We all remember. Obama is giving a speech to a joint session of Congress and when Obama claimed that his proposal would not mandate coverage for illegal aliens, Joe yells out, “You lie!” This is in GQ because I don’t want to debate if reprimand and not censure was appropriate or Obamacare or anything like that. It just struck me that SCOTUS is pretty consistant that not providing services for illegal aliens is unconstitutional, so was Joe Wilson actually correct and that Obama’s health care plan as of September 2009 would mandate coverage for illegal aliens?
I went on wikipedia and they talk about affordability credits and whatnot but Obama was talking about “these reforms” and “insuring immigrants” and not specific pieces of the legislation was he?
Politifact and FAIR do in fact concur there are no mechanisms in place to verify immigration status. Oddly Politifact still rates Wilson’s statement as false, even though everyone with two brain cells to rub together knows it is highly probable for this gaping hole to be used for illegals to get treatment in the system. (maybe some pay into it, maybe some won’t - but it isnt the point either)
I dont have a problem with people breaking down Politifact’s findings as a reference, but their concluding truthometer ratings leaves much to be desired.
Even assuming there are gaping holes, “has holes that will allow coverage for illegal aliens” != “mandates coverage for illegal aliens”. Unless the above quote was incorrect. I don’t care enough to look it up.
Yes, people can cheat the system; they can cheat any system. But there is no mandate to cover illegal aliens, so Obama’s statement was true.
Actually, covering illegal aliens would reduce costs*, but politics is the art of the possible, and with the bigotry against illegal immigrants, it’s not possible.
*If an illegal requires medical care, someone will have to pay for it. That would be you.
By not closing the obvious loopholes while this was being crafted, it shows one thing only. Team Obama prefers they get covered. It fits with Obama’s overall attitude regarding illegals, which is to say the more the merrier.
(Noting above: It’s a shame there are people who can’t weigh in on any issue that touches on illegal activity or system-gaming without throwing out the word bigotry, prejudice, racism, etc.)
“Team Obama” specifically enacted a law prohibiting illegal immigrants from having coverage. And to you, this is proof that they want illegal immigrants to have coverage.
I’m assuming that if “Team Obama” had done the exact opposite and enacted a law giving illegal immigrants coverage, that would also be proof that they wanted illegal immigrants to have coverage.
And if it rains tomorrow and you see worms on the sidewalk, I suppose that’s also proof that Team Obama wants to give illegal immigrants coverage. You just have to know how to interpret these things.
Unfortunately continuing this hijack; I can’t let, “more the merrier”, stand about “Team Obama.”
Don’t let the facts get in the way: The number of illegals entering is at the lowest level in ten years (an 80% drop) and deportations have exceeded 400,000 per year (higher than any period during Bush-the-younger admin) since “Team Obama” has been in office. 3 things Americans don’t need to worry about
So I’m confused…
Does the law prohibit illegals from having Health Insurance?
Does this mean any employer group insurance that knowingly covers an illegal is violating the law?
Or does it simply not penalize them (unlike citizens) if they do not get health coverage?
Either way, I have trouble seeing how Wilson was even close to being right.
From what I understand about this, nothng has changed from today. Illegals typically do not have coverage; but if you show up and ned emergency treatment, you will get it regadless if questions are asked and regardless of the answers… Whether you are in the country illegally or there on a tourist visa or simply failed to pay health insurance premiums as a citizen. It’s a doctor’s duty to help people in immediate need, not to boot dying people to the curb.
From what I have read, then the hospital will come after you for payment, just like today if you are not covered. If your are working for minimum wage or below, you will not be able to pay. Joe Taxpayer will have to cough up, as usual.
That still does not make Wilson right. It just means doctors have an oath to uphold.
Well I guess this is where we always get wrapped up in semantics, technicalities, mixed with blatant partisanship.
With everything Ive read, I take Wilson’s outburst as a sign of disgust with the president for knowingly allowing a loophole to exist which will inevitably cover illegal aliens. The loophole IS there. It was also easily spotted and could have been fixed. Instead of fixing the problem - it was defended. That is the crux of the problem as I see it.
So there are two points to look at:
Obama and Democrat senators left the door wide open - on purpose. (Obama’s baby ,“SCHIPS” is a good prior example of how he rolls, legislatively)
On sentence structure because that’s how the game is played, technically - Wilson’s statement would be considered false as there is no provision specifically granting them access.
I rate the context of Wilson’s argument as half true.
If you’re referring to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, that was originally passed in 1997. I had no idea that a first-year member of the Illinois State Senate had the clout to push something like that through Congress.
Is it deliberately “leaving the door open” if people in need of emergency care still get it regardless of their ability to pay? Just like today? Just like any civilized country or person would do?
If the rules had been actively changed so that there will be services or payments that are not there today, specifically targetting illegals, then maybe Wilson had a point. But I’m still not seeing what you mean.
You may take it however you please. Psychological speculation about the state of mind of a heckler yelling two words in the course of a political speech is pretty much fair game.
But if it is taken as an assertion about the literal truth of a particular statement made by Obama, then Wilson’s outburst was wrong.
Which is the factual question that the OP was asking about here in GQ:
“He’s taking credit for the previous administration’s policies” is a whole different objection than saying that his attitude is “the more the merrier.” If the numbers are accurate, your characterization of Obama is a great example of cognitive dissonance.
It’s entirely within Obama’s power to undo the Bush policies that you claim he’s taking credit for. His actions don’t match your opinion.
