Obamateurism of the Day

Consider this another OOTD in the category of Two Faces. During this week’s meeting with the House Republican Caucus, Barack Obama told Rep. Tom Price, the chair of the Republican Policy Committee, that he hadn’t made outlandish claims about ObamaCare:

“I mean, the easiest thing for me to do on the health care debate would have been to tell people that, “What you’re going to get is guaranteed health insurance, lower your costs, all the insurance reforms, we’re going to lower the cost of Medicare and Medicaid, and it won’t cost anybody anything.” That’s great politics. It’s just not true.”

Well, we certainly know that, but Obama has made a habit of saying all of the easiest things to sell ObamaCare. Reader Ryan M recalls this statement from Obama’s speech to the joint session of Congress in September 2009 (emphases mine):

“The plan I’m announcing tonight would meet three basic goals. It will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance. It will provide insurance for those who don’t. And it will slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government…..

….Now, add it all up, and the plan I’m proposing will cost around $900 billion over 10 years … most of these costs will be paid for with money already being spent — but spent badly — in the existing health care system. The plan will not add to our deficit. The middle class will realize greater security, not higher taxes. And if we are able to slow the growth of health care costs by just one-tenth of 1 percent each year — one-tenth of 1 percent — it will actually reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the long term.”

Well, it’s a darned good thing Obama hasn’t taken the easy way out of the debate, isn’t it?

Got an Obamateurism of the Day? If you see a foul-up by Barack Obama, e-mail it to me at [email protected] with the quote and the link to the Obamateurism. I’ll post the best Obamateurisms on a daily basis, depending on how many I receive. Include a link to your blog, and I’ll give some link love as well. And unlike Slate, I promise to end the feature when Barack Obama leaves office.

Illustrations by Chris Muir of Day by Day. Be sure to read the adventures of Sam, Zed, Damon, and Jan every day!