against it.

[Downwinder]

11. The new Gestapo. Where has LePage been?

I can remember as a 10 year old, two goons from the IRS coming out and threatening my mother. That was over 60 years ago.

[Suji to Seoul]

43. Yes, I remember my principal doing the same thing to me. Hey, LePage, lightweight dipshit, let's

destroy public education too. WAIT!!! You and your ilk have been doing that for years!

[Faygo Kid]

12. Why did Maine elect this firebreathing lunatic?

Sure doesn't seem like a fit for the great state of Maine. Damned shame.

[high density]

13. There were two candidates running against him,

a Democrat and an independent split the sane vote. Sixty one percent voted for somebody else.

[Fyddlestyx]

16. Brempro captured the essence above

The more moderate repub candidates split the primary vote, so he won that with Tea Party backing. A weak Dem candidate coupled with a strong Independent allowed Lepage to win with only 38% of the vote. Sadly, recall is not an option, so we're stuck with him.

[rtassi]

22. it was a freak accident ... a split vote between the Dem and Indie candidate

[perdita9]

14. Do the poor people in Maine really enjoy their freedom from health care?

If the answer is 'no' they need to vote out this fool in the next election.

[LuckyTheDog]

19. Because, as we all know, the Democrats are exactly like the Nazis.

[Progressive dog]

20. The four Republican Freedoms

1) Freedom to Want
2) Freedom to Fear
3) Freedom to impose your Religion on others
4) Freedom for the Wealthy to buy the government

[DreamSmoker]

23. And the Ends always justify the means

I agree

[bucolic_frolic]

24. Democrats need to go on offense to defend the law from LIES

the 4% levy on capital gains on home sales for example ONLY applies IF

1) you make $250,000 per year or more AND

2) you have CAPITAL GAINS on the sale of your home of MORE than $500,000 AND

3) the 3.8% only applies to Capital Gains ABOVE $500,000

When The GOP explains the law on Right Wing Radio, in Church Sermons, or to
any who will listen

THEY EXPLAIN IT AS A 4% TAX ON ALL HOME SALES.

THIS IS AN OUTRIGHT LIE THAT MUST BE SHOWN FOR THE NONSENSE IT IS

[tsuki]

25. He's a liar and a thief. nt

[pinto]

26. Incredible misinformation, disingenuous & inflammatory remarks.

RW extremism obstructs any and all constructive discussion on how to move health care reform forward. It's really sad to see such blatant a case.

Hang in there Maine Dems!

[sendero]

46. And yet...

... these tactics work, many many people who should be supporting ACA don't because the get their info from the right and the Dems do little to counter the misinformation.

Our party will never be effective until it learns to FIGHT BACK rhetorically.

[liberal N proud]

27. What freedom are they losing? Forcing everyone else to pay their healthcare when they get sick?

These are the same people who bitch about the "freeloaders" on welfare.

[DinahMoeHum]

28. LePage is a Drama Queen. . .

Derp.

[Amonester]

29. LePage must not know anything about Psychological Projection.

Nor anything about the 'Gestapo' as well.

[OmahaBlueDog]

31. Right. The IRS is just like a paramilitary police force that murdered, raped, and tortured

..and participated in genocide.

[roseBudd]

32. You can use you Facebook account to comment, I did

And you can like the good comments, if you are logged into Facebook.

Mark Jones 0 minutes ago in reply to byersock

"Where are the stories of people who have been denied access to healthcare in this country, in this decade?"

Not on Fox "news" or talk radio

http://news.harvard.edu/gazett...


“The uninsured have a higher risk of death when compared to the privately insured, even after taking into account socioeconomics, health behaviors, and baseline health,” said lead author Andrew Wilper, M.D., who currently teaches at the University of Washington School of Medicine. “We doctors have many new ways to prevent deaths from hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease — but only if patients can get into our offices and afford their medications.”

The study, which analyzed data from national surveys carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), assessed death rates after taking into account education, income, and many other factors, including smoking, drinking, and obesity. It estimated that lack of health insurance causes 44,789 excess deaths annually."

[GoCubsGo]

33. The IRS is going to round up people and put them in death camps?

And, conduct medical experiments on them? And, use them for slave labor? Really?

I am so fucking sick of these disgusting assholes. This shitstain wouldn't know the Gestapo if they punched him in the face. WTF is wrong with Maine?

[Bossy Monkey]

34. Boy! He took the whole bottle of crazy pills, didn't he? I wonder if Obamacare covers that? n/t

[Skittles]

36. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Spitfire of ATJ]

37. This is one thing I've always found Hilarious

The RNC distributes talking points that are designed to fool the public and pass them on to their fellow Republicans who take them as fact and then make complete fools of themselves by running in front of the cameras or issuing statements that come off to sane people as completely unhinged nonsense.

In any other country the media would correct the statements and expose where this guy got this crazy idea.

Here, these statements are simply passed on with a "let the voters decide" sense of responsibility to reality.

[lib2DaBone]

38. Well, the IRS can now cancel your pasport and put you on a no-fly list if you owe them money....

I forget who it was that signed this into law..?

[magic59]

39. I guess the T-bagger gov from Maine

wants to lose workers and businesses to other states that implement this money saving law.
Those T-baggers are their own worst enemy.

[sakabatou]

40. Where's my clue-by-four?

[RBInMaine]

41. Once again, this radical TeaPuke is embarassing our state. Never fear. He is SINKING the Maine GOP.

We are going to CRUSH the Maine GOP in November, so thanks you radical TeaBagging asshat. Keep up the insanity.

[area51]

45. "gets between patients and their doctors"

Excuse me?

Our CURRENT system does that.

If we don't want that to happen, we'd have to support single-payer health care.

We don't need regurgitated republican health care ideas, which is exactly what we got.