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Tomi Lahren, a 24-year-old media darling who’s done a stellar job of memorizing and parroting Fox News talking points, caused an uproar at Politicon, a non-partisan event featuring debates and panels of differing political views. The fresh-out-of-college conservative managed to nab a role as senior adviser for communications at the Great America Alliance, a pro-Trump PAC after being fired from Glenn Beck’s media company in March. She took the stage to debate comedian Chelsea Handler and from the start, her comments, ranging from her defense of Donald Trump to her bashing of President Obama caused the crowd to jeer, hiss and laugh.
But none got a bigger reaction than when the conversation pivoted to a discussion about the Affordable Care Act. Here is the key exchange. From Fortune:
"I believe it's my right to purchase health care, I don't believe it's my right to pay for it for other people," Lahren told Handler. "We need to find alternatives — what we have now is not working. What we had before Obamacare wasn't working."
Lahren repeatedly argued against the law, which President Obama signed in 2010. But she did say at one point that she was still on her parents' insurance plan because of it.
"Do you have a health care plan or no?" Handler asked Lahren.
"Well luckily, I'm 24, so I am still on my parents' [plan]" Lahren replied.
The audience immediately began laughing and cheering, but Handler shushed them. "Stop, stop, stop, she's being honest," she said.
Many in the audience can be heard shouting, “Thanks, Obama!” Even after Handler scolded the crowd and the jeers died down, Lahren still couldn’t bring herself to admit the ACA has helped many, including herself. She still had to spin it thusly:
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Lahren said. "To say there are things from Obamacare that are not positive, that's not true."
After conservasplaining her opposition to Medicaid and going on a state’s rights rant, see her comments about her own health care and listen to the audience reaction. The full panel can be seen here, but jump to the 10:00 minute mark to hop to the highlighted section.