"I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes."
- President Barack Obama, September 12, 2008 campaign speech in Dover NH.
Very interesting. Especially in light of the exchange the President had with George Stephanopoulis (of all people) on a September 21, 2009 talk show:
George Stephanopoulis: "The government is forcing people to spend money, fining you if you don't [buy insurance]. . . . How is that not a tax?"
President Obama: "Well, hold on a second, George. 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 . . ."
Mr. Stephanopoulis: "That may be, but it's still a tax increase."
President 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 . . ."
Mr. Stephanopoulos: "But it may be fair, it may be good public policy—"
President Obama: "No, but—but, George, you—you can't just make up that language and decide that that's called a tax increase."
Mr. Stephanopoulis: "I don't think I'm making it up. "Tax"—"a charge, usually of money, imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes."
President Obama: "George, the fact that you looked up Merriam's Dictionary, the definition of tax increase, indicates to me that you're stretching a little bit right now. . . ."
Mr. Stephanopoulos: "I wanted to check for myself. But your critics say it is a tax increase."
President Obama: "My critics say everything is a tax increase. My critics say that I'm taking over every sector of the economy. You know that. Look, we can have a legitimate debate about whether or not we're going to have an individual mandate or not, but . . ."
Mr. Stephanopoulos: "But you reject that it's a tax increase?"
President Obama: "I absolutely reject that notion."
Very illuminating. I guess it is easy to promise no tax increases when you are willing to deny and redefine the actual definition of the word "tax". Brings to mind, in another time, with another President, the idiotic, childish word games over the meaning of the word "is". President Obama's refusal to call this a tax increase would be like me promising Erin, "Don't worry sweetie, you'll never have to eat spinach again if you don't want," and then forcing her to eat a bowl of salad made with spinach leaves. "Oh, sorry Erin, it doesn't count as spinach when it is in a salad. I only meant cooked spinach when I told you you'd never have to eat it again."
Where is the press on this issue?!?! I seem to recall an uproar of righteous discord from the media that cost George H. W. Bush an election because he promised, "Read my lips, no new taxes" and then failed to deliver on his promise. But, as usual, the rules are different when a Democrat holds our highest office.
Where are the Republicans on this issue?!?! Why is it left to the "alternative media" to call attention to this governmental nonsense. With a few rare exceptions, our Republican representatives/leaders have lost their spines or their principles, or both (they lost them some time ago, and still have not found them).
And, no, forcing people to buy health insurance or face a $3800 a year excise tax is not the same as forcing people to buy auto insurance if they want to drive. If someone doesn't want to pay for auto insurance, that person can choose to utilize mass transit, ride a bicycle, carpool with co-workers/friends, or simply walk in order to avoid paying the premium. There will be no choice here, no alternative. You simply must buy the insurance. It's un-Constitutional and, bottom line, downright un-American.
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