Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) delivered a new moment of Republican failure when he was asked on CBS’s Face The Nation what Republicans can do realistically to stop Obamacare.
Video:
Transcript via Face The Nation:
DICKERSON: And in another major ruling this — last week, the court upheld Obamacare.
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan has been a consistent critic of the Affordable Care Act. And he joins us now from Janesville, Wisconsin.
Mr. Ryan, is the president right? He says Obamacare is now the law of the land, and that’s that.
REP. PAUL RYAN (R), WISCONSIN: I don’t agree with that, John. I think this law is going to collapse under its own weight.
I’m as motivated as ever before to repeal and replace this law, and that’s what we’re working on. What I really worry about, John, with this ruling is the grave injustice it does to the rule of law. I mean, so much for calling balls and strikes. I think Justice Roberts is now counting foul balls as home runs.
And, look, I think that they have done a great disservice to the country, because they’re rewriting laws at the bench. We had three constructionists on the court, when we should have had five. And, so, yes, I’m very shocked at this ruling, but it does not deter us from actually delivering on what we really want, which is affordable care for everybody, and let people choose what they want to buy. And that’s not what this law does.
DICKERSON: But, as a practical matter, you’re going to work against it, but what can you do now?
RYAN: Well, as a practical matter, it means we need to win the 2016 election, and with a Republican president in 2017 replace this law with one that actually works, one that people actually like.
Notice the pause, stumble, and “well” before Ryan began his non-answer to the question. Paul Ryan’s unspoken answer was that Republicans can’t do anything to stop Obamacare while President Obama is in office. Republicans have to hope that they win the presidential election to fulfill their dream of taking access to healthcare away from millions of Americans.
During the interview, Ryan later repeated the meaningless gibberish that Republicans are working on their own health care plan that will replace Obamacare, but he debunked his own talking point one week ago when he admitted that Republicans have no plan of their own that can replace Obamacare.
John Boehner put Paul Ryan in charge of coming up with the Republican plan that will replace Obamacare, and since that time, the Congressman has done nothing but put his foot in his mouth when asked where is the Republican plan.
Rep. Ryan never answered the question because there is nothing that Republicans can do. Obama’s victory in the Supreme Court was crushing. The Affordable Care Act is growing in popularity by the month, and with President Obama planning to push to enroll even more Americans, Republicans are completely screwed.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
Why, in God’s name….I mean Ayn Rand’s name, does the Reichwing want to eliminate affordable healthcare to 10s of millions of Americans?
The CBO indicated that repealing the Affordable Care Act would result in a 350 billion deficit over 10 years.
I thought the Party of No was fiscally conservative?
Rewriting laws at the bench? Correct me if I’m wrong, but a case was brought before the court, and they ruled on it. Isn’t that their job?
OK, Paul: If the ball hits the foul pole, then it still counts as a home run.
Once again, they have nothing. They still want to beat this dead horse even though the Supreme Court basically said that ‘You guys should stop beating up this dead horse. The ACA is the law and shall stay that way!’
Eddie Munster and his gang of thugs arent used to people actually doing their jobs, especially when they dont have to pander to donors. They have no intention of replacing it…its been 7 years and nothing credible has been offered by the gop. They only want it gone because of their desire to negate everything the first black president accomplished due to their systemic racism.
Why is this boy who idolize Ayn Rand even ask about anything fiscal when even fox called out his bullshit?
Paul Ryan’s Budget is So Delusional that Even Fox News is Calling BS
http://politicususa.wpengine.com/2013/03/10/paul-ryans-budget-delusional-fox-news-calling-bs.html
Republican governors do not have to participate. The law doesn’t force them to. Is their a penalty for not participating? Many of them will pay the penalty and not participate in a law that was the brain child of The Heritage Foundation
Just remember this, voters had a chance to boot these GOP out of office and elect a Democrat that would work for them, not against them. Instead, they all won re-election.
The Democrats are to blame for this. They ran away from The ACA and the very people they would have helped, stayed home, or voted for a genuine Republican instead of the faux one.
You guys really do yourselves a disservice with your hyperbolic headlines.
…Lyin’ Ryan showed remarkable flexibility today by sticking his foot in his mouth and shoved his head up his own arse at the same time!!!
The truth hurts you big dummy
Senator …. if Obama Care is so horrible why have millions signed up for it?
Had you Republicans had a plan of your own and posted it so folks could compare, maybe you might have a foot to stand on. All you guys did was sit around and whine while the President actually did something. You lost all your credibility.
Instead of sincerely constructing a plan, instead of blasting the President any time you could, you made yourselves look impotent – which you are.
For the love of everything this is getting ridiculous.
Republicans have painted Dems and anyone else who doesn’t agree with them as satan, communists, evil etc.
They also painted government as the enemy so now
Republicans cannot admit any good done, or else they would be invalidating their own dogma.
Therefore we have a party that knowingly harms Americans, the environment and the country just to remain in power.
This is serious business as you know, since we don’t have the luxury of time anymore due to climate change, pollution and dying oceans.
Republicans cannot be reasoned with. They used to be, but not anymore. Their base is billionaires, the religiously insane and the kkk or nowadays known as the Tea Party.
Arguably, except for billionaires the other two groups are not know for their logic and reason.
All I can say is there seems to be a growth of good people standing up. OWS, Black Lives Matter, Bernie Sanders.
We’re in a dog fight guys, no c…
Because a black guy put it in place?
Ryan had a very comprehensive alternative? But it was a secret and Lyin’ Ryan would have to kill you if you knew what it was.
ASSCLOWN.
Paul Ryan: AKA “Blue Eyed Devil”.
Lyin Ryan certainly is not a fiscal “wonk”. He has never put forth anything that was good for the U.S. economy.
Wisconsin can sure lay claim to the 21st century 3 stooges. Ryan, Walker and preibus.
Yukk.
They have nothing, they haven’t worked on anything, the candidates haven’t put forth anything, he’s a word salad of complete non answers. But now..they’re going to start working on something, didn’t he just say that.
the only way this GOP and Conservative nightmare ends is if dems show up in november 2016. we can send a very loud message and atleast keep the white house and retake the senate. however, the loud message sent by dems in 2008 and 2012 was ignored by the rightwing. we must humiliate them at the polls next year. we need our voters to vote- we vote we win- it is that simple!
“Why, in God’s name….I mean Ayn Rand’s name, does the Reichwing want to eliminate affordable healthcare to 10s of millions of Americans?”
The ACA is a boon to corporate America, in this case, corporate health care, so there are only two reasons left why they would do this. Either they just don’t give a chit if millions of people die, or the President is black. Could even be both. Probably is, in fact.
Either/or, it makes the GOP a despicable excuse for humans.
truly repulsive stuff from paul ryan. they have absolutely nothing to offer America. they have had nothing to offer America for over 7 years now, some say way longer. every time they open their ignorant, arrogant mouths all that comes out is a sarah palin style word salad gibberish that blames Obama for all the evils in the world. every time!!! pathetic!
yes, we are still in a battle with the rightwing. however, if anyone can truly say that HOPE and CHANGE has not come to this nation, especially in the last couple of weeks, than you are a blind and ignorant fool. we are winning. but the battle goes on. November 2016 is very important to winning this war.
hey ryan! we know you hate Obama and the dems. so please tell us something different.
Shame on Dickerson for asking such a stupid question. It IS the law of the land — the Supreme Court gave its blessing through its 6-3 decision. Ryan and his outlaw Repubs should stop wasting time and taxpayers’ money, and the media should cease giving them airtime over it.
I have know idea why the media ever bother to ask “Lyin Ryan” a simple question. He has never answered a question, he’s so stupid that he doesn’t even try to answer a question with a question. He just simply ignores the question by changing the subject. He has BS’d Boehner and the GOP party that he has all the answers, when he has absolutely nothing. His photo belongs under the word “idiot” in the dictionary.
And just what are you going to “replace it with”? The President asked you wingers in Congress to put YOUR healthcare plan on his desk. Crickets!
Why does he hate ROMNEYCARE so much??????
Republicans are fiscally responsible only when it suits them and them alone. Wars that go on the credit card are fine. Tax breaks that support voodoo economics is great. Anything else like universal health care just cost too much.
To end this costly debate and bring the denier machine to it’s knees, we need Obama to order the CO2 scientists to say a global crisis is “proven”.
Think of our children.
Science must end this debate now!
Mr. Ryan, in the recent words by Anthony Scalia…Argle Bargle….
the republicans have nothing to show for 6 years of obstruction, The Tea Party members have shown they are lazy and don’t have the slightest idea about writing legislation…anything the republicans have to say about the subject is complete nonsense.
Ryan was caught smiling when the ruling came down.
He can blather all he wants about “repeal and replace.” The American people see it for what it is, complete and utter BS.
A Republican Alternative Plan to Obamacare?
Sounds a lot like having the government do something. Which is anathema to Republicans, doubly so if it benefits someone other than the Rich.
So why the Republican Vitriol about ACA?
Refunds. By law, the Insurance Companies can only charge 15-20% above what their costs are. Anything more- they have to refund it.
As opposed to prior to ACA- in which they got to hog it all.
Ah, Republicans, you can’t live with them and you can’t live with them. Majority now like Obamacare, SCOTUS affirmed it and like whining children they throw a fit. Of course, there’s always their plan..crickets.
The USA is the last holdout with market-priced medical care not because of any inherent conservative or free market ideology. Rather, as the wealthiest nation that ever existed we are the last ones who can afford it. Switzerland was one of the last advanced economies to abandon market-priced medical care. It is arguably a greater bastion of conservatism than the USA. Switzerland’s women were not granted the right to vote until 1971.
The reason that no nation, including the wealthiest can allow markets to set the prices of medical care indefinitely is that demand for medical care is inelastic. Demand is inelastic if a percentage increase in price results in a smaller percentage decrease in the quantity demanded. Basic economics tells us that sellers facing inelastic demand will continuously raise prices until prices reach the elastic portion of the demand curve. Consequently in every country in the world, all goods with inelastic demand have…”
http://seekingalpha.com/article/164…
Ryan USED to be my rep in HOR until I moved from WI to CA 10 years ago. I eviscerated him at his propped ‘town hall’ meetings with his amen chorus until he just completely ignored me, and had me thrown out and threatened by his gestapo; or just ended the meeting with excuses if media were present.
This guy is a sociopathic fascist…make no mistake. Oh, he’s smart enough; but he’s really, really sick. Probably the most dangerous politician in the world today.
Some people think that Ryan is some kind of financial genius, but he is a charlatan…a trickster, a pretender.
He’s gone from negative net worth before being in Congress to being a Multi-millionaire today. This is impossible unless one is crooked / on the take.
His ‘sweet wife’, Jana is just as much complicit…’on the take’. A blonde grifter. Some speculate that the marriage was an arrangement, – a ‘beard’.
Ryan is NUTS. That’s final.
Where is the push back? I don’t usually watch FTN so am not familiar with the new host, but why no push-back when Eddie Munster claims he has alternatives? I’m sure America would love to hear how we will be able to “buy whatever we want” under the rethuglican plan.
We here in WI are so fed up with and ashamed that we are TEMPORARILY saddled with these koch suckers who~
Not being a big fan of the ACA, it is frustrating and outrageous that conservatives have fought so long against health care reform and still have passed no plan of their own, at least in the House that they have controlled since January 2011. Conservatives opposed reform under Clinton. Other than Medicare Part D, they did nothing under Bush when they controlled congress and the WH. What are they waiting for? The Rapture? My guess is that the conservative vision, assuming one is ever presented to Americans, will wind up looking a lot like the ACA, which is not impressive.
US healthcare is too expensive and too complex. It is past time to socialize the whole shebang and get exorbitant insurance company middlemen out – they provide little service for staggering cost. Insurance companies consume ~30% of each healthcare dollar but provides no healthcare service. It makes no economic sense: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20150131-cost-of-care-u.s.-health-system-is-bleeding-green.ec…
The goal of the Republican party is to defund all programs that serve all the people.. Causing a humanitarian crisis, poverty and homelessness out of control, with 95% of our created wealth unconstitutionally going to the 1% since 2009. This is unconstitutional financial justice. Simple solutions. 1. Justices can make tax breaks unconstitutional, and not taxing the 4000 multimillionaires that don’t pay taxes to pay a minimum of 40% prior to deductions. Make the Fed rain money on the people like they did the banks.
What Paul Ryan said: “Argle-bargle, and jiggery-pokery!”
He’s laughable.
He said there are already better solutions available yet did not name any. I’ve never seen any republican name one. Has anybody?
He then says republicans will go work on a plan to submit to the public. If there are already suitable plans why would they need to go create one?
The smile when he was asked if he would work with the President was answer enough. He has no interest in serving the public – only in serving himself.
I wish Republicans would make their minds up about “activist judges.” They didn’t complain when SCOTUS decided an employer’s religious beliefs could trump existing law (mandated birth control coverage) – or a woman’s right to have routine medical care covered by insurance just as a man’s routine care is covered. Oh no, in typical conservative doublespeak, that was termed a “victory for religious freedom.” Nor did they protest when SCOTUS decided corporations were people and money was speech. And if that wasn’t “legislating from the bench,” I don’t know what the hell is.
The truth is, in typical hypocritical reich-wing fashion, the GOP is just fine with activist judges legislating from the bench, as long as it’s in their favor and in keeping with their narrow-minded and self-serving world view.
Because it appears, to me at least, that Face the Nation’s new moderator, John Dickerson, is as rightwing as any, and probably will next have on McNasty demanding boots on the ground. Dickerson has, for the past three weeks initiated commentary about and against Hillary Clinton. FTN has already become just another “pee on Democrats” talkfest.
Exactly. And that’s the real reason they have nothing to offer – the ACA basically is the GOP offering, with a few improvements. But irrationally, they won’t support their own plan because that would mean working with the President they hate so much.
And realistically, it could be a couple of decades before they come up with a different plan. That’s about how long it’s been since the GOP proposed an actual new idea. For as long as I can remember, all they’ve done is push old, failed policies repackaged under a new name. Every GOP “economic plan” since Reagan has merely been “trickle down” repackaged and foist on us in a new disguise.
BECAUSE the new host, John Dickerson, has proven to me to be even MORE right wing sympathetic than even CBS!
Shameless Lyin’ Ryan is at it again…trying to convince America that Obamacare is bad for them. He is also proving that Republicans will stomp their feet in a hizzy-fit IF the Supreme Court does not rule in their favor. Then mock the court and be dismissive of the law. They tried 55 (or more) times to destroy ACA to no avail. This Supreme Court ruling is the nail in their coffin and should shut them up, but nooooo, like vampires they keep coming back at you. Where’s that stake? Is Ryan crazy or a fool? Or just don’t get it?
Hey Ryan! SHOW US YOUR PLAN! What’s in your wallet? Did you and your little band of elves create something comparable or better than the ACA? Where is it? What is it? Describe it? Show us. {{{ Crickets}}}
It figures. You ain’t got NOTHING. So, take Gov. Christies advice: SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN!