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The Obama Watch
Obama’s AARP Speech Broke My BS Detector
The President told so many whoppers last Friday that it fried the machine’s circuits.
President Obama spoke via satellite to the AARP “Life@50+” convention last Friday morning and I was foolish enough to turn on my patented BS Detector during the event. Unlike the “fact checkers” employed by the MSM, its special BUNK software was written such that it could recognize White House talking points and separate such input from actual facts. It turns out, however, to have had a fatal design flaw. Although I had successfully tested it on several pathological liars, and even a couple of lawyers, it simply didn’t have the capacity to process the volume of BS contained in a typical Obama speech. The machine was a smoking hulk by the time the President finished answering the final question from the AARP audience.
I probably should have turned it off after observing its reaction to Obama’s first claim about Obamacare’s positive effect on Medicare: “We’ve added years to the life of the program by getting rid of taxpayer subsidies to insurance companies that weren’t making people healthier …” This preposterous assertion, an attempt to put a positive spin on Obamacare’s $200 billion in cuts to the popular Medicare Advantage (MA) program, caused the device to whistle, buzz, and hop around like R2D2 on steroids. And when the President made the additional claim that, “over the next 10 years, we expect the average Medicare beneficiary to save nearly $5,000 as a result of this law,” the machine began to make an odd whimpering noise.
It should have been no surprise that the device responded thus to Obama’s Medicare Advantage lie. As David Hogberg reports at Investor’s Business Daily, “ObamaCare imposes major cuts on the popular Medicare Advantage program, and while the Obama administration has largely delayed them until after the election, enrollees will lose an average $515 in benefits in 2013, according to an IBD analysis.” MA is, of course, a program that allows Medicare beneficiaries to enroll in plans run by private insurance companies. They are very popular, particularly among lower income and minority seniors, because of their flexibility and lower out-of-pocket expenses. Nonetheless, “ObamaCare will cut MA by at least $7.4 billion in 2013.”
Hogberg’s allusion to a delay in these massive cuts until after the election involves a legally dubious Obama administration tactic that I wrote about last April. As the election approached, the President’s re-election team realized the seniors most likely to be affected by the cuts were due to find out about them just weeks before Election Day. Knowing that this would undoubtedly produce a lot of votes for Mitt Romney, they began casting about for a plan to prevent this disaster. HHS Commissar Sebelius came to the rescue with an $8.3 billion “demonstration project” that would temporarily restore MA funds so that seniors in key states wouldn’t begin losing their MA benefits just before it was time to vote.
My BS detection device didn’t actually begin to smoke until Obama started talking about the mythical Medicare trust fund: “We lengthened the life of the trust fund by eight years.” This lie not only caused serious damage to my machine’s internal circuitry, it was too much even for the administration’s lickspittles over at Politico. Recognizing this as Obamacare’s notorious double-counting scam, David Nather points out that the chief actuary of CMS says it is “not possible to count the Medicare cuts as paying for the health care law and extending the trust fund at the same time. ‘In practice, the improved HI financing cannot be simultaneously used to finance other Federal outlays (such as the coverage expansions) and to extend the trust fund.’”
Paul Ryan reiterated the same point during his own speech to Friday’s AARP audience, “You can’t spend the same dollar twice… You don’t have to take my word for it. Ask the chief actuary at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.” This is why Ryan continues to hammer home the point that Obamacare raids Medicare for $716 billion. It is this huge amount of money that Obama and his accomplices claim that they can use to extend the life of Medicare while simultaneously using it to pay for part of Obamacare. Ryan wrapped up his commentary on that topic as follows: “If anyone tries to tell you that ObamaCare strengthened Medicare, just ask them, ‘Where’s the other $716 billion?’”
Sadly, it was the President’s claims about Ryan’s bipartisan plan to save Medicare that precipitated the final meltdown of my BS Detector. Ignoring the fact that every health policy expert worthy of the name has debunked the claim, Obama told the convention’s attendees that Ryan and Mitt Romney want to turn Medicare into a voucher system: “Now, my opponents have pledged to repeal [ObamaCare]… which means billions in new profits for insurance companies, but also would mean immediately increased costs for seniors and would bankrupt the Medicare trust fund in just four years. And what would they replace it with? Their plan replaces guaranteed Medicare benefits with a voucher that wouldn’t keep up with costs.”
This is a brazen lie, and the President knows it. Factcheck.org, an outfit that is by no means biased in the direction of the GOP, confirms that the plan involves no vouchers: ‘Under Ryan’s plan the federal government would pay insurance companies directly, just as it now pays for most of the cost of health insurance for millions of federal workers and retirees.” So, why did the President repeat this stretcher? During the question-and-answer period following his speech, Ryan matter-of-factly explained why Obama and other Democrats keep repeating it: “Voucher is a poll-tested word basically designed to scare today’s seniors.… A voucher is when you go to your mail boxes, you get a check and you are on your own. No one is proposing that.”
Ryan went on to explain that the GOP formula for saving Medicare would merely turn the program into one similar to that which is enjoyed by federal employees, while introducing free market reforms that have already been shown to work under Medicare Part D. He also reminded the audience that no one currently in the Medicare program would be affected in any way by the plan. Such candor from a politician who actually understands health care was refreshing. But it was too late to save my new BS Detector from the tsunami of manure poured on the AARP convention by Obama. Its smoldering remains sit there, a silent rebuke for my rash decision to submit it to such a trial. I will now give it a decent burial.
About the Author
David Catron is a health care revenue cycle expert who has spent more than twenty years working for and consulting with hospitals and medical practices. He has an MBA from the University of Georgia and blogs at Health Care BS.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (33) | Leave a comment
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Appleby| 9.24.12 @ 7:10AM
Sometimes I wonder if only Believers can hear what Obama is actually saying instead of what he wants them to hear. It's amazing to me when people repeat talking points obediently and imagine they are thinking ... but 14 years of living under socialism has taught me that what people say is not necessarily what they think. It's just that people have finally realized that it doesn't matter to the Machine WHAT they think. ..the Machine is going to continue to roll along.
Bill8472| 9.24.12 @ 10:17AM
That's the thing about systems that are collectivized; the system doesn't respond to individual concerns, only to the perceived "needs" of the group, whatever the leaders think the group is and it wants or needs.
The Avenger| 9.24.12 @ 7:23AM
When the media refuses to call out Obama on his lies they do a great disservice to our seniors and the country. how those such as Brian Williams, Andrea Mitchell, and Bob Schieffer sleep at night is beyond me.
Cobalt| 9.24.12 @ 8:47AM
It's really quite simple.
The hell with the United States.
Obama is black, so he gets a pass.
He isn't asked hard questions, nor is he responsible for his horrible record, his Mideast policy, the economy, promoting class warfare, missing 60% of his intelligence briefings, all the campaign trips, all the golf, etc., etc.
Fortunately for Obama, he isn't a damn white person.
Curtis Rasmussen| 9.24.12 @ 12:24PM
I beg to differ. He's as white as he is black. Another convenient truth that the MSM almost completely ignores.
He's using his race to scapegoat anyone that criticizes him. If he talked about his affinity for his white heritage or his attachment to his mother or maternal grandparents, we'd be criticizing President Hillary Clinton or God forbid, the ambulance and skirt chasing Breck girl.
spike59| 9.24.12 @ 8:53AM
"how those such as Brian Williams, Andrea Mitchell, and Bob Schieffer sleep at night is beyond me."
--------------------------------
upside down, hanging by their claws
TinaB| 9.24.12 @ 7:37AM
Same as they always do, with eyes covered, ears plugged and hands over their mouths. Like the monkeys do. And Appleby, as Christ said, the lost have wool over their eyes, but Christ has brought sight to the blind, made the deaf hear and the mute to speak. And we must continue to cry out, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord."
Kwan| 9.24.12 @ 7:40AM
Keeping the suckers, saps, and morons saturated with a non-ending barrage of lies, myths, and absurdities is Obama's modus operandi. It's the only talent he actually possesses. It's the talent of a ghetto street hustler or snake-oil salesman. Shuck-and-jiven some hapless sap out of a couple of bucks. The fact is that Marxist strategists saw the implementation of government-run health care as an important step in their attempt to fundamentally transform the United States into a Totalitarian Socialist State. It will they believe condition the populace into accepting more and more government controlling of their lives, until we are all living in a replica of the Soviet Union. Which is why Obama will lie 24 hours a day to prevent this abomination from being overturned.
Von Mises Jr| 9.24.12 @ 8:38AM
If anyone want to see the truth (NOT what the MSM is reporting), you must see the Univision Interview of Obama where they grill him on his Immigration promise, Fast and Furious, jobs, etc....You have to look it up since the videos are already disappearing into the "Ministry of Information" Memory Hole.
Perhaps the jackasses in Hollyweird and the Wall Street cronies believe what the MSM tells them, but Hispanics are too wise for that, and the Black Ministers are embassies and feel betrayed on the Gay Marriage endorsement by Obama and his Platform.
His supposed base is NOT happy, while conservatives are jazzed.
Purp| 9.24.12 @ 8:40AM
Hahahahaha ... in your dreams.
Von Mises Jr| 9.24.12 @ 9:50AM
At least I don't dream of sodomizing the Ambassador.
Oldefarte| 9.24.12 @ 10:03AM
No VM, not the "Ambassador", but instead the .....BLACK JESUS!!!!!!
CJW| 9.24.12 @ 2:50PM
ObamaboyPurpie, or is it PurpieWassermanSchulz?
Since you have so much free time, answer:
1. Michelle got a raise from$100,000 per year to $350,000 per year for her job as "Community Relations Attorney" from the Chicago hospital that got an earmark from Senator Obama. Could this be a variation of the kickback? I would have more respect for her is she just took the cash like Spiro.
2. How about the Obamas getting the house/land paid indirectly by the Chicago crook Tony Rezko?
3. How about your hero Bubba selling a pardon for one million to Denise Rich for her fugitive husband, Mark Rich? Eric Holder was involved in those pardons.
4. Obama missing 60% of the presidential daily briefings. You are not stupid enough to say he did not miss those meetings because those meetings did not occur because he failed to attend?
5. Obama not providing security to our embassies and consulate, and Ambassador Stevens get killed.
Stop blaming and defaming a dead patriot, Ambassador Stevens to lie for Obama.
6. Most of the muslim countries are rioting against us despite (or maybe because) the apologies and appeasement of Obama.
7. Even Baghdad Bob Carney and the Obama regime finally admitted these were planned terrorrist attacks, and not caused by some silly video.
Von Mises Jr| 9.24.12 @ 3:15PM
CJW, it was worth the $100K to the Medical Center since Michelle's job was to redirect the indigent care to other Hospitals reducing their loses. So much for helping the poor.
CJW| 9.24.12 @ 4:00PM
The Obamas help themselves first.
Interesting tht the Obamas were buying a 2 million dollar house, with the help of Rezko and Michele's earmark assisted raise. So much for living with the poor as a community organizer.
Oldefarte| 9.24.12 @ 8:08PM
Kinda like her job now of REDIRECTING those AFOne jets to Paris, Hawaii and Europe thereby reducing their losses from having to sit idly by not in use. She and MOMMA ROBINSON are doing their civic duty as FIRST %%%WELL WE'RE MOVING ON UPPERS TO THAT BIG WHITE HOUSE IN DC%%%%
Purp| 9.24.12 @ 8:38AM
VoucherBoy and VultureMan are going down in flames. Vouchers given to Medicare recipients that over time don't even keep up with healthcare inflation forces Seniors to pay more - thousands more. The donut hole reopens, costing thousands/year more potentially. Their Medicare plan is a "dog that don't hunt". You've lost that argument, give it up.
Guaranteed healthcare vs. private insurance companies? What an easy choice when rock solid security is what Seniors want.
Mitt the Twit is a terrible candidate, cannot articulate anything, and cannot be defended.
Can't wait 'til November and we won't have to see him no more. He can go ride his car elevator.
spike59| 9.24.12 @ 8:52AM
keep whistling past the graveyard, faithful zombie troll of the Ambassador Killer-in-Chief
btw: people need to be reminded that you're the TURD who has repeatedly blamed Ambassador Stevens for his own death, even though he asked for more protection and was ignored by the Ambassador Killer-in-Chief (and his sniper-dodging sidekick, Shrillary), who promptly used his casketed remains as a campaign prop
Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.24.12 @ 9:14AM
Purp blamed the ambassador for his own death because Stevens couldn’t appease the mob fast enough in his view. Should Obama be reelected, I imagine Purp is adding that to his resume’ for his qualifications for an job on the death panels.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.24.12 @ 9:15AM
a job on the death panels
CJW| 9.24.12 @ 2:53PM
Albert
Purp is a $10 an hour Soros troll who repeats all the DNC email talking points.
I know several persons paid $10 hr by these groups, such as WorkingAmerica, to canvass, hand out Dem brochures, and get out the vote. These people are personable and people friendly thus they are canvassars. Given Purpie's people skills and stupidity, he/she is relegated to the internet.
pogybait| 9.24.12 @ 9:23AM
Purp, you really shouldn’t drop your shovel and your Democrat empowered hooka in celebration of your perceived glorious victory yet.
Oldefarte| 9.24.12 @ 10:07AM
GULP, GULP GULP, you must be swallowing [Monica-style] the Kool Aid of the BJ, huh? They burned the consulate, next maybe it'll be a government structure in this country. %%%%%THEY'RE COMIN TO TAKE YOU AWAY, HA AH, THEY'RE COMIN TO TAKE YOU AWAY%%%%%%%
Oldefarte| 9.24.12 @ 10:14AM
Purp-The-Community-Organizing-Gulper/Acorn-Wannabe strikes again here at TAS!!!!
Juli| 9.24.12 @ 10:19PM
Purp! How ya doing Mr. 2%? I'm certain, given the amount of money you earn, that your liberal beliefs will compel you to pony up more than you owe in taxes to help those seniors, correct?
Hardcard| 9.24.12 @ 9:13AM
FU purp and the soros you rode in on. Your time is running out punk.
Al Adab| 9.24.12 @ 9:33AM
The voters are about to decide this matter not on reality but on their emotional response to the candidates. A competent, logical administrator cannot compare in that realm with a street preacher used to rousing his followers with rhetorical flourishes. Truth and falsehoods matter little when damagogues lead the mob.
Oldefarte| 9.24.12 @ 10:11AM
Ryan and Catron both spell out the obvious, and the LIAR-IN-CHIEF continues his distortions for political purposes. The one and only question is WHETHER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE/VOTERS WILL GULLIBLY BELIEVE HIS HORSE EXCREMENT AS THEY DID PRIOR TO 11/4/08?????????????????
Who Knows?| 9.24.12 @ 11:02AM
Go to powerlineblog.com and click on the “A word to rioting Muslims”, by Pat Condell, at the top of the page. Just about the best straight talk I’ve ever heard---it really puts Islam in its place!
Who Knows?| 9.24.12 @ 11:37AM
Google Pat Condell and watch his Muslim riot youtube---should become an Internet sensation!
Nina in MA| 9.24.12 @ 4:10PM
You can read some pretty good articles in Investment Business Daily too with regards to who and what with the Muslum Brotherhood and the traitors we have in DC, lifting bans and granting visas to known terrorists to enter this country...and that Gen Boykin wanting to cut military spending so we're not considered as big a threat to other countries! Because we all know communists don't lie and at the risk of sounding like I only get my info from IBD....from what I've read, Russia is backing the muslums! Awesome...way to go USA! Disarm the military (no bullets for marines), sensitivity training because we just don't understand muslums all that well,encourage take overs in foreign countries amd send billions over there, don't stand with Israel, sacrifice a few diplomats....and viola...we have a new world order! I'll be packing my bags.....
Who Knows?| 9.24.12 @ 11:19AM
“Ryan matter-of-factly explained why Obama and other Democrats keep repeating it: ‘Voucher is a poll-tested word basically designed to scare today's seniors.… A voucher is when you go to your mail boxes, you get a check and you are on your own. No one is proposing that.’”
Is there a better example of what’s wrong with this country, on so many levels?
Obama asks people what WORDS they hate. “Vouchers”—check.
And, senior citizens, most of them suffering the “normal” pain their karmically irresponsible life brought, are hooked on pills, which MUST be swallowed daily. God forbid this should be stopped!
And, just think---they’d be “on their own”, even though the “voucher” could be a check, and they could STILL buy the medication, THEMSELVES!
America is a “young” nation---day by day, aging children foolishly believe they can just live it up, pay insurance premiums (what, there’s moral hazard; who cares?) and the government will always be there, when eating shit food and not exercising ineluctably yields a disease ridden body.
My Uncle Charlie, lifetime smoker, got emphysema, circa 1964. It was awful---he was 24/7 struggling to breathe. My neighbor, another smoker, around 60 or so, gets regular deliveries of oxygen.
I wonder what their next life will be like?
Hardcard| 9.24.12 @ 4:35PM
when I went to school it was moslem. elijah mohamed the grand wizard of the black muslim gang made the press change the spelling in the 60's.