The Administration Thinks We’re Stupid

According to briefs filed by the Justice Department, the Administration is defending the insurance mandate provisions of Obamacare from constitutional challenge by arguing that the mandate is lawful under Congress’ "power to lay and collect taxes." Let’s put this is plain English: the mandate provisions are a tax and the Constitution allows Congress to tax you.

You may recall that President Obama denied vehemently during the run-up to the bill’s passage that the mandate was in fact a tax. We heard this argument during all of 2009 and you probably do not need to be reminded of it, but please do watch this video.

Conservatives were saying all along that the mandate is a tax. We are saddened but not surprised by the Administration’s position. However, I am waiting for a reaction from Democrats to the fact that this Administration and the Democrats in Congress treat the American people as if we were stupid. For there is no other way to describe it. President Obama lied, Pelosi and Company lied and they could not even be bothered to get their story straight at a time when a long-forgotten interview can be retrieved on YouTube in a matter of seconds.

The Administration’s legislative strategy is premised on the notion that the American people have no long-term memory or capacity to compare and contrast statements uttered on separate occasions. They can use whatever talking points they believe are necessary to promote legislation regardless of the possibility that they may be required to contradict themselves in the future. They are telling you what they think you want to hear.

If the Administration and the Congressional leadership lied so readily about the tax provisions in Obamacare, why should you think that this is the first – or last – time they have been less than forthright with you? What else are they lying about now? Why should we trust anything coming out of this White House or the Democrats on Capitol Hill?

I ask Democrats if they are willing to relinquish their self-respect to further this Administration’s agenda. Even if they agree with Obama’s policies, do they accept the notion that government should be free to lie to its constituents without any fear of repercussions?

These are the politics of contempt. The Administration has displayed an appalling lack of respect for the American voter. They have trammeled over the principle of government by the people for the people when, in fact, we do not work for Washington; Washington works for us. (I realize that you might feel otherwise around April 15th.) The truth is that the Administration and the Democratic caucus are comprised of individuals whose salaries are being paid by the very people they are willing to deceive.

How would you react if one of your employees lied to you in such an egregious manner? I suspect that you would do everything in your power to fire that person. At the very least, you would be skeptical of anything that staffmember tells you in the future. How could you trust him or her?

Congress’ performance review is coming up on November 2nd. Will you let the lies go unpunished?