Referendum: 71% Nix Obamacare
By Brian Kirwin | Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 | PolicyIn a crushing blow for Obamacare’s political viability, 71% of Missouri voters opposed Obama’s health care mandate and penalties in a referendum this past Tuesday. 71%!!!!
This was basically a 50/50 state for McCain and Obama in 2008, which means opposition to Obama’s healthcare plan has bled into nearly half of his 2008 base.
Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s effort challenging the Constitutionality of Obama’s health insurance mandate is moving to hearings this fall.
Here’s the funny part – The mandate in health care was a total flip-flop for Obama. Obama opposed it during the primaries with Hillary Clinton, and he criticized Hillary for favoring it. Now it may be the thing that brings it all down.
(2008) “But the big difference is mandates: the Clinton plan requires that everyone have insurance; the Obama plan doesn’t. Mr. Obama claims that people will buy insurance if it becomes affordable. (NYTimes)
Well, that changed mighty quickly, didn’t it?
Just think. If Obama didn’t adopt Clinton’s health care mandate and penalties, his plan would not have Cuccinelli’s lawsuit, 71% losses by referendum, and maybe Obama’s polls wouldn’t be in the basement.
And the lack of a non-severability clause in the health care law means that one missing card brings the whole house of cards down.
Who would’ve thought Hillary would be our Ace in the hole?
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The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled.
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20 Responses to "Referendum: 71% Nix Obamacare"
Hard for Brian to conceal his joy, yet it is clear that the oppositon and obstructionism of the republicans has helped fuel preceived opposition. Of course, low turn out reveals this is only a snap shop, not an accurate reflection of overall sentiment. Fact is, try to repeal benefits citizens now have or will soon have as the plan is phased in, and I suspect the ratio will reverse.
Mike’s been on the losing side of so many referenda that he has his response down to a tee.
Mike,
Even if it is “only a snap shop”, it sends a pretty clear message.
The step from practical to ideological, which included mandates, made it easy for the right and the middle to find common ground against the President.
“Most voters continue to favor repeal of the national health care bill. A plurality believes repeal would be good for the economy.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of voters favor repeal, including 48% who Strongly Favor it. Weekly tracking surveys have found support for repeal has ranged from 52% to 63%.
The Political Class also champions the health care bill much more strongly than Mainstream voters. Fifty-four percent (54%) of Mainstream voters, for example, think repeal of the bill would be good for the economy. However, 72% of the Political Class say repeal would have a bad impact on the economy.
But then 70% of Mainstream voters favor repeal of the health care bill. Ninety-five percent (95%) of the Political Class are opposed.”
All of the above is from rasmussenreports.com
Get rid of Obamacare and start over. That is what Mainstream voters want.
We seem to have 2 classes of people here in the United States. The elite Political Class who thinks that they know what is best for everyone and considers anyone who disagrees with them as stupid little people. And Mainstream voters who are the majority in this country.
The oppositon and obstructionism of the elite Political Class to the desires of the majority of the American citizens is the problem.
So sad, the problems of the elite Political Class trying to convince all the stupid little people that THEY know what is best for them.
Well, since this was a primary, with traditionally low turn out, and the most competitive races were on the republican side, this was 71% of a small turnout in a primary election. Frankly, given this reality, which of course Brian could not have known since his source was Fox News, I am surprised that the percentage was not more. To generalize this with the headline chosen by Bearing Drift, while factual, is misleading.
There are some people who say that the Bush Tax Cuts only help the “Rich”
Not true! Unless Congress takes action and President Obama goes along, rates will automatically go up for everyone who pays taxes — not just “the rich.”
If you want the “truth” about what to expect if Bush Tax Cuts expire, should you trust a CPA or a member of the elite Political Class.
This column was written by William R. Bischoff, a certified public accountant in Colorado Springs, Colorado for PPC, which is part of the tax and accounting business at Thomson Reuters. The opinions expressed here are his own.
“The so-called Bush tax cuts (from legislation enacted in 2001 and 2003) are scheduled to expire at the end of this year. But you may not understand the full extent of what is in store if Congress simply sits back and allows the expirations to occur without making any changes.
Here are some highlights:
Higher income tax rates
Some of you may believe that only individuals in the top two federal income tax
brackets will face higher rates when the Bush cuts go bye-bye. Not true! Unless Congress takes action and President Obama goes along, rates will automatically go up for everyone who pays taxes — not just “the rich.”
Specifically, the existing 10% bracket will go away, and the lowest “new” bracket will be 15%. The existing 25% bracket will be replaced by the “new” 28% bracket; the existing 28% bracket will be replaced by the “new” 31% bracket; the existing 33% bracket will be replaced by the “new” 36 % bracket; and the existing 35% bracket will be replaced by the “new” 39.6% bracket.
My take: The Administration has pledged to keep the three lowest brackets (the 10%, 15%, and 25% brackets) in place. The 28% bracket would be expanded to accommodate unmarried taxpayers with income (whatever that is determined to mean) below $200,000 and joint filers with income below $250,000. Only taxpayers with income above those levels would be affected by the new 36% and 39.6% rates. However, Congress must make changes, and the president must go along for these things to happen.
Right now, that’s looking more problematic than a few months ago, and it now appears that Congress won’t even bring up the subject until sometime after returning from its summer recess in August. The only thing we know for sure is that tax rates will go up for everyone if Congress sits on its hands.
The marriage penalty will get worse
The Bush tax cuts put a relatively favorable framework for married individuals in place to reduce the so-called marriage penalty, which can cause a married couple to pay more federal income tax than if they were single. Note that the marriage penalty still exists for many married couples, but it’s not as harsh as before the Bush tax cuts. However, unless Congress makes changes and the president goes along, the marriage penalty will automatically get worse when the Bush tax cuts expire.
Currently, the standard deduction for some married couples is as much as 200% of the amount for singles. Starting next year, the new lowest bracket of 15% for married filing joint (MFJ) couples will be only 167% as wide as the 15% bracket for singles and the new standard deduction for married couples in other brackets – as well as those who file taxes separately — isn’t as generous.
My take: Presumably, the Administration’s pledge to keep things the same for lower and middle-income taxpayers includes extending the Bush tax cut elements that reduce the impact of the marriage penalty. However, extending those elements would require Congress to make changes and the president to go along. Will it happen? We don’t know, and neither does anyone else
Higher capital gains and dividends taxes for all
Right now, the maximum federal rate on garden-variety long-term capital gains and qualified dividends is 15 percent. Starting next year, the maximum long-term capital gains rate will increase to 20 % (or 18 % on gains from assets held for over five years). Dividends will once again be taxed at ordinary income rates. So, the maximum rate on dividends
will balloon to a whopping 39.6 %.
My take: The Administration has repeatedly said the current 0% and 15% rates on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends will be left in place except for married couples with income above $250,000 and unmarried individuals with income above $200,000.
For that to happen, however, Congress must take action and the president must go along. A few months ago that looked likely, but now it looks more problematic. In particular, we think the odds are rising that dividends will once again be taxed at ordinary rates (of up to 39.6 %), starting next year. We hope we are wrong.
In addition to these changes, both the itemized deduction and personal exemption phase-out rules will return with a vengeance. But current versions of the child tax credit, earned income credit, dependent care credit, and adoption credit are also likely to be continued.
Stay tuned for developments, but don’t hold your breath. Our Washington politicians don’t seem to be in a big hurry to resolve the many tax uncertainties that we have summarized here. Even worse, it appears the odds are increasing that we may not see resolution until after the November election. Good grief!”
Since Clinton raised taxes and Bush lowered them, we now have “Reagan era” tax rates.
Lets keep the Reagan Era tax rates and not have the largest increase in taxes in US history occur on 01/01/2011.
Mike, speaking of “Fox News”… your talking points excusing the defeat of the mandate are identical and in the same order that Kirsten Powers (one of Fox’s token blonde liberals) stated in their “fair and balanced” debate. Has JR anointed you as BD’s own “Kirsten Powers” for the “fair and balanced” side of this blog?
If you need a blonde wig and makeup to become BD’s “Kirsten”, I’ll bet that Brian has access to both that you could borrow from the prop department of one of his plays. You can then include your very own “Kirsten” picture with your comments to remind us so that we aren’t as mean as usual when we comment back to you.
speaking of “Fox News”
Fox News Receives Front-Row Seat in White House Briefing Room
Personally I would just love to see Bill O’Reilly and/or Glenn Beck ask “The Anointed One” a few questions.
Actually Mike taking talking points from the slightly rational and basically nice Ms Powers is a big step up from his Daily Kos cut and pastes of the past IMHO. Mike doesn’t want to admit that 60% of likely voters have consistently favored repeal. He also doesn’t want tto admit that the few “benefits” to seniors are vastly outweighed by all the Medicare and Advantage cuts and phase outs, not to mention the oncoming Berwickian rationing. More generally, leftists refuse to acknowledge that the crooked autocratic process that Obama used to jam a partisan bill through has fatally poisoned this legislation.
Wait a minute, if people want to anoint someone as BD’s own “Kirsten Powers” for the “fair and balanced” side of this blog; why not ask Kirsten Powers herself??
I would favor VP Joe Biden.
Or perhaps Senator-elect JR Hoeft should invite both Kirsten Powers and Joe Biden to write for Bearing Drift. That would certainly be interesting.
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I really feel left out of this conversation since I have no idea who Kirsten Powers is. On the health care issue and the one sided commentary by Brian, no doubt that such a small sampling with a predominately republican in a primary that health care won’t fare well. That said, in a general election, support will be much more evident.
It might hit 35 percent?
That’ll show em.
Well, I want elected leaders to do the right thing, not the popular thing. If popularity were the only measure, blacks and women would not have the vote, social security would mean we all take care of our parents in our own home, and health care would exist only for those who could afford it.
And Mike’s company wouldn’t have gotten a six-figure bailout of taxpayer “incentive” money for a building that was already built.
I know J.R. has lectured me herein that Bearing Drift does not purport to be accurate, it is, afterall, a blog, and its standards do not rise up to those of journalism. Of course, I would never confuse Brian with a journalist; in fact, he does not even act as a journalist. That said, any person who actually values fact and substance has to object to his lead in of this story. “In a crushing blow for Obamacare’s political viability, 71% of Missouri voters opposed Obama’s health care mandate and penalties in a referendum this past Tuesday.” His failure to point out how few voted, and that it was in essence a republican primary, are primary flaws in this so called piece. Now, of course, if these pages are just meant to promote far right candidates, and to spin a tale, then I guess accuracy and rationality are the victims.
Mike, it is really funny how people have partisan appreciation for or against mob rule based on which foot the figurative shoe is on. That quirky constitution of ours really does come in handy. Cuts through the partisan bull poo if we abide by it and don’t try to turn it into some “living breathing” document that “popularity” can over-ride the “right thing” with.
Yes, thank goodness we have embraced being a constitutional republic with democratically elected representatives. Since Obamacare is blatantly unconstitutional, a totalitarian affront to personal freedom and property rights(our money), damaging to the economy and general welfare, I doubt it will stand the test of time or the many lawsuits. Thank you Ken Cuccinelli! You’re my hero. Fer real dude, you rock.
Yes, we need reform like interstate competition, protection for those with pre-existing condidtions, portability, medicare/medicaid solutions, and fixes for “Undocumented Democrats” bankrupting hospitals. That sure doesn’t mean we accept this horrific excuse for reform that was rammed down our throats and stands to ruin our American way of life.
Britt, not to mention tort reform which was conveniently left out of the Bill that was rammed down our collective throats to shut us up and jammed up our collective nether regions to make us squeal by the corrupt spawn of the Devil.
After the damage done by all of that ramming and jamming Government Doctors will. if you don’t die of internal bleeding while waiting to see them, convince us that we did it to ourselves because we didn’t follow the Government mandates on “wellness” by accepting all and questioning nothing.
We will also fall outside of their new actuarial guidelines of health care need so it will be “off to the Death Panels” for end of life counseling.
Mike STILL doesn’t want to admit that 60% of likely voters have consistently favored repeal.
Since a member of the elite Political Class was bleating about how this vote was not important, I should have seen the red flag right there.
Turns out that the Missouri vote was much more significant then I first realized. The stupid little people are very upset and wish to show their displeasure.
Huge numbers of the stupid little people will be voting on 11/02/2010.
And the elite Political Class is still wondering how they are going to vote ??
November Congressional Elections Could Be Replay of 1966 Midterms
A Commentary By Michael Barone
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/political_commentary/commentary_by_michael_barone/november_congressional_elections_could_be_replay_of_1966_midterms
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