Follow @samsteinhp for the best WhiteHousesplaining this side of Carney.
— Jimmy (@JimmyPrinceton) October 28, 2013
When President Obama told Americans, “If you like your health plan, you can keep your health plan,” he was absolutely full of it. But even in the face of harsh reality, many on the Left are still unwilling to admit that Obamacare skeptics were right all along. HuffPo political editor Sam Stein is one of those people. And not only is he in denial about the extent of Obamacare’s failures, but he’s dismissing the evidence of those failures as “anecdotal”:
Yes, some health insurance is getting pricier. Yes, some people who couldn't buy insurance now can. The tit4tat anecdote game kinda sucks
— Sam Stein (@samstein) October 28, 2013
Beg your pardon?
agh. i shouldn't say that. these stories matter. they certainly give us a good insight into the effects of the policy
— Sam Stein (@samstein) October 28, 2013
You shouldn’t say that, Sam. But you did. “These stories” — and there are many of them — offer more than just “insight into the effects of the policy”; they illustrate the flaws inherent in Obamacare.
But according to Stein, Obamacare itself isn’t really the problem; it’s the way it was sold:
@ron_fournier WH sold an impractical vision. But that was the lesson they drew from the Clinton yrs. People didn't want TOO much change
— Sam Stein (@samstein) October 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/NYmoderate/status/394852989103792128
@NYmoderate @ron_fournier actually, a number of groups were worried at the time. unions, for one. and youth advocacy groups too.
— Sam Stein (@samstein) October 28, 2013
Actually, unions and “youth advocacy groups” were among Obamacare’s advocates. The ACA’s still being heralded as a win for young people!
@ron_fournier also, they looked at the system and saw a HUGE mess. Concluded: the millions who will benefit outweigh those who take a hit
— Sam Stein (@samstein) October 28, 2013
Yeah, tell that to the growing number of Americans losing their coverage who now find themselves at the mercy of Healthcare.gov and higher premiums and deductibles.
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@WaldoWilbur the best evidence i've seen is that insurance companies now have to offer more comprehensive plans. that is, in turn, pricier.
— Sam Stein (@samstein) October 28, 2013
And who’s to blame for the pricier plans? The government. It’s the government that’s deciding what’s “up to code,” as our pal Amanda Marcotte put it, even though it should be up to the consumer to make that determination. Why isn’t Sam Stein calling out the government rather than going after “anecdotes”?
https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/394853259438862336
@seanmdav that's an absurd interpretation of my point.
— Sam Stein (@samstein) October 28, 2013
Except it isn’t.
https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/394854305938685952
Wow. @samsteinhp, @jbarro writing off as "anecdotal" middle class families getting hit with rate hikes, cancellation notices. Unbelievable.
— The Curve Is Bent. Time to Free Us! (@NolteNC) October 28, 2013
@NolteNC @jbarro nope. didn't do that either
— Sam Stein (@samstein) October 28, 2013
Yes, Sam, you did. But backpedal some more:
@Matt_Given @NolteNC i was addressing the politicization of anecdotes (on both sides) not the anecdotes themselves. but you both knew that
— Sam Stein (@samstein) October 28, 2013
Except that’s not what Stein said in his tweet. What he did was suggest that stories of lost coverage are just part of an “anecdote game.”
Hey, @SamSteinHP, when do 100s of thousands of policy cancellations become more than just anecdotes. For future reference.
— RBe (@RBPundit) October 28, 2013
@RBPundit trends aren't anecdotes. they are certainly worth covering. and i'm assuming you saw my follow up tweet http://t.co/KNPwOuJKjp
— Sam Stein (@samstein) October 28, 2013
These aren’t trends we’re dealing with. These are real Americans — more and more every day — who are losing their coverage and being forced to either enroll in higher-cost plans or face a penalty.
But back to the original point, just say the words: "Obama lied when he said you can keep your plan if you like it." SAY IT. @samsteinhp
— RBe (@RBPundit) October 28, 2013
But Stein will be damned if he’ll admit that.
https://twitter.com/DJB627/status/394854549237661696
Stein’s only concern right now is making sure the Obama administration gets a pass.
Amusing watching @samsteinhp run around all helpless: "Obama had no other option but to lie to and screw millions in the middle class!"
— The Curve Is Bent. Time to Free Us! (@NolteNC) October 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/394855484840501248
Dear @samsteinhp, the effect of the policy is there are winners & losers. Why won't you acknowledge real people getting hurt? @RBPundit
— S D Winkler (@sdwinkler) October 28, 2013
Real people are getting hurt:
@seanmdav @RBPundit @samsteinhp in my immediate family 2 of 5 lost ins, 2 increased. 1 military. These are real statistics.
— John Beck (@johnabeck) October 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/OrwellForce/status/394858007781466112
https://twitter.com/OrwellForce/status/394859229359521792
This list counts 1.49 million insurance policy cancellations under Obamacare so far. http://t.co/Xv4ddJRuJ7
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) October 28, 2013
But hey:
https://twitter.com/IcebergFive/status/394861845938311168
***
Related:
Twitchy coverage of health insurance cancellations courtesy of Obamacare
‘Keep denying reality, cupcake’: Amanda Marcotte loses her mind before our eyes
Flashback: PolitiFact rated Obama’s ‘If you like your plan, you can keep it’ as ‘half true’
Huffington Post’s Sam Stein on John Kerry confirmation: ‘What up swift boaters!’
HuffPo’s Sam Stein makes ‘joke’ about why Obama spoke early; Believability ensues
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