Paul Ryan to Obama: You realize your bill is a fiscal disaster, right?

Via the Standard, this was the most buzzed-about moment among righties on Twitter this afternoon, and with good reason. Now that you’ve laughed at the freak-show stuff, settle in for six minutes of Ryan wonking out about what’s destined to happen to the “cost curve” and our annual deficits if The One’s leviathan bill passes. This has always been a core problem of Obama’s health-care pitch: He knows that the moral argument for the bill — sure, it’ll cost us dearly but it’s worth it to insure the uninsured — is a political loser so he resorts to preposterous assertions about how our giant new federal entitlement will actually save us money in the long run. It’s win-win, you see. (Kaus dubbed this nonsense “Orszagism” after The One’s budget chief.) I think I’ve said before that it reminds me of the left’s arguments about enhanced interrogation. They won’t acknowledge that intel could be lost if detainees aren’t pressured because the public will blanch at that trade-off. So voila: Simply insist that enhanced interrogation never, ever, ever works and the circle is squared. Win-win again. There are no trade-offs in Candyland.

Advertisement

So unpersuasive is his argument that a clear majority of 53 percent says America can’t afford to take these vital “cost-saving” measures right now. (The same poll puts Obama’s health-care approval rating at 35/55.) Viva Orszagism.

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Trending on HotAir Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement