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Obamacare Upheld

US SUPREME COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF SOCIALIZED MEDICINE LAW In a surprise ruling that may very well represent the death knell for American freedom (and what’s left of the American free market), the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that President Barack Obama’s socialized medicine law – a.k.a. “Obamacare” –…

US SUPREME COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF SOCIALIZED MEDICINE LAW

In a surprise ruling that may very well represent the death knell for American freedom (and what’s left of the American free market), the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that President Barack Obama’s socialized medicine law – a.k.a. “Obamacare” – is constitutional.

Even the law’s controversial individual mandate – which requires that Americans purchase health insurance or pay huge fines – emerged unscathed, so long as it is implemented as a tax.

“(Obamacare)’s requirement that certain individuals pay a financial penalty for not obtaining health insurance may reasonably characterized as a tax,” a narrow majority of the Justices concluded. “Because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our role to forbid it, or to pass upon its wisdom or fairness.”

Obamaphiles were euphoric.

“WE were vindicated!” tweeted Anton Gunn, a regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The key vote to uphold Obamacare was cast by Chief Justice John Roberts, who was nominated by former president George W. Bush in 2005 following the death of William Rehnquist. Joining him in upholding the law were Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagen (both Obama appointees) along with Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Stephen Breyer, both appointees of former president Bill Clinton.

John Roberts: The deciding vote

Opposing the ruling were Reagan appointees Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy, as well as Clarence Thomas (appointed by George H.W. Bush) and Samuel Alito (appointed by George W. Bush).

Kagan, Obama’s former solicitor general, voted to uphold the law despite the fact that she was integrally involved in preparing its legal defense – a clear conflict of interest.

Obamacare was narrowly passed in March 2010 by a Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress – and then repealed last January by the GOP-controlled House of Representatives. Also last January, U.S. District Court Judge Roger Vinson struck down Obamacare in its entirety on the grounds that “Congress exceeded the bounds of its authority in passing the act with the individual mandate.”

“Because the individual mandate is unconstitutional and not severable, the entire Act must be declared void,” Vinson’s ruling concluded.

If only the Supremes had agreed with him …

More recently, the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that only the individual mandate portion of the law was unconstitutional.

Roberts and the four liberals on the bench rejected both of those opinions – as well as the federal government’s contention that it could impose the mandate on the grounds of regulating interstate commerce.

Instead, they ruled that Obamacare’s individual mandate fell under the government’s authority to tax.

This website has aggressively opposed Obamacare from the very beginning. We believe it is an unconstitutional imposition on individual liberty as well as an economic catastrophe waiting to happen. We also believe that it will raise health insurance costs and compound our nations’ worsening deficit crisis.

“What is left?” Justice Antonin Scalia asked at one point during the court’s deliberations over the law. “If the government can do this, what can it not do?”

Sadly, America is now about to find out …

What do you think of the ruling? Vote in our poll and post your thoughts in our comments section below.

MORE COVERAGE:
MITT ROMNEY’S OBAMACARE PROBLEM (#Election2012)
SOUTH CAROLINA LEADERS ASSAIL OBAMACARE RULING (#SCPolitics)

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148 comments

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 10:31 am

That was weird, a number of outlets said it was struck (I saw your post too, but can’t fault you because even CNN said it was struck down) and now it is upheld. Sounds like it really was upheld.

The mandate and ObamaCare isn’t the best solution and only fills a few cracks in our extremely broken system, but like it or not, it does accomplish many necessary, good things, and it is the only true reform we have received in quite some time.

Now, everyone on both sides, go grab some popcorn. Big(o)T’s nuclear meltdown will begin shortly. Hahahahaha!

SparkleCity June 28, 2012 at 11:08 am

Smirks;

I just got off a couple of sites and it appears that both CNN and FOX!!! were premature in reporting the results. it appears that MSNBC was the only one that held back and got it 100% right

BTW, the only show on MSNBC i watch with any regularity is “Morning Joe” and that is basically to eyeball Mike Brezenski (looks,brains & class is a hard combination to beat!!).

Lately, I prefer to watch Imus in The Morning. It is a better show plus Joe Scarbough needs to shut his mouth and let other people do the talking (especially Mika)

BTW, it appears the Spartanburg TEA party website HAS CRASHED!!!

I really am lukewarm this issue. My wife works for a health insurance company and she told me they had briefed them over a year ago and they felt if it passed muster, they couldn’t be happier.

SCBlues June 28, 2012 at 12:05 pm

Absolutely shocking that FOX had headlines All ready for it to be ruled unconstitutional!

Silvio Dante June 28, 2012 at 4:39 pm

Absolutely shocking that someone watches Imus…and that Imus is still alive.

TA June 28, 2012 at 10:32 am

Quit your whining. It means I will not be free to forgo obtaining insurance for myself and making you pay for it.

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 10:38 am

The mandate is meant to drum up the number of insured people so that we can afford provisions like a ban on lifetime maximums and barring discrimination based on pre-existing conditions (which insurance companies abused to drop off people who became unprofitable). That, combined with forcing insurance companies to spend 80-85% of its premiums on actual claims will vastly improve the system in the long run.

I’d rather have single payer, or at least a public option, but at least this is a step in the right direction. I think ObamaCare has its definite flaws, but I’ll take it.

As for the whining from FITS:

“Obamaphiles were euphoric.”

Get over it. You have insurance, don’t you? You won’t be taxed.

tomstickler June 28, 2012 at 10:42 am

You still do not have to buy insurance. However, you will have to pay a tax that, if there is any justice, will cost you more than your insurance premium.

fitsnews Author June 28, 2012 at 11:35 am

Smirks,

I have insurance. In fact I pay an exorbitant amount of my income for insurance – and despite the president’s promises to the contrary my premiums continue to rise.

-Will

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 11:43 am

And yet, you will be protected from quite despicable methods that health insurance companies used to use on a regular basis to drop people who required medical attention to the point where they became unprofitable. In other words, you now are buying into a system that doesn’t measure patients by profitability.

I pray your health never declines to the point where insurance companies will pull out their book of tricks (which go far beyond preexisting conditions) to stop you from getting medical attention. Even with ObamaCare, they have plenty of tricks left at their disposal, we’ve just managed to close some of the more heinous ones.

What you (and most conservatives/libertarians) fail to realize is that government steps in not because it wants to take away from the private industry, but because the private industry either fails to do the job or does the exact opposite. The health care industry is supposed to actually provide health care for the general good of humanity, not figure out how to make millions off of it at the cost of human suffering.

Skidmarks June 28, 2012 at 11:48 am

Fitz, it is not until everyone has to buy insurance that premiums will stop rising.

Charlemagne, King of France June 28, 2012 at 1:50 pm

not to mention, now you can actually shop around for health insurance and not have to worry about being denied coverage at a better rate.

Think of it like car insurance, you have to have it to legally drive a car (individual mandate), and so there is a huge market for it (demand), and so the premiums (supply) go down, unless there is an industry trend to raise premiums (whats been happening in the health insurance field already), but since you must have it now, it will create a niche for minimum coverage providers at a discount rate people will continue to shop until they find the safe-autos (i can hear the jingles already) of the health insurance industry.

i dont think the ends justify the means, and the precidents it sets are dangerous, and i disagee with the constitutionality of it. But we are stuck with it for the time being and the end result isnt as bad as people are making it out to be.

tomstickler June 28, 2012 at 10:32 am

Countdown to seeing all the spin from those predicting that “Obamacare” could be struck down in 3…2…1…

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 10:40 am

I’m contemplating listening to Limbaugh today for the sheer lulz. Man, he’s going to EXPLODE!

CL June 28, 2012 at 11:10 am

No spin here. I think it is unconstitutional (although I have acknowledged on here many times that there is enough bad precedent out there that it is not a slam dunk) and I think Roberts is wrong. He has essentially made the general welfare clause of the taxing power a separate enumerated power. This makes any idea of federalism, of non-enumerated powers being reserved to the state, essentially meaningless. As long as they call it a tax, Congress can compel any behavior.

folly dude June 28, 2012 at 11:23 am

That’s great, CL. Everyone loves an armchair SCOTUS.

CL June 28, 2012 at 11:26 am

* presumably the SCOTUS would agree that the taxing power is limited by any limitation on fed power in the amendments, since they came later in time and therefore trump what is in the text of the original Constitution. But otherwise, there is no limit on federal power as long as they call it a tax — wait, Obama and the Democrats said this is not a tax, so it would be more precise to say as long as John Roberts can call it a tax.

tomstickler June 28, 2012 at 11:35 am

@CL ~ The Solicitor General did argue that it was a tax, and Roberts agreed.

CL June 28, 2012 at 11:49 am

Tomstickler,

Actually, the SG argued it different ways on different days. In regards to the Anti-injunction act, he said it was not. As the NY Times even snarked: “In other words, the Justice Department is essentially arguing that the penalty is not a tax, except when the government says it is one.”

CL June 28, 2012 at 11:50 am

Here is the NY Times article documenting the ever changing administration position on whether it is a tax or not:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/27/health/policy/arguing-that-health-mandate-is-not-a-tax-except-when-it-is.html

CL June 28, 2012 at 11:53 am

“That’s great, CL. Everyone loves an armchair SCOTUS.”

Not as much as sarcastic trolls with nothing to add to the discussion.

I do love the implication that we have not ability to second guess the philosopher kings on the SCOTUS. This is particularly ironic given the hysterics from the Left about the Court in the past few days when they thought the IM would be struck down.

SCBlues June 28, 2012 at 12:06 pm

“Sarcastic trolls with nothing to add to the discussion”

Defines CL the Weasel exactly!!

CL June 28, 2012 at 1:40 pm

SCBlues,

More name calling. I still would like to know whether you object to sex selective abortion. If you still don’t want to answer, I saw Big T in the thread.

SCBlues June 28, 2012 at 3:19 pm

CL the Weasel –

Uh-huh. More name calling. And who was calling who a “sarcastic troll” on this very thread, CL the Weasel? LOL! I love it – CL posts something and then a couple of posts later swears he did not say that – even while it is still visible on the same thread!! LOL

And more lies , CL. Yes – I saw Big T, your hero, on this thread. Go snuggle up to him like a good little weasel.

CL June 28, 2012 at 5:32 pm

SC Blues,

I will be happy to respond when you answer my question.

SCBlues June 29, 2012 at 7:22 am

CL the Weasel –

LOL! Not gonna do any more name calling and then attack others for name calling??? CL the Weasel and Hypocrite.

How about quoting The Libertarian Party and then a couple of posts later after you’ve been proven wrong say that we were not even talking about The Libertarian Party – after you were the one who introduced The Libertarian Party into the discussion. Got any more lies to post today, Weasel?

What else you got Weasel?

Oh yeah, you are a Big Christian so it is okay for you to sit in judgment of everyone else and pontificate about what how you are always right and everyone else is always wrong! LOL

Oh – and I almost forgot – when the going gets rough, change the whole subject and demand that others “answer your question”.

You are pitiful, Weasel!

CL June 29, 2012 at 7:53 am

SC Blues,

You are a sad, angry little man who demonstrates a fundamental inability to present a coherent, much less logical, argument. So lacking any substance, you turn up the volume. It may make you feel better about your obvious inadequacies to keep shouting insults at me, but it is really pathetic. And boring. Until you are man enough to answer, or to assert an actual argument, I will just ignore you and you can keep shouting your nonsense to the wind.

CL June 29, 2012 at 7:54 am

For those actually interested in the merits of the Obamacare decision, here is a good article explaining the basic flaws of Roberts’ baby splitting.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-28/in-health-care-ruling-roberts-writes-his-own-law.html

SCBlues June 29, 2012 at 11:59 am

CL the Weasel –

Do anything you’d like – I could care less – you are just a pathetic old coot and busy-body that thinks you KNOW IT ALL – and will lie to try to cover yourself.

If you cannot be honest, CL – don’t post anything.

I’m tired of your holier than thou crap – I told you before that of any poster on this forum you give Christianity a bad name.

SCBlues June 29, 2012 at 12:05 pm

Oh, and CL, your statement that I am a “sad, angry little man” is simply hilarious – and especially so since you fancy yourself the “expert on the female psyche” . . . too funny!

BigT June 28, 2012 at 10:39 am

Opposition to Obama just intensified DRASTICALLY…

FITS and his minions will play this as a big win…I think the Elephant just GOT Woken Up….

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 10:42 am

The elephant just got put down. A SCOTUS loss would have hurt Obama. ObamaCare being passed will hurt only Romney, who is going to have to explain how he is any better when ObamaCare was drafted from RomneyCare.

Spin it all you like, but remember your taste of disappointment today. November’s just around the corner!

sweepin June 28, 2012 at 10:50 am

For those in the middle and sitting on the sidelines for this to sort out, they just got self-approved permission to join the Obama camp. They now have the blessing of the Supreme Court. In their minds, it must be OK.

Mitt is the clear loser on this. The Red States are solidified in his camp, while the “swing states” have just been moved clearly to Obama. Any “wavering” Blue State is now untouchable for Romney.

Nolff June 28, 2012 at 11:41 am

You were wrong again, bucktooth.
If it were struck down, you’d be gloating.

tomstickler June 28, 2012 at 10:40 am

Sounds like Associate Justice Kennedy has finally decided to drop the pretense of being a “swing vote.”

MountainPenelope June 28, 2012 at 10:51 am

But Chief Roberts did the right thing. I was pleasantly surprised.

It’s being said that Roberts did not want his tenure as Chief Justice to be stigmatized as politically motivated.

BigT June 28, 2012 at 10:44 am

Tin Soldiers and Barry’s Comin’

We’re finally on our own…..

The Constitution is now meaningless to part of our government…

Common Sense June 28, 2012 at 10:56 am

Sarah..this actually upholds the constitution as the precedent was clearly in favor of Obamacare. But once again dont lets facts bother you poor little girl..wipe those tears up Sarah..you will need them in November when once again you realize how out of touch with the world you truly are..

dwb619 June 28, 2012 at 7:11 pm

Well, “W” said “it’s just a piece of paper”.
You betcha!

Robert June 28, 2012 at 10:44 am

It is not “socialized” medicine.

And the law did not go far enough….one day, we will have national health care….

MountainPenelope June 28, 2012 at 10:52 am

Agreed.

This is a good first step toward single payer, however.

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 10:52 am

It’s not Socialism in the least bit. Single payer or a public option would have been Socialist. Most of ObamaCare are old Republican ideas, including the mandate, which was touted by the GOP back when we were discussing HilaryCare.

But hey, don’t let that get in the way of bizarro-world Fox News and its alternate reality of facts!

Skidmarks June 28, 2012 at 11:16 am

Exactly right.

Not socialism in the least but an accommodation to our existing insurance system. It’s the same accommodation that Switzerland has had for years.

BTW – Even with my grossly inadequate SC public education I know that Rehnquist resigned from the Court and then died.

CL June 28, 2012 at 11:23 am

Turning private insurance companies into essentially quasi-governmental utility companies is not the least bit socialist? The better term is corporatist, but that is certainly a form of socialism. Besides, Democratic politicians like President Obama and Barney Frank and liberal commentators like Krugman have admitted that this is just a step (Obama called it a “transition step”) towards single payer, which you admit is actually socialist.

And what is it, if it is not socialist? It certainly is not capitalist.

You criticize regurgitating talking points, but you might want to remove the plank in your own idea (“the IM is a Republican idea,” “Fox lies”).

CL June 28, 2012 at 11:49 am

“eye”, not “idea”

? June 28, 2012 at 1:22 pm

“It’s not Socialism in the least bit.”

lol…Smirks…that’s a big ole whopper right there. I don’t even have to address it.

Here it comes June 28, 2012 at 10:45 am

Que Big T’s outage in 5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . .

sweepin June 28, 2012 at 10:45 am

Take a deep breath, folks (not just Folks), the world ain’t gonna end. Even Justice Roberts agrees.

WORD’s Russ Cassell must be apoplectic by the time this is written, if he’s not already had the “big one” that took him out.

His show this morning was the most melodramatic act I’ve witnessed in many, many years. I know to expect the loons when I listen to him, but I almost wrecked several times this morning.

Next from the right-wing comes the familiar refrain of “legislating from the bench.” Only this time, it will be hard to make stick even from the most zealous of the lot.

? June 28, 2012 at 10:53 am

lol, agreed for the most part.

I’d like to point out that it was a Republican majority SCOTUS that ruled on this.

Any notion that the Republicans are for “free markets”, “less gov’t/taxes”, etc. et al are being soundly dispelled-as they should be.

MountainPenelope June 28, 2012 at 10:54 am

I’m waiting to see Limpball’s head finally explode.

Glenda Beck will cry.

John Boehner will go a drunken sobbing spree.

Ahhh…

Summer fun has just begun.

Skidmarks June 28, 2012 at 11:20 am

I used to listen to the asshole, but his sheer love of being ignorant repelled me permanently.

How many listeners does he have? 500 maybe.

SparkleCity June 28, 2012 at 11:22 am

Sweepin:

If you look up “hyperbole” or “pompous” in the dictionary it will say “example:Russ Cassell”.

That being said, if liberal talk radio were a big hit(which it ain’t), Russ Cassell would be a liberal talk radio host.

He’s nothing but a shill who prays on the fears of old people and the insecure.

This is my own saying:

“Never put stock in anyone who sits on their ass and TALKS for a living” (DJ’s,news reporters,and sports announcers excepted)

sweepin June 28, 2012 at 11:28 am

“I used to listen to the asshole, but his sheer love of being ignorant repelled me permanently.”

LOL! I share your thoughts.

I listen to him for kicks when I’m driving in the Upstate, usually a couple of days each week, but not always in the morning.

This morning he was disparaging and mocking Lisa as she tried to temper his melodramatic ranting. He said a prayer to end the show asking God in the name of Jesus to protect and save the U.S.

Comedy Gold I tell you! Pure gold!

sweepin June 28, 2012 at 11:34 am

@Sparkle: you are absolutely right. If it pays, he’s there!

I remember ‘ol Russ when he was doing the Clemson Tiger pre-game shows from the parking lots at Clemson football games. If they had $100 each Saturday, he had plenty of time to spend pandering to the Tiger faithful, of which I am one.

SparkleCity June 28, 2012 at 11:45 am

Skidmarks:

He’s got more than 500 listeners but he ain’t the “hot shit” he would lead you to believe

Here’s some things he has said and the 100% truthful retort:

1. “If I get back on FM, I will dominate Upstate radio within 6 months” – said several years ago when he show as still on AM only – he has been back on FM for 2-3 years now

FACT: Cassell’s station WORD-FM (106.3) ratings did improve from ~10th place to ~3rd after they went FM the first few ratings periods but the last 4 ARBITRON ratings averaged 4th place in GSP area and as low as 7th place during one of those ratings periods. Going from 10th to 3rd is one hell of an improvement but he has NEVER domminated morning radio in GSP as he bragged he would. It is Country or Urban radio in #1 & #2 spots. As it stands now, WORD-FM, occupies 4th spot or less.
If he tries to say, “I ment talk radio” The only other talk show of any significance in GSP is “The Bill Drake Show” (who IS Mr. Spartanburg) and he would come across as a total shitass if he tried to pick on “sweet old Bill”.

2. Approximately February 2012: “I predict that gasoline will reach $5.00 in the Upstate by Memorial Day 2012”

FACT: As we all know gas prices have been decreasing steadily and were well below $4.00 on Memorial Day 2012 and now average $2.85 or less here in Spartanburg. I called to challenge him on this and he tried to lie out of it by saying he said the entire US. His support staff reminded he DID say Upstate,and he stilled denied saying it.

Basically, he is full of shit. But the folks calling in are mildly entertaining. Plus it gives the paranoid schizos something to occupy their time.

BigT June 28, 2012 at 10:50 am

I don’t think you idiot leftwingers have any idea how people feel about this…How this effects them at a very core level…It’s wrong…

You have NO respect for other Americans, as long as you can run your filthy schemes…

This will not end well for you…I bet you that….

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 10:53 am

Your tears, they are so delicious…

MountainPenelope June 28, 2012 at 10:56 am

Poor Big(o)T. Now, he’ll have to provide for HIMSELF and stop using hospital charity when he goes in for those mental health adjustments.

Hey, T, “It’s a GREAT day in South Carolina!”

Common Sense June 28, 2012 at 10:58 am

ill take that bet small girl. You of course will run and hide as cowards are apt to do..if you do ever find a pair and actually want to back up what you write instead of being the village idiot/coward/liar..let me know and ill take that bet Sarah.

? June 28, 2012 at 10:58 am

LMAO @ “Smirks” eating Big T’s tears.

Skidmarks June 28, 2012 at 11:24 am

Damned well isn’t good for you. Now you’ll have to buy insurance and quit sponging off us and the emergency room. And you might even have to buy a pot to piss in.

Isotope Soap June 28, 2012 at 11:27 am

Too funny,T! Too funny!

Carl Spackler June 28, 2012 at 12:11 pm

BigT:

Let me stoop to your level:

Nanny nanny boo boo
Stick your head in doo doo

Big Tard June 28, 2012 at 1:05 pm

Scoreboard! You lost! Now get down on your knees and suck it.

BigT June 28, 2012 at 11:00 am

If you are a real American..This is attack is like Pearl Harbor and 9-11 combined..

Remember how you feel…never forget it…

The Left’s biggest victory’s are against this country…

sweepin June 28, 2012 at 11:05 am

Is that you Russ? Or you, Bobby Mac?

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 11:08 am

Oh wow, that is actually offensive. Pearl Harbor resulted in the deaths of many, many people who had sworn their lives to protect this nation. 9/11, which has been abused for political reasons by the right for quite a long time, resulted in a great many number of deaths.

This ruling? This is just a politically inconvenient ruling for the GOP.

Investors in Kleenex thank you, Big(o)T!

Common Sense June 28, 2012 at 11:17 am

it was a republican dominated SCOTUS you idiot. Poor sarah..how do those tears taste? I would get use to them if I was in your shoes.

SparkleCity June 28, 2012 at 11:52 am

“This attack is like Pearl Harbor & 9/11 combined”

Pearl Harbor: 2000+ killed
9/11: 3000+ killed

Did we know that we were going to be attacked either of those times – fuck no

Every person who had followed this bullshit knew that it would come out one way or the other for a number of months now. There was no way it was not going to be a “surprise attack”

How can you look at yourself in the mirror after posting shit like that?

upstater June 28, 2012 at 12:14 pm

With comments like that I am beginning to believe that Big T is actually Michael Haley.

The Mighty Raoul June 28, 2012 at 11:03 am

Hey, FITS Twits,
Suck it! The individual mandate STANDS! You and the rest of the Tea Bagger’s 8th grade views of the Constitution have been smoked. As of 11:00, the dickheads at Fox News have moved on to the News Corp breakup. Pick you teeth up off the ground and go sulk!

vicupstate June 28, 2012 at 11:07 am

It really is too bad that the GOP nominee will not be able to criticize Obamacare, since he is it’s architect.

They should have picked one of the nuts further out on the limb, like Sanitorium or Nut Gingrich.

If Nut Gingrich had won, he could promise us $2.50 a gallon gas.

Of course, we almost have that NOW don’t we !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sweepin June 28, 2012 at 11:12 am

The irony is great, ain’t it?

vicupstate June 28, 2012 at 11:08 am

In a surprise ruling that may very well represent the death knell for American freedom (and what’s left of the American free market), the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that President Barack Obama’s socialized medicine law – a.k.a. “Obamacare” – is constitutional.

A little melodramatic isn’t it?

MountainPenelope June 28, 2012 at 11:43 am

FITS has made a living off melodrama for years.

Isotope Soap June 28, 2012 at 11:19 am

“American free market?” I remember that wasn’t going so well (for most of us, anyway) before Obamacare. The old system was too fucked to continue.

Doctor Faustus June 28, 2012 at 11:26 am

Consumers have to pay for people who need health care but can’t afford it, one way or the other. Now some of that cost gets shifted to the uninsured. Not much, but some. Ironic that the mandate began as a Republican idea and the centerpiece of Romneycare.

Congress made this mess and needs to fix it, not the SCOTUS.

Obama now has his legacy, Romney now has his issue.

I predict he will blow it.

Bend over, taxpayers. This is going to sting a little…

BigT June 28, 2012 at 11:27 am

All you people who claim to abhor hate (when it’s blamed on the right)…Take a good look at the kind and gentle Liberals…

Remember…

Isotope Soap June 28, 2012 at 11:30 am

Remember? What a hypocrite is?

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 12:53 pm

I think he means remembering how wrong he has been on a constant basis.

Ed June 28, 2012 at 11:29 am

The decisions that potentially represent the death knell of American Freedom were Citizens United and Citizens United II (the Montana Case). This decision is nothing compared to those decisions. Those decisions change the nation and who politicians will be responsive to. They shift power from the vote to the pocket book.

sweepin June 28, 2012 at 11:35 am

“Truth for its own sake.” I couldn’t say it better than you.

MountainPenelope June 28, 2012 at 11:41 am

Well said!

Common Sense June 28, 2012 at 12:54 pm

Great point!!

MountainPenelope June 28, 2012 at 11:40 am

“Kagan, Obama’s former solicitor general, voted to uphold the law despite the fact that she was integrally involved in preparing its legal defense – a clear conflict of interest.”

This was no more a conflict of interest than Clarence Thomas voting against the law after he and his wife have accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not millions) from those who oppose it.

Justice Kagan had no real conflict, IMO, because, in her work on the law, she had a clear understanding of its constitutionality.

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 12:56 pm

No, but you see, demanding someone recuse themselves is only good when you know they won’t agree with you. It’s A-OK if they agree with you, though!

BigT June 28, 2012 at 11:45 am

Stock Market Plunging on ObamaCare news…

They don’t care if we all starve, as long as we move toward Communism..

We cannot take anymore Obama…

Hope this move Romney right…

sweepin June 28, 2012 at 11:53 am

Insurance stocks up sharply in early trading. It’s a great day in Hartford!!

Smirks June 29, 2012 at 8:15 am

More damning news about Romney (he talked just like Roberts did when defending his own individual mandate):

http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/former-adviser-romney-used-to-sound-like-roberts-on-health-mandate-20120628

Mitt Romney June 28, 2012 at 11:46 am

IT’S A GREAT DAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA!

jeffy01 June 28, 2012 at 11:48 am

So liberals are happy the court ruled against the President and called it a tax? I bet after they think about that for 5 minutes they may regret the ruling. Chief Justice may be smarter that we think. “obamatax” just became a campaign theme thanks to the “win” at the court.

BigT June 28, 2012 at 11:52 am

Bingo…and ‘Obama-Depression’ is another…

The Mighty Raoul June 28, 2012 at 12:03 pm

HORSE-SHIT! This is the president’s centerpiece. It has been upheld. This is and shall remain a victory for the American people as well as for the president. Remember, when a hanged man hears cheers, it is not for his dancing feet, but rather for his broken neck. Tea Baggers, your neck is broken.

Common Sense June 28, 2012 at 12:36 pm

you guys can whine all you want but no one but the crazies..i.e. you two..are going to believe that..but hey you and Sarah try and turn lemons into lemonade..more power to ya..

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 1:02 pm

What a joke. It’s only a tax if you can afford insurance and choose not to take it.

The point of ObamaCare wasn’t “OH JESUS I HOPE PEOPLE DON’T THINK THIS ONE LITTLE PIECE IS A TAX,” it was to improve the broken system we have now.

Not So Much June 28, 2012 at 12:01 pm

Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, SSD, roads, public schools, policemen, firemen, courts, just do away with them all. Especially if you get money from the government for Medicare, Medicaid or SSI or Social Security benefits – that is socialism. Send the money back and refuse to accept the government dole. Our taxes go to pay Social Security. Selfishly, I would like not to do that. But, that’s not how it works. Anything anyone gets from the government, to THEM, they are entitled to it. Anything anyone else gets from the government, they are a freeloader. Can’t have it both ways folks. Let’s go back to the good old days before FDR when if you were poor and sick, you died, and in the words of Ebenezer Scrooge, decreased the surplus population.

(Note for the slower ones – this is sarcasm)

ceilidh10 June 28, 2012 at 12:03 pm

This is a great day for the Prez, a great day for the people who need health care, and a great day for America.

This ensures Obama re-election. I am so proud of Washington for doing something right for a change.

SCBlues June 28, 2012 at 12:03 pm

Kaboom! (FITS’ head exploding!)

Kaboom! (Big T’s head exploding!)

Kaboom! (CL the Weasel’s head exploding!)

Kaboom! (Joe the Dumber’s head exploding!)

Come back again in November to hear all of the exploding heads again when President Obama is re-elected!!!

LOL!

Isotope Soap June 28, 2012 at 12:10 pm

I was wondering what all that noise was.

Joe June 28, 2012 at 12:14 pm

LOL…yeah, it will be a delicious day in November to see you running for the tall grass, SCDoodoobrain.

You think Obama will be re-elected when 60% of the country despise this law? OK. How did that work out in the 2010 mid-terms after this law was ‘passed’ to begin with? Not too good, right?

You guys haven’t won at the ballot box lately. All that happened today was a re-energizing of those who hate this terribly flawed law to begin with. There are more of us than there are of you. What it did was elect Mitt Romney (for better or worse) as the next POTUS.

Common Sense June 28, 2012 at 12:38 pm

want to bet on that Joe..seriously lets place a wager..if Obama wins i get to type your first sentence for every post you make in a month and vice versa..deal?

Katherine Jenerette June 28, 2012 at 12:21 pm

The solution to Obamacare and the individual ‘taxation’ mandate is simple: Repeal the 16th Amendment. This argument started in 1913 when the government could bypass the sovereign states and directly tax the labor of individual citizens of those sovereign states. In a way, today’s ruling is a victory for the 10th Amendment and an opportunity for the states more aggressively reassert their sovereignty for pushing for the repeal of the 17th Amendment. One has to question if the 17th Amendment was not ratified and the states maintained the Founders’ intent of appointing their own US Senators would Obamacare ever have passed through the Congress in the first place? More on this later ~ Katherine

Common Sense June 28, 2012 at 12:39 pm

sure because its so easy to repeal an amendment..especially in today’s hyper-partisan culture..roflmao.

Skidmarks June 28, 2012 at 1:01 pm

Sorry you lost the 7th. Really. You are completely full of shit, but the others were worse.

Katherine Jenerette June 28, 2012 at 8:05 pm

Should I say ‘Ouch!’ or “Thanks!’ Bottom line: You guys have hearts of gold! Really. vr ~ Katherine

political hack June 28, 2012 at 12:27 pm

These comments I just read were about as helpful as those on Yahoo. CL probably had the best legal oriented response until he got trolled by the rest of the cheerleaders. I find the notion that 9 folks in robes can be the tipping point in this wonderful “democracy” we live in. Essentially the Court has said that borders don’t matter with respect to the AZ ruling (why don’t we just call Mexico our own and control their government, oh wait…) and now they are saying “Oh, this is likely unconstitutional, but because Congress has the ability to tax for the General Welfare, and the penalty for not opting into coverage is kinda sorta a tax, it can fly.” I find these notions a bit unsettling merely because it undermines state sovereignty and puts Medicare/caid/Obamacare/whatever in the same boat as highway funds. If you don’t bow down to the Feds you don’t get the Federal Reserve notes.

“What is left?” Justice Antonin Scalia asked at one point during the court’s deliberations over the law. “If the government can do this, what can it not do?”

Exactly. Want to pass any law or control any population arbitrarily? Just say it’s a tax…

And for the Cheerleaders, this is all GWB’s fault!

Common Sense June 28, 2012 at 12:41 pm

i bet you didnt mind when those 9 folks in robes gave away our elections to huge corporations with citizens united..huh ..bet you didnt utter a peep did ya? remember this is a right leaning republican SCOTUS.

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 1:10 pm

Such alarmist bullshit. “Oh, the Feds can do anything as long as they call it a tax!” That’s a real stretch.

Not So Much June 28, 2012 at 2:04 pm

Now decide.

Our constitution says the Supreme Court will be the final interpreter of whether or not a law is constitutional. Teabaggers want the constitution enforced. So now you don’t like it when the constitutional structure plays out – the US Supreme Court has done JUST what the constitution has said it must – decide the constitutionality of the law.

But now you don’t like the constitution when it does not play out your way? Get a position and hold it.

political hack June 28, 2012 at 2:36 pm

I like the Constitution. That the is point of the whole argument. The Supreme Court is not in the business of maintaining the purity of the document and it’s subsequent mob-rule imposed Amendments, most of which are complete Marxist garbage given to us during the 1930s. This thing boils down to economics, as does most things. The point is that it is redistributing wealth and going to make health costs go up, not down. Tuition is high because of government subsidies. We got the housing boom due to government backed MBS being peddled by the banks. I can only imagine the fun things that are going to arise now that we have government backed insurance bonds all over the place.

The left reviled the court for it’s decisions regarding the corporate campaign finance and the AZ ruling, scolding it as conservative leaning, leading them to fear that the Obamacare mandate would be struck down. Now, all are happy with glee and throwing insults to all the narrow minded racist haters because they now think the Supreme Court is a vital institution to our wonderful omnipotent Federal Government doing good in the world. Cheer the day when an institution steals even more liberty from you by continued usurpation of the Constitution? That doesn’t sound like the actions of sanity.

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 4:48 pm

Uh… Not sure how ObamaCare is going to “redistribute the wealth.”

BigT June 28, 2012 at 12:32 pm

Heard Romney: HE WAS GREAT…He’ll repeal it on his first day in office…

Romney just got his ticket to the White House punched…

Also: RGA refuses to enofrce ObamaCare…will wait ’til after Nov. Election…

Nothing could have galvanized Americans vs Obama like this is…

Common Sense June 28, 2012 at 12:44 pm

Romney: even though i used to say this was a great idea, and I was the first Governor in the United States to implement such a policy, the polls have changed so now im against my own policies however i know many of my supporters are dumb as bricks so they will ignore this detail then praise me for being against my own policies..God i love my magic underwear and incredibly stupid voters (hey Sarah i think hes talking about you!!)

Mitt Romney June 28, 2012 at 1:16 pm

He’ll repeal it his first day in office? What a moron. Do you understand ANYTHING about the constitution?

aristofannies June 28, 2012 at 12:35 pm

“An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, a power to destroy…” John Marshall – McCullough v. Maryland.

BigT June 28, 2012 at 12:42 pm

‘WE NOW HAVE THE BIGGEST ‘TAX’ INCREASE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD’…

—RUSH LIMBAUGH:

Common Sense June 28, 2012 at 12:45 pm

ROFLMAO..you and rushie can drown in Oxycontin talking about all the 12 year old hookers in Haiti you dream about…aint gonna change a thing Sarah.

BigT June 28, 2012 at 12:50 pm

Obama is the Leftwing’s Suicide BomBer…

He gave blew up his chance for re-election for ObamaCare…and it will be reversed eventually…

Again: Romney should be THRILLED. People get mad sometimes, and have no recourse…

But in this case the Recouse is Obvious…and it’s Totally REJECTING Obama…

It’s never been anymore clear…

We’re fianlly on our own…

Isotope Soap June 28, 2012 at 12:57 pm

Rush? You’re quoting that pig? Goddamn, you need to detox.

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 1:14 pm

Biggest tax increase in the history of the world? Oh man, that is so blatantly false that it isn’t even funny. I mean, it isn’t even half-true like the argument for our staggeringly high corporate income tax (which is high, except there are so many loopholes that some corporations pay little to none of it). It is just blatantly false.

Limbaugh is nothing but a gigantic blowhard, and there’s no better proof than this.

Ed June 28, 2012 at 12:58 pm

Where were all you states righters when the Supreme Court struck down Montana’s 100+ year old law against corporate bribery? I guess the states only have rights when you want them to.

Common Sense June 28, 2012 at 1:01 pm

Perfect!

Godslayer June 28, 2012 at 1:16 pm

And where are you states righters while the Justice Department is trying to neutralize and frustrate state-enacted medical marijuana laws? If there ever was a “states rights” issue, this is it. Only Gary Johnson seems to get it.

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 1:16 pm

Probably not protesting ALEC, which also sought to greatly influence state laws in spite of laws like Montana’s.

Godslayer June 28, 2012 at 1:13 pm

The real question is why C.J. Roberts–an alleged conservative–sided with the government in both this and the Arizona immigration case. Having read both opinions, I think Roberts is still a conservative, but he’s a big government conservative who believes that the power of the federal government in certain areas of legislation(especially over the states) is absolute. His views are more aligned with Richard Nixon than Ron Paul. Not all conservatives want to tear everything down; they instead want to “conserve” the status quo, which is what these opinions have done.

The Mighty Raoul June 28, 2012 at 1:13 pm

Hey, Tea Baggers! Suck on this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6RoOwSKI7M

Crooner June 28, 2012 at 1:25 pm

Here’s my question.

The Court said that congress couldn’t threaten the states by with holding Medicaid funds.

Didn’t the feds threaten to do the same thing with highway funds when they forced SC to:

raise the drinking age to 21

lower the DUI limit to .08

strike down our open container law

Does this case mean we made all of those changes FOR NO REASON????

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 1:28 pm

Wow, and we already have articles like this one:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/people-moving-to-canada-because-of-obamacare

Oh man, this is too rich… This damn socialist ObamaCare is so bad, I’m going to move to a country with actual socialist health care!

BigT June 28, 2012 at 1:41 pm

I’ll LMAO when one of these hanging-jaw, mouth-breaher deadbeat Liberals get their sorry @$$ thrown in jail because they don’t pay their insurance…

Jailed because you don’t have insurance…Who would’ve ever believed America could come to this…

What a president…

Smirks June 28, 2012 at 1:51 pm

I’ll LMAO when one of these hanging-jaw, mouth-breaher deadbeat Liberals…

Wow, just look at all that hatred!

get their sorry @$$ thrown in jail because they don’t pay their insurance…

You can’t be thrown in jail for not having health insurance.

Big(o)T, why oh why do you hate America so?

cooter June 28, 2012 at 2:04 pm

So idiot, you praise Romney. Did’nt he do this same friggin thing in his HOME STATE? The same one Obama used as a blueprint for this law. HYPOCRITE!!!! You need a fucking rabies shot.

BigT June 28, 2012 at 2:21 pm

It’s a TAX. The people in Mass. WANTED it…

America DOES NOT…Big Effin Difference…

Common Sense June 28, 2012 at 3:11 pm

CL..how did you link his comments to selective abortion?the question is..:Sarah..why do you have to lie every dam day to make a point?

tomstickler June 28, 2012 at 4:41 pm

And when you are in jail, you will get government-provided health care.

I highly recommend this strategy for all the Obamacare haters.

Perry June 28, 2012 at 1:46 pm

From all us very small business people who cannot get group insurance rates from BC / BS — THANK YOU JOHN ROBERTS. THANK YOU BARAK OBAMA. THANK YOU REPUBLICAN HYPOCRITES WHO VOTED FOR OBAMACARE IN 2009 AND NOW CAMPAIGN AGAINST IT.

? June 28, 2012 at 2:04 pm

You can do like me and lie to certain healthcare companies and have your employees sign up for a single family plan to get around the SC health care monopoly that punishes businesses by charging higher rates….

Of course, now I have to treat my part timers as subcontractors….but it is what it is.

Gov’t can pass as many mandates as they want…but the economy and small business can only bear so much and those determined enough will find a way to prevent being squeezed out of business.

In the big picture I’m fine with Obamacare, it’s just expediting the big crash coming our way in my opinion.

I can understand the viewpoint of those not worried about the debt, we’ve been overspending for 41 years solid.

I just happen to be in the camp that says it’s not sustainable(and strongly feel that way as most here know, I think it’s insane)….if I’m wrong-so be it, I’ll eat the crow with dignity….but the whole business of accelerating the debt expenditure & raising taxes will certainly prove things out more quickly either way.

Original Good Ole Boy June 28, 2012 at 2:01 pm

So if I’m understanding this right. Congress can now make any law it wants (subject to a few restraints in the Bill of Rights) and require proactive action by the citizens, so long as it attaches a “tax” to the consequences of failure to comply?

So in theory, Congress could mandate that we all buy cable TV from a private company. As the Court now reasons, Congress lacks the power to compel you to buy cable TV, but they do have the power to punish you if you don’t buy. All you have to do is call tha that punishment a “tax,” and now Congress essentially has carte blanche powers.

What a load of horseshit.

? June 28, 2012 at 2:12 pm

You got it, but you know it’s not that hard to come up with other reasons to coerce people into doing what the want…they’ve been doing it for decades with the “general welfare” clause…so in the scope of things it’s really not that big a deal.

What we are seeing is simply the natural expansion of gov’t when unrestrained by any “limited gov’t” philosophy. Just ask soda drinkers in NY. :)

It’s been going on some time….but as we all know here defining the “slippery slope” is the major sticking point.

Some don’t think Obamacare is “socialist” at all…lol….some don’t think “Social Security” is socialist.(it wasn’t when it start in a weird way, but then the pols quickly change the law language to actually say that the money you pay in you AREN’T entitled to….that was decades ago)

“Socialist” is an ever moving target for some people…and of course we have those that really know it deep down but don’t want to admit it because of it’s negative connotations.

Either way it doesn’t matter much, in the history of empires, which is the US is now, they all do the same thing.

The grow, grow, grow. Debase the currency, create welfare systems to keep the sheeple somewhat placated, and then the shrink or outright implode.

The US is no different, it’s just history repeating itself.

Original Good Ole Boy June 28, 2012 at 2:32 pm

Yes, Congress has been expanding its powers through the commerce clause especially during the past century — the “wheat case” of Wickard v. Filburn being the most damning example. But now John Roberts reasons that, if the commerce clause for some reason doesn’t help Congress, “don’t worry Congress, we got your back under the taxing powers.”

Disgusting.

I'llBeYourHuckleberry June 28, 2012 at 2:13 pm

Wow, I have never seen such a progressive circlejerk in my life as this. Utterly pathetic. Occupy a Clue DBs.

This just in... June 28, 2012 at 3:46 pm

Romney Blasts Supreme Court, Calling Healthcare Act ‘Worst Idea I Ever Had’
Vows to Repeal Own Law

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) – Just minutes after the Supreme Court upheld President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney slammed the Court, calling the law “the worst idea I ever had.”

“I vow to repeal this law on my first day in office,” he told a crowd at a campaign rally. “Until then, I will work tirelessly to make people forget that I used to totally love it.”

At the White House, President Obama greeted the news of the Court’s decision in muted fashion: “I haven’t been this pumped since I smoked bin Laden.”

Dissenters in the 5-4 decision included Justice Antonin Scalia, who wrote, “The only medical procedures the government should pay for are forced transvaginal ultrasounds and exorcisms.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also had harsh words for the healthcare law, telling reporters, “Under Obamacare, you will be forced to marry a gay doctor.”

But perhaps the most negative appraisal came from Speaker of the House John Boehner: “This is a dark day for America. If we are forced to have healthcare, it’s only a matter of time before we have education.”

scnative June 28, 2012 at 5:19 pm

We’ll see how you all feel when all those people are added to Medicaid in South Carolina and your taxes shoot up like crazy.

SCBlues June 28, 2012 at 5:26 pm

Kaboom – boom – boom!!

Kaboom – boom – boom!!

Kaboom – boom – boom!!

TontoBubbaGoldstein June 28, 2012 at 5:40 pm

I’m with Big T on this one. (He had me with the CSN&Y riff.)

But…. it sure kills the whole ” most important election ever…cuz you must vote Republican…cuz of SCOTUS appointments” rationate, though.

Earl Warren.

David Souter.

John Roberts.

TontoBubbaGoldstein June 28, 2012 at 5:42 pm

*rationale

Jan June 28, 2012 at 7:37 pm

“As president, Mitt will nominate judges in the mold of Chief Justice Roberts…”

— MittRomney.com

TontoBubbaGoldstein June 29, 2012 at 10:54 am

Probably the truest statement on the website….

Meh June 28, 2012 at 9:09 pm

The SCOTUS voted on the law, not based on Obamacare making them smile.

Do not confuse the legality of a thing with goodness per se.

Feral Serf June 28, 2012 at 9:51 pm

The USA’s fiat paper dollar will collapse – thus ending Obamacare.

Comments are closed.