One of the traits of Republicans who hate the social safety net is a lack of empathy. This congressman hated Obamacare. He explained his transition, and while commendable, it displayed a certain selfishness that did not go unnoticed.
Obamacare-hating congressman confesses support now
Former Congressman Republican David Jolly (R-FL) made a confession about Obamacare on the Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell that every Republican or Obamacare hater must hear.
“It wasn’t just the wealthy that lost their doctors and their plans,” former Congressman David Jolly said. “Listen, I’m a tale of two patients. Prior to Congress, I lost my doctor. I lost my plan under Obamacare. And it was a part by subsidizing those who needed additional coverage. But Lawrence I’m going to share something with you and the American people tonight that most people probably don’t know. Here’s the other patient that David Jolly is. On January 4th I was a former member of Congress unemployed with no health insurance and a pre-existing condition. And while I ultimately chose a private-sector plan, I also knew in 2017 Obamacare provided an exchange that was a safety net that wasn’t there before. And to be honest with you if I had had to rely on it I knew it was there. And that’s why the politics of Obamacare in 2017 are different than 2013. I lost my doctor, and I lost my plan in 2013, and I was angry about Obamacare. And I ran for Congress. But in 2017 as an unemployed person with a pre-existing condition, I knew Obamacare was there as a safety net if my wife and I needed it.”
David Jolly did not get it all correct. He is still articulating much of the rhetoric designed by the GOP think tanks. The loss of his doctor is likely because he chose a plan that did not include his doctor or his doctor chose not to participate in the marketplace.The same similarly applies to his health insurance plans.
Jolly was not subsidizing Obamacare in the way he defined. The expensive emergency room services or the unpaid medical services provided to the uninsured have always been subsidized. Obamacare simply brought a level of honesty by taxing those with more means. The taxes on capital gains and other instruments removed some of the burdens from all who suffered from our very immoral health care system.
Even as he was not accurate in his assessment of Obamacare, he came to the right conclusion about the security that Obamacare afforded. Unfortunately, his lack of empathy only made that apparent to him when he was directly affected. He may not realize it, but absent Obamacare, the protections like no caps, no rescissions, no pre-existing condition limitations, and many others would not be available to him. The former congressman is not unlike other Republicans who changed their stances on important issues only when affected directly. Such was the case with Ohio Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) who changed his stance on same-sex marriage.
Until America bites the bullet and adopts the only logical system, single-payer Medicare for all, that provides insurance to every American citizen, many will continue to suffer both emotionally and economically. Wealth creation by the masses will continue to stagnate as the medical industrial complex (pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, capitalist doctors, and hospitals) continue their pilfer.
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