It's a good thing Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) is retiring his year, because he's totally lost his ability to pretend like he's the elder statesman, the president pro tempore of the Senate who is devoted to the institution and to the people he serves. At one point, Hatch was the Republican who would work across the aisle with Democrats, particularly on expanding access to health care. That's definitely a thing of the past.
Sen. Orrin Hatch says supporters of the Affordable Care Act are the "stupidest, dumbass" people he's ever seen.
Speaking about the massive GOP tax overhaul at the American Enterprise Institute on Thursday, the Utah Republican took some time to blast the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
"(We) finally did away with the individual mandate tax that was established under that wonderful bill called Obamacare," Hatch said. "Now, if you didn't catch on, I was being very sarcastic. That was the stupidest, dumbass bill that I've ever seen."
"Some of you may have loved it. If you do, you are one of the stupidest, dumbass people I've ever met," Hatch added. "There are a lot of them up there on Capitol Hill from time to time."
He also described Obamacare as one of the most "regressive taxes" in the tax code, especially because lower-income families were "paying most of the freight." He said it was one of the "great ironies" of Obamacare.
The feeling is mutual, sir. Besides that, that's not how the law works. The individual mandate wasn't making lower-income families pay more. Anywhere. If they couldn't afford the penalty, they were exempt from it. If they live in an enlightened state, they could get Medicaid. If they make too much for Medicaid, they get a subsidy to pay for health insurance. Every part of his policy description is wrong. All of which Hatch should know very well, since he's been doing this stuff for forever. Including back in 1993 during the Clinton administration's efforts to reform the healthcare system. Back then, Hatch cosponsored a bill with . . . wait for it . . . an individual mandate.
And, by the way, Obamacare is more popular than it's ever been, so those "idiots" Hatch is talking about are the majority of voters.