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Somewhere, somehow, a memo must have gone out to Republican lawmakers who voted for the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the Republican bill to repeal and replace Obamacare: If you are attacked for undermining protections for people with existing health problems, jab back by saying the claim got Four Pinocchios from The Washington Post.
That’s not true. Republicans are twisting an unrelated fact check and are misleading voters. We have found at least seven politicians who have done this.
Rep. Peter J. Roskam (Illinois’s 6th District): In a debate on Oct. 22, he said: “Sean [Casten] has falsely accused me of being against protecting people with preexisting conditions and that was fact-checked by The Washington Post, who gave that four Pinocchios.”
Rep. Rodney Davis (Illinois’s 13th District): In a debate on Oct. 18, he said: “The lies about preexisting condition coverage being taken away have been scored a Four Pinocchio by The Washington Post. Read the bill. In the bill, it specifically says, ‘Nothing in this bill shall allow insurance companies to deny anyone coverage for preexisting conditions.’” […]
We asked these lawmakers whether they would be willing to withdraw the citation of the Pinocchios. None agreed to do so.
That’s dismaying. These lawmakers have been put on notice that they are peddling a falsehood — and politicians who care about their reputation should acknowledge they made a mistake and offer an apology.
Instead, they apparently believe it is politically advantageous to continue to deceive the voters in their districts. It is especially galling because many accuse their opponents of spreading lies — and then cry Four Pinocchios.
We urge news organizations in the districts to highlight the brazen misappropriation of our fact checks. Sunlight is sometimes the best disinfectant.
Roskam said his Democratic opponent had falsely accused him “of being against protecting people with pre-existing conditions, and that was fact-checked by the Washington Post who gave that four Pinocchios.”
No such fact check exists. […]
We don’t hand out Pinocchios, but we have a similar measure for whoppers like Roskam’s. We rate it Pants on Fire!
* Tom Kacich at the News-Gazette…
[Congressman Rodney Davis’] problematic campaign statements extend to his debate performances, such as one in Decatur last week where he said that he “helped lead the charge to protect pre-existing conditions” in the Republican-backed American Health Care Act.
“Language matters,” said Davis, “and this language was in our bill. It rightly points out that nothing in this act shall be construed as permitting health insurance issuers to limit access to health coverage for individuals’ pre-existing conditions. Those are the facts.”
But among the facts is that ACHA “would have weakened protections for people with existing health conditions,” according to the Washington Post, the Congressional Budget Office and other sources.
“States would have had the option to make changes that could have left people with pre-existing conditions vulnerable to large increase in premiums, according to the CBO report,” the Post said. “In effect, the CBO said, in the states that took full advantage of the possible waivers, the guarantee that preexisting conditions are protected would be so undermined that it would be worthless.”
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 9:45 am
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The Republican Party is fully the Party of Trump now. The willingness to outright lie about anything and everything in clear contravention of objective evidence is an utterly frightening development for our republic.
It is also straight out of the authoritarian playbook. And as the events of the last week - mail bombs, Kentucky grocery store assassinations, and synagogue massacre, perpetrated by unstable persons bathed in lies about minorities and foreigners - the consequences of using blatant lies for political ends can be deadly. It has to stop.
Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 9:56 am
It’s always interesting when people notice for the first time that Pete Roskam is a shameless liar.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 9:59 am
Peter Roskam, like every other House Republican, is lying about his active role in trying to take away protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
That he is also lying about his lying should surprise no one.
Comment by slow down Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 10:09 am
I will wait to vote on Election Day, something might break.
Right now Roskam is looking desperate and has no real reason to vote for him. Today my vote leans Casten.
Comment by Last Bull Moose I Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 10:18 am
That Republicans have become the party of Trump - willing to lie about anything - is not news. Do the voters notice and will they care is the question.
But really, it’s so unbelievably shameful that these GOPers across the country voted for a bogus bill that says pre-existing conditions are protected and think that counts. But fail to mention that “protected” means insurance companies can charge whatever they want for those same pre-existing conditions thus rendering the “protection” completely bogus. And they wonder why the public trusts Democrats more on health care.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 10:27 am
“Language matters,” said Davis…
Yep, and your continued protestations that you are protecting the pre-existing condition issue includes ignoring the real life implications of: (WAPO), “the CBO said, in the states that took full advantage of the possible waivers, the guarantee that preexisting conditions are protected would be so undermined that it would be worthless.”
So, tell me again Davis, why I should vote for someone who tells half-truths over and over???
Comment by Anon221 Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 10:42 am
Took the Post more than 1100 words of mental gymnastics to qualify the cited result in their first fact checker…not sure it helped?
Comment by WahhPo Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 10:57 am
It is astonishing to me the Dems at county levels cannot effectively convey the notion Republicans fall in line and on both sides of the ballot every single “R” is backing these losers (and Rauner and, by default, Trump).
Comment by Don Gerard Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 11:22 am
These unprincipled weasels might get away with lying about their stand on pre-existing conditions today, but it can’t last. Too many people will get tuned up if they get their way.
The fact that the national GOP will walk K-Street in spike heels and short-shorts to earn for their Big Insurance Sugar Daddies is a despicable, reactionary betrayal of the American people, who are just trying to work and get by, and could use some protection from their government from an illness or injury putting them in the poor house.
I can’t fathom it. It’s a government attack on the many to benefit the few. Thoughts and prayers, see you in church.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 11:30 am
It’s a good article, but I’m somewhat afraid that unless it becomes a 30 sec. spot blasted everywhere, those few of us with WAPO subscriptions have already voted or know this to be the truth already. Not sure it will change any minds or votes, but at least it’s out there and the right people can use it appropriately.
Comment by Not so silent majority Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 11:32 am
Wow GOPie centric CNG spanks Desperate Davis…sounds like they are sounding the abandon the GovJunk boat
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 12:52 pm
Real Clear Politics on Friday had Davis up 5
Comment by Pick a Name Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 1:23 pm
Republicans. . . . against health care before they were for it.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 29, 18 @ 5:54 pm