Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Selling Obamacare: Inside Gruber's Comic Book

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Jonathan Gruber---the MIT economic professor called the "architect" of the president's signature accomplishment, not only created Obamacare but created a comic book to help sell it.

Nobody much read it, and I wouldn't waste the space to mention it except that this whole fiasco---the comments about the "stupidity" of American voters, the purposeful deception of the public, the disastrous impact of Obamacare on America's health care system, and now a comic book, all at taxpayer expense--- personifies the progressive left in the most illuminating way.

The Heritage Foundation found that Gruber's Obamacare comic book can be purchased, used, for $389.44 on Amazon. A collector's item? Or you can purchase a new copy on Amazon for about $5.

The magic of this comic far exceeds the magic of the yellow brick road.


Professor Gruber wrote and starred in a 150-page comic book titled, "Healthcare Reform: What It Is, Why It's Necessary, How It Works."

All this, of course, is elevated in interest following at least 8 different videos that have emerged showing Professor Gruber telling audiences that he and the president's people purposefully lied about Obamacare, otherwise the law would not have passed, and that all that was necessary because of the "stupidity" of the American people.

The "stupid" American voters may have learned more from all this than intended by the administration.

The comic book has 12 chapters with titles like, "Through The Past, Darkly" and "Selling Fear Instead of Facts."

Gruber himself is a character in the comic, who chronicles the journeys of four Americans as they navigate the health insurance market under Obamacare.

One of the lines Gruber, the character, uses is, "That's not too painful."

A growing majority of Americans feel Obamacare is "too" painful and now want it repealed.

In the comic, Gruber takes the readers to Massachusetts where he helped Mitt Romney craft a similar health care law.

He defines that as a place where hearts, castles and cupcakes abound.

But in Texas, the second stop on the yellow brick road, the residents don't fare as well. He says the Lone Star State is "a perfect example of how the health care system spends resources poorly."

One of his characters, a white male, tells Gruber he fears Obamacare will "muck-up" his existing health care plan.

You've heard Gruber's next line before: "If you like your plan, you can keep you plan."

We now know millions of people received cancellation notices from their "plan" immediately following the roll out of Obama's plan.

And cancellations will continue in the coming weeks of enrollment.

Gruber pays attention to the fact that some citizens are worried that Obamacare is a "redistribution of wealth."

Not to worry, he reassures the readers in comic book fashion, "This Is Not Socialism."

There is also a character in the comic book that bears a strong resemblance to Rush Limbaugh, who is spreading misinformation and lies about Obamacare.

Misinformation and lies.

When the comic book was introduced, then Senator John Kerry praised it calling it "fun and informative."

I don't find the fun, but all this is very informative.

President Obama praised the work of Economics Professor Jonathan Gruber, saying he had actually "borrowed " a few ideas from Gruber.

The New York Times and The Washington Post applauded him.

Sarah Kliff, with the Post, praised the comic book for doing a "pretty fantastic job translating complex policies into comic book form."

And therein is the problem.

Fantasy in comic book form.

This episode also translates the complex confusion of far left secular progressivism into voter's ballot form.

The president, Nancy Pelosie, Harry Reed and all of them are running away from Gruber, not because of principle, but because you now know what they knew all along.

The president told the press last week, after at least 8 different videos emerged with Gruber telling his audience the voters are stupid, we had no choice but to lie to them and deceive them because this bill had to pass, that Gruber was "some adviser who never worked on our staff."

Nobody believes that. We all now know Gruber was the lead person. And he was paid $400,000.

The lies will never stop, because it is the tool that fuels secular progressivism.

In the world of secular progressivism, the end always justifies the means because there is no absolute truth---everything is always "evolving."

The far left progressives are trying hard to forget Gruber--move on, etc., but it would serve this country well if the "stupid people" across the country would not forget him.

He personifies the secular progressive left.

There will be a new class of secular progressive elites who will begin making the sale as to why they should be president of these great United States. They will kiss babies, hug their parents and put their hands on the Bible to show they are "one of us."

Some will be "one of us," some will not be.

Unfortunately, some will be found in both political parties.

The 2016 presidential election, I believe, will be won or lost by conservatives in the primary elections across this country, more than in the general election.

I think we all agree, America can't sustain another experience like this.

Nearly 100 years after America was born, James Garfield said, "Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them... If the next centennial does not find us a great nation...it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces." Published in the Atlantic Journal 1877.

The 2014 election was a good first step, but 2016 is a threshold that will impact our children and grandchildren. We've got to get it right.

Be Pro-Active. Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Informed. Be Prayerful. Be Blessed.