Chief Justice Roberts singlehandedly saves ObamaCare
The Supreme Court, by a 5-4 margin, sidesteps the Commerce Clause debate and validates the individual mandate as a constitutional exercise of Congress’ taxing power.
As a result, almost all of the act is upheld, thanks to Chief Justice Roberts siding with the majority. But by saving the law through the taxation argument, the court sidesteps endorsing an expansion of the commerce clause.
Fancy judicial footwork by the chief justice, I’d say.
The four justices in the minority wanted to toss the whole thing out, which again speaks to the role that the chief justice played. He wasn’t willing to go there — too radical an outcome for him, apparently — and he found a way to avoid it.
In fact, the deeper I read in the opinion and the dissents, the more apparent it is that Roberts undertook a major rescue operation. He was not willing to let the court take what he deemed to be a radical, even partisan course that would undermine its institutional credibility.
This ruling is as much about protecting the court’s integrity as it is about interpreting the law.
Here’s the core of what justices Scalia, Kennedy, Alito and Thomas said in dissent:
“The Act before us here exceeds federal power both in mandating the purchase of health insurance and in denying nonconsenting States all Medicaid funding. These parts of the Act are central to its design and operation, and all the Act’s other provisions would not have been enacted without them. In our view it must follow that the entire statute is inoperative.”
The court majority also endorsed language expanding Medicaid in the states, although it prevents the federal government from pulling Medicaid money as punishment for states that choose not to go along. That’s the extent of the conservative “win” in the opinion.
No wonder Scalia was in such a foul mood earlier this week. I suspect that mood is going to last a good long time.
– Jay Bookman
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1,313 comments Add your comment
PJ
June 28th, 2012
11:34 am
“I am assuming that all those celebrating have stock in the insurance companies? This is a “victory” for them, not us, imauo”
I don’t have stock in GM either but I’m glad they are back at number one.
Welcome to the Occupation
June 28th, 2012
11:34 am
Ben Shockley : ““what major civilized countries do not have some form of univeral health coverage?”
The ones not driving over the debt cliff with Greece, Spain, etc…”
Lol.
So what’’s ‘Ben Shockley explanation for the fact that the most generous healthcare systems of all are the Northern European, especially Scandinavian, ones?
Mary Elizabeth
June 28th, 2012
11:34 am
It should, also, be pointed out that, in over half of a century, no other president has been able to have passed into law a national health care plan, although several have tried to do so.
Of course, part of the success in this present endeavor must be attributed not only to President Obama’s political shrewdness, but also to the evolution of thinking, regarding this issue, in the minds of more Americans, over time.
——————————-
U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) is saying presently on CNN that he is very disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision, especially in Chief Justice Roberts’ decision not to join the thinking of Justice Scalia et al.
And, I continue to be disappointed in the thinking of Rep. Gingrey, Rep. Tom Price, and other Republican leaders in Georgia, who will not move forward in vision, thereby keeping Georgia regressive.
ld
June 28th, 2012
11:35 am
Has anyone heard when/where Boortz will be holding the “funeral and burial” for the now dead US Constititution?
JamVet
June 28th, 2012
11:35 am
This is a “victory” for them, not us, imauo”
And the predators in BIG PHARMA and the GIANT HMOs that created these problems in the first place.
Simply put, our current system was the disgrace of the Western world.
never mind the polls showing 2/3 of Americans are opposed to the law.
Liar.
No wonder you never show your work!
LOL at you…
Ol' Timer
June 28th, 2012
11:35 am
Now stupid libertarians who insist on their right to ride a motorcycle without a helmet will have insurance to cover them while they lie a dang vegetable.
TiredOfIt
June 28th, 2012
11:35 am
Steve Atl
June 28th, 2012
11:29 am
Keep talking Libs…that ars whupping in November 2010 can happen again.
The real whupping for the American people will be if Mr Waffle and his billionaires win.
Ben Shockley
June 28th, 2012
11:35 am
“They think the majority of Americans are suddenly now going to love Obamacare. Precious.”
Heathen – 1
Libs – 0
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
11:36 am
They think…[...] They think…[...] They think…[...] They think…
Why don’t you ask people what “they think” rather than addressing what you wish that “they think”?
DawgDad
June 28th, 2012
11:36 am
“Well, the Constitution is officially dead now… so exactly where does the power of the Federal Government end?”
SCOTUS did not rule under the Commerce clause, which if upheld would have in one pen stroke abolished Freedom and Liberty. The Constitution is alive and well.
Moon Mullins
June 28th, 2012
11:36 am
Concerning the opposition to Obamacare: “There are liars. There are damn liars. And, there are statistics.”
Williebkind
June 28th, 2012
11:37 am
It sure is peculiar how the conservatives always gives up to compromise with the liberals.
well as Kahn said:
“Surely, I have made my meaning plain. I mean to avenge myself upon youl. I deprived you of power.”
“To the last, I will grapple with thee… from Hell’s heart, I stab at thee! For hate’s sake, I spit my last breath at thee!
SheezLouise
June 28th, 2012
11:37 am
Enter your comments here
Chris
June 28th, 2012
11:37 am
It is interesting that the opinions have an all or none aspect to them. By ruling the mandate constitutional (as a tax even though the bill says it is a penalty), they too avoided reading the entire bill.
CJ
June 28th, 2012
11:37 am
Oscar’s comment needs to be repeated.
Congratulations to the Heritage Foundation, Bob Dole, Newt Gingrich, Chuck Grassley, and especially Mitt Romney.
In fact, congrats to all the Republicans who developed, proposed and advocated for this health care plan for decades…implemented at the federal level…mandates and all.
No, they’re not opposed to the contents of the plan, including the mandate; they’re opposed to anything that Obama supports. Period. Full stop.
Moon Mullins
June 28th, 2012
11:37 am
~ Mark Twain
josef
June 28th, 2012
11:37 am
He ne ha…
And the spouse of a medicine man says, it’s a Choctaw fox hunt…he says, more black and white folks out to sell us some beads and blankets… of course, he HAS stock in the insurance companies…
kitty
June 28th, 2012
11:37 am
Joseph, I was very healthy too….until 5 years ago when cancer suddenly showed up. Enjoy your health while you have it but it doesn’t always continue.
TiredOfIt
June 28th, 2012
11:37 am
ld
June 28th, 2012
11:35 am Has anyone heard when/where Boortz will be holding the “funeral and burial” for the now dead US Constititution?
If anything kills the Constitution it will be the citizens united decision.
ty webb
June 28th, 2012
11:38 am
on the bright side, I can now be called simply “anti-tax” and not “anti-black”.
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
June 28th, 2012
11:38 am
Bro, Josef,
are you talking Ableman v. Booth?
hoodtechie
June 28th, 2012
11:38 am
What this amounts to is that America has been dumbed down .Only 8% of high school graduates will make in this country; the rest will get gradually lazy and wait on hand outs either from other people or government. Most Americans are to incoherent to realize this is a forced tax on them to pay for health care.You can’t compare this to auto insurance because if you don’t have a car you don’t pay insurance.When America voted this clown in they had no idea what he stood for or his views. I see my African American brothers/sisters in worst financial & social shape than we were ever before and yet they want 4 more years of this. They will vote for obama because he is black regardless of how much more worse their lives will get under his policies, god help us.The only way out of this mess is to have obama sent back to Chicago on November 6, 2012.blacks surely won’t do it, and so it’s up to our white counterparts. Since we only make up 12% of the population and of that maybe 6% can or will even vote it is up to the whites in this country. Now that your liberal eyes have been opened will you see the light. White people voted obama in they are the only ones that can vote him out.
Don't Forget
June 28th, 2012
11:38 am
Doesn’t this law require the insurance companies to spend a set percentage of revenue on benefits and provide a refund to customers if they exceed that percentage?
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
June 28th, 2012
11:38 am
“Why don’t you ask people what “they think” rather than addressing what you wish that “they think”?”
because that’d harsh their mellow … or something
Paul
June 28th, 2012
11:38 am
Scotusblog
“Lyle:
Essentially, a majority of the Court has accepted the Administration’s backup argument that, as Roberts put it, “the mandate can be regarded as establishing a condition — not owning health insurance — that triggers a tax — the required payment to IRS.” Actually, this was the Administration’s second backup argument: first argument was Commerce Clause, second was Necessary and Proper Clause, and third was as a tax. The third argument won. ‘
Excellent legal strategy. Make your case, then give the justices several bases as to how they can agree with your main point. They don’t buy your main reason, give them another. And another.
Great strategy.
Confusted...
June 28th, 2012
11:38 am
I have to say, I agree with the insurance companies…If the court overturned the individual mandate…my lawyer was prepared to sue the state of GA for forcing me to purchase car insurance.
Some say driving is a choice….that’s crazy, so if I own a flower shop I must drive in order to conduct business but it’s a choice….
Get over it folks….
John Christopher
June 28th, 2012
11:39 am
watch for the UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES…….I am afraid it will be a mess
JOE COOL
June 28th, 2012
11:39 am
President Obama is having “The Best Week Ever”…lol
Now , lets see how my stocks do today
Chris
June 28th, 2012
11:39 am
Also, now any politician can say they are not raising taxes, just imposing penalties for inactivity.
Jay
June 28th, 2012
11:39 am
Prof, the answer to that is no.
Illegal immigrants won’t be affected in any way by ObamaCare. They are barred from getting subsidies to help them buy coverage, and since they don’t file income taxes, they also can’t be assessed the penalty for NOT getting insurance.
So nothing changes for them.
Ben Shockley
June 28th, 2012
11:40 am
Another freebie for stupid liberals, to be paid for by taxing “the rich”
LMAO
DebbieDoRight - Chocolate Coverered, Freak And Habit Forming
June 28th, 2012
11:40 am
Jay: This ruling is as much about protecting the court as about interpreting the law;
I was amazed, (not really), that Alito TOTALLY reversed himself from a previous statement he made upholding the government’ soverignity in a situation like this. He’s so obviously Pro-Republican and Anti-Constitution that I think it might be time for Congress to enact a bill that CAN depose a sitting SC Justice for acts that violate the upholding of the Constitution.
That “BAMA” Lover Guy: [Speaking of Roberts] For all that people on both sides say about him, he seems to be genuinely focused on doing what the court is supposed to do and trying to keep them from venturing off course
I’m amazed the “BAMA” lover can understand anything that’s not connected to football!! Congrats Bama!!!
Kamchak: Those Drunk Young Republicans — do you think that maybe we should direct them to the nearest recruiting office? It might help their disposition AND they won’t have to worry about health care anymore — especially if they get hurt in the line of duty.
Finn McCool (The System Isn't Broken; It's Fixed ~ from an Occupy sign)
June 28th, 2012
11:40 am
what major civilized countries that have it are not broke?
Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Serbia, Croatia, Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Switzerland…
Should I go on?
Welcome to the Occupation
June 28th, 2012
11:40 am
From David Frum on Twitter:
An election that cd have been a referendum on O’s ec management will now become as much a referendum on GOP health plans. #Waterloo
Brosephus™
June 28th, 2012
11:41 am
JamVet @ 11:35
He might be right about the 2/3’s thing. It’s all in how the question is phrased. There are some here who don’t like the ACA and want it repealed. There are those who want single payer and don’t like the ACA because it’s not single payer. There are those, like me, who don’t like the ACA because I see it as a sell out to the insurance industry.
————-
DawgDad
SCOTUS did not rule under the Commerce clause, which if upheld would have in one pen stroke abolished Freedom and Liberty. The Constitution is alive and well.
Shows how much of a lack of reading skills and comprehension we have in our society nowadays, huh? Instead of reading for themselves, people will simply believe what some talking head is peddling. Damn shame it is too…
JOE COOL
June 28th, 2012
11:41 am
You CONs are such SORE azz LOSERS…lol
CJ
June 28th, 2012
11:41 am
“Doesn’t this law require the insurance companies to spend a set percentage of revenue on benefits and provide a refund to customers if they exceed that percentage?”
Yes!
http://news.consumerreports.org/health/2012/06/am-i-going-to-get-a-rebate-from-my-health-insurance-company.html
Goldie
June 28th, 2012
11:41 am
Thank God we have President Obama in the White House to lead this country back from the abyss!
Obama/Biden 2012!
Jefferson
June 28th, 2012
11:41 am
The could appeal to a higher court I guess, but that would be the same court that is punishing Colorodo for Denver trading Tebow…
Finn McCool (The System Isn't Broken; It's Fixed ~ from an Occupy sign)
June 28th, 2012
11:41 am
Is “driving” a right?
godless heathen
June 28th, 2012
11:42 am
Kam , I don’t have to ask them what they think. This is a blog where they freely share what they think.
Aquagirl
June 28th, 2012
11:42 am
Has anyone heard when/where Boortz will be holding the “funeral and burial” for the now dead US Constititution?
He’s too busy moaning that the gub’mint can now order you to have more children. Seriously.
I knew there would be a meltdown but holy cow, this is over the top.
Ben Shockley
June 28th, 2012
11:42 am
“Prof, the answer to that is no.
Illegal immigrants won’t be affected in any way by ObamaCare. They are barred from getting subsidies to help them buy coverage, and since they don’t file income taxes, they also can’t be assessed the penalty for NOT getting insurance.
So nothing changes for them”
Yeah, they just keep showing up at the emergency room, getting free care, and passing the cost on to taxpayers and insurance purchasers.
Marko
June 28th, 2012
11:42 am
Jay would be whining the court was “too concervative” had they ruled against the ACA. Wonder why he’s not complaining the court is now “too liberal”? Oh that’s right nothing is too liberal for Jay and the slowly sinking AJC.
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
June 28th, 2012
11:43 am
Finn – don’t forget Costa Rica and the UK !!
Recon 0311 2533
June 28th, 2012
11:43 am
Jay, I would disagree with your assessment that Roberts saved the law because he wanted to prevent a radical or partisan course. By deciding that the mandate was unconstitutional under the commerce clause but constitutional under the right of congress to tax he essentially placed this issue back in the political domain for the voters to decide. By deciding that the government had no right to impose their will on people through utilization of the commerce clause he’s stopped government from overreach and bypassing the American people in other areas. The strike down of the federal governments overreach of the states by imposing penalties should a state refuse to expand its Medicaid roles is interesting and may be mean that those states who’ve sued can opt out of the ACA should they choose to do so. Roberts may have done a lot for the Romney campaign and Republicans in November with his ruling.
Brosephus™
June 28th, 2012
11:43 am
Normal
Nah, talking about that divide that led to shots at Ft. Sumter.
————–
DDR
Football is just an outlet. I am quite learned in differing areas.
Finn McCool (The System Isn't Broken; It's Fixed ~ from an Occupy sign)
June 28th, 2012
11:44 am
Gingrey’s on tv again? Is he apologizing to Rush again?
eagle1
June 28th, 2012
11:45 am
Healthcare as we know it is gone! Welcome socialized medicine! This country is on a downward spiral. Pack your bags Obama and take Moochelle with you come Nov! The Conservatives are taking our country back come November. Obama has told another lie to the American people!
Jefferson
June 28th, 2012
11:45 am
If gasoline prices go up, will that make some of you feel a little better ?
TiredOfIt
June 28th, 2012
11:46 am
Video of Mr. Romney from a March 2006 news conference when he was governor of Massachusetts shows the presumptive Republican nominee praising the passage of an individual mandate in the legislature as an “essential” part of the reforms he advocated.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/28/in-2006-video-romney-calls-health-care-mandate-essential/
stands for decibels
June 28th, 2012
11:46 am
all of the donations (including my own) after this decision
Somewhere, up there, PT Barnum is smiling.
Thank God
June 28th, 2012
11:47 am
This is a good sign that they have some understanding of the situation the average American faces. Right or Left, when you are faced with a serious health issue it shouldn’t bankrupt you or your family. Healthcare must change. This for-profit system is immoral and needs to be changed.
TC
June 28th, 2012
11:47 am
2009 Interview w/ “The Chosen One” – Nah, it’s not a tax…….looks like we all just got a huge tax increase!!!
STEPHANOPOULOS: …during the campaign. Under this mandate, the government is forcing people to spend money, fining you if you don’t. How is that not a tax?
OBAMA: Well, hold on a second, George. Here — here’s what’s happening. You and I are both paying $900, on average — our families — in higher premiums because of uncompensated care. Now what I’ve said is that if you can’t afford health insurance, you certainly shouldn’t be punished for that. That’s just piling on. If, on the other hand, we’re giving tax credits, we’ve set up an exchange, you are now part of a big pool, we’ve driven down the costs, we’ve done everything we can and you actually can afford health insurance, but you’ve just decided, you know what, I want to take my chances. And then you get hit by a bus and you and I have to pay for the emergency room care, that’s…
STEPHANOPOULOS: That may be, but it’s still a tax increase.
OBAMA: No. That’s not true, George. The — for us to say that you’ve got to take a responsibility to get health insurance is absolutely not a tax increase. What it’s saying is, is that we’re not going to have other people carrying your burdens for you anymore than the fact that right now everybody in America, just about, has to get auto insurance. Nobody considers that a tax increase. People say to themselves, that is a fair way to make sure that if you hit my car, that I’m not covering all the costs.
[...] STEPHANOPOULOS: But you reject that it’s a tax increase?
OBAMA: I absolutely reject that notion.
Jay
June 28th, 2012
11:47 am
Recon, I think it’s way too early to predict how this will play out politically. It could very well have no impact whatsoever. But I’d agree with most of the rest of your analysis about what Roberts accomplished here. Putting it back into the political world was exactly what he should have done.
mm
June 28th, 2012
11:47 am
“silly mm, “they have to buy” health insurance”, not “healthcare”…carry on.”
Ty, Freudian slip. I wish we could buy healthcare instead of insurance.
godless heathen
June 28th, 2012
11:47 am
Some say driving is a choice….that’s crazy, so if I own a flower shop I must drive in order to conduct business but it’s a choice….
Get over it folks….
Since everyone has to drive, everyone has to have a Driver’s License, and they can damn well show it when they go to vote.
josef
June 28th, 2012
11:47 am
NORMAL
No. Just the general breakdown of the system into political partisanship….
Moon Mullins
June 28th, 2012
11:48 am
If you look at those the disenters associate with off the bench — the ones the hunt and fish with in Montana, the ones they go on junkets with and get speakers fees from — then their disent makes a lot of sense.
larry
June 28th, 2012
11:48 am
Well, i’ve just got here and read the good news. I will still be able to have health insurance thanks to the tax credit my boss got when he signed us up. If it was ruled the other way , i would not been able to afford my insurance because my premiums would have gone up.
This is a historic day.
Finn McCool (The System Isn't Broken; It's Fixed ~ from an Occupy sign)
June 28th, 2012
11:49 am
Next thing we mandate?
BROCCOLII!!!!!
and the CHEESY GRITS!!!! Buy them or pay a penalty!
Adam
June 28th, 2012
11:49 am
$40 extra just found it’s way to Obama’s campaign. Get your “I Like Obamacare” apparel and goods!
https://store.barackobama.com/obamacare-pack.html
Joseph
June 28th, 2012
11:50 am
I like the headline Jay but you could have added this to it. Chief Justice Roberts singlehandedly saves gives Republicans an epic victory in 2012 that will make 2010 look irrelevant…
Jefferson
June 28th, 2012
11:50 am
Time to move forward, put it in “D”.
Confusted...
June 28th, 2012
11:51 am
For Finn McCool (The System Isn’t Broken; It’s Fixed ~ from an Occupy sign)
Is medical care a right?
You can choose not to have medical care….can you choose not to have Medicare?
The court did not argue the point if medicare was a right or not it argued the right for the govt to force it’s citizens to purchase health insurance….
Is driving a right?
Is medical care a right?
Who cares bottom line is the states and now the feds can force us to buy insurance (don’t matter what for)…great day for insurance companies…
The better help Obama win in November because they owe a great deal to him and the Supreme Court…….
Jefferson
June 28th, 2012
11:52 am
This must be part of the Constitution where it reads, “Promote the wellfare”….
shorty
June 28th, 2012
11:52 am
So Big Brother continues to grow …go on you liberal sheep celebrate..then cry like hyenas when Obama takes away more of your freedoms…IDIOTS!
CJ
June 28th, 2012
11:52 am
RE: “Jay would be whining the court was “too concervative” had they ruled against the ACA.”
I’m happy about the ruling. Nevertheless, five justices ruled that Congress didn’t have the authority to implement the mandate under the Commerce Clause, and five justices mysteriously indicated that Congress did not have the authority to modify the conditions associated with federal funds for Medicaid. These same five justices have continued to rule that speech is money and corporations (paper entities chartered by state laws) have constitutional rights and on and on.
So yes, despite this ruling, this court is dangerously partisan.
godless heathen
June 28th, 2012
11:52 am
“I will still be able to have health insurance thanks to the tax credit my boss got when he signed us up.”
Corporate welfare!
shorty
June 28th, 2012
11:52 am
So Big Brother continues to grow …go on you liberal sheep celebrate..then cry like hyenas when Obama takes away more of your freedoms…IDIOTS!
getalife
June 28th, 2012
11:52 am
Make no mistake, when the cons lose the American people win.
The cons are horrible sore losers but they do not need to be energized.
They always vote gop no matter what the gop does.
stands for decibels
June 28th, 2012
11:52 am
Adam, I prefer this:
https://store.barackobama.com/obama-health-reform-is-still-a-bfd-tee.html?related_referrer_id=15769
Chris
June 28th, 2012
11:52 am
Activist Judges???
‘The phrase “independently authorized” suggests the existence of a creature never hitherto seen in the United States Reports: A penalty for constitutional purposes that is also a tax for constitutional purposes. In all our cases the two are mutually exclusive.’
Not Over Yet...
June 28th, 2012
11:52 am
Please, this did nothing but finally give Americans the right to let our voices be heard and vote on it.
It’s simple really, vote for NObamacare then vote for Obama. If you don’t want NObamacare, vote for Romney.
I was on the fence on which candidate, but I am 100% voting ROMNEY now, and I imagine I am not the only one. This was A BIG DAY FOR ROMNEY!!!!!!
Pass the Cheesy Grits Please
June 28th, 2012
11:53 am
Finally we have in this country what every other civilized country in the world has.
Universal Healthcare.
Its a proud day to be an American.
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
June 28th, 2012
11:53 am
ADAM,
Just ordered the shirt: OBAMACARE STILL A BFD…
Thanks for the site…
weetamoe
June 28th, 2012
11:54 am
Although I oppose Obamcare, a couple of weeks ago did predict both here and in Galloway’s blog that the law would be upheld for reasons having nothing to do with its merits. One of my nieces whose residency at Brigham in Boston included some work with Atul Gawande is now teaching medicine at a southern university med school and seeing patients only on clinic days. Another kid has gone to work for big pharma. They could see where this was heading. Obama really fixed those greedy grasping rich doctors, didn’t he?
zeke
June 28th, 2012
11:54 am
IMPEACH THEM ALL! INCLUDE OBOZO IN IMPEACHMENT! I cannot believe that they reworded the wording to approve this moronic socialist redistribution plan and power grab! To force a business to provide insurance is not Constitutional! To force a citizen to buy a product is not Constitutional! And do not give me that same old tired line of having to buy auto liability insurance as being the same! IT IS NOT! You do not have to buy auto liability insurance! You just cannot legally license a car or drive without it, but, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BUY IT OR PAY A RIDICULOUS TAX!!
Wm P. Lashley
June 28th, 2012
11:54 am
It goes to show you, or government is broke, time for a Constitutional convention!
bob
June 28th, 2012
11:55 am
Obama the liar said he would not raise taxes on the middle class, he just did.
Pass the Cheesy Grits Please
June 28th, 2012
11:55 am
Make no mistake, when the cons lose the American people win.
Thats a big ten four. It has been that way throughout history.
Liberals ideas always win in the end. Its just a matter of how long the Cons can stand in the way of progress.
ld
June 28th, 2012
11:55 am
Jay:
The GOP angst will substantially diminsh as they begin to chip away at employer/insurance company regulations and restrictions and rip out any and all employee/consumer protections and assistance, leaving only the “mandate” buy or be “taxed”–yielding a massive profit for medical and insurance industries.
Goldie
June 28th, 2012
11:55 am
Jefferson @ 11:52– and I believe the U.S. Constitution also states “… to provide for the Common defence,” which I translate as providing healthcare for all.
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
June 28th, 2012
11:56 am
“Obama takes away more of your freedoms”
like the freedom to make other people pay for your healthcare???
please.
take your faux outrage somewhere else.
Joseph
June 28th, 2012
11:56 am
Romney speaking on the steps of the Supreme Court… LOL… Looks Presidential to me…
JamVet
June 28th, 2012
11:56 am
Yep, a real bad day for Rabid Rush and the deranged dittoheads.
And a good day for sluts, prostitutes and FemiNazis everywhere…
bob
June 28th, 2012
11:56 am
If everyone is expected to pull their own weight does that mean welfare lifers will start paying their fair share.
SheezLouise
June 28th, 2012
11:56 am
And so Mitt Romney is on TV parroting the same Bull— from over a year ago. Vaguespeak ain’t working Willard. You lose!!!!
Pass the Cheesy Grits Please
June 28th, 2012
11:56 am
Obama the liar said he would not raise taxes on the middle class, he just did.
No. What he did was say if your not gonna have insurance and go to the Emergency room when you have a sniffle you are gonna have to pay up just like everybody else.
Instead of passing that cost onto people with insurance.
Deadbeats you are on notice. NO MORE FREE RIDES !!!!
josef
June 28th, 2012
11:57 am
Cheesy Grits
We do not have universal health care…some 26 million still ain’t got it…
We’ve got a half-assed boondoggle…
Joseph
June 28th, 2012
11:57 am
We must repeal Obamacare says Romney….
Adam
June 28th, 2012
11:57 am
Normal, stands, you’re both welcome.
Curious
June 28th, 2012
11:58 am
Hope the folks going ape over this ruling have health insurance.
They’re going to need it.
ld
June 28th, 2012
11:58 am
bob
Expect Obamacare to be challenged based upon the tax code on which it was upheld… challenged by Dems, that is, but only after all the consumer protections and industry restrictions are stripped away by the GOP.
Joseph
June 28th, 2012
11:58 am
Romney raised $300,000 in one hr after the ruling.. The people are waking up…
TiredOfIt
June 28th, 2012
11:59 am
Romney’s t-shirts are blank, since he has no real opinions.
Goldie
June 28th, 2012
11:59 am
The individual mandate was first proposed by the Repubs and Newt back in the 90’s — all part of “personal responsibility”, remember???
RF
June 28th, 2012
11:59 am
zeke: but you do get a ticket, which is a fine you HAVE to pay, if you get stopped without it. Go without paying the ticket, and you are likely to eventually do some short jail time. Not to mention the lawsuits you’ll have if you cause an accident without it. People can choose not to buy health insurance- the “penalty” is meaningless because there is no provision in the law for enforcing its payment- they can impose a “tax”, but they cannot make you pay it.
Tea Party Meber
June 28th, 2012
11:59 am
Justice Robrets U let us down
ld
June 28th, 2012
11:59 am
josef
A “boondoggle” is an apt description of Obamacare.