Did Jonathan Gruber earn ‘almost $400,000′ from the Obama administration? How Little-Known MIT Professor Jonathan Gruber Shook Up Washington This Week Nov 14, 2014, 5:36 PM ET By SHUSHANNAH WALSHE via WORLD NEWS
He’s an MIT economics professor famous for his critical role in advising the Obama administration on the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. He’s known as the “architect,” although Democrats involved with the law’s passage take issue with the title.
Before Obamacare, he also advised the creation of a similar law in Massachusetts, sometimes called Romneycare, after Mitt Romney, who was governor of the Bay State at the time. Despite some resistance to the term “architect,” Gruber joined the president’s transition team in 2008 and no one disputes he played a key role in the law’s creation. The Washington Post reports he was also paid "almost $400,000" for the work, controversial in its own right.
Gruber has made controversial comments in the past, but they don’t compare to the comments that came to light this week, six videos in total and counting – including one where he refers to the “stupidity of the American voter.” In another, when talking about Obamacare tax credits, he said, “American voters are too stupid to understand the difference.”
“If you have a law that makes explicit that healthy people pay in and sick people get money, it wouldn’t have passed,” Gruber said in a video from 2013. “Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage and, basically, call it the stupidity of the American voter or whatever. But basically that was really critical to getting the thing to pass.”
In yet another from 2012, Gruber said in a speech at the University of Rhode Island: “It’s a very clever, you know, basic exploitation of the lack of economic understanding of the American voter.”
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
“Gruber is like a lot of people who were involved in the debate. He’s an economist. He’s not a political analyst or commentator,” said Jay Angoff, who used to oversee Affordable Care Act implementation for HHS and who does not know the economist personally. “He’s not a legislator. He’s not a staff guy. He’s like 300 million other Americans who can have their opinion.” “I don’t know who he is,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi claimed Thursday, although she has referred to his work in the past. “He didn’t help write our bill.”
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
“Gruber is like a lot of people who were involved in the debate. He’s an economist. He’s not a political analyst or commentator,” said Jay Angoff, who used to oversee Affordable Care Act implementation for HHS and who does not know the economist personally. “He’s not a legislator. He’s not a staff guy. He’s like 300 million other Americans who can have their opinion.” “I don’t know who he is,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi claimed Thursday, although she has referred to his work in the past. “He didn’t help write our bill.”
Orwellian...Pelosi drops his name and his MIT credentials when selling the bill to the public. Now, he is just one of 300 million Americans with an opinion. Pelosi should have referenced box-a-rox's opinion of Obamacare. It's the same thing.
I can't believe it took this guys comment to convince people they were lied to by the federal government. Oh the outrage.
Politics is the art of deception on a massive scale.
When Gruber said "stupid Americans" he wasn't talking about you or me, Cicero. He was talking about Boxy.
Even now, after six videos of this guy BRAGGING on how they all scammed and lied (including the direct involvement of Obama himself) about Obamacare....Boxy still defends them.
Boxy makes excuses for them.
They lied to Boxy and Boxy loves them for it.
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
Anyone who voted for Obama twice is too stupid to have a discussion with.
Yea just think, we could have had McCain and Bimbo Palin! LMAO!
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Yea just think, we could have had McCain and Bimbo Palin! LMAO!
But we get a complete liar and fraud as POTUS and a VP who is so stupid and retarded that Obama can walk up to anyone and shoot him in the face and nobody would dare impeach him. That's how retarded Biden is.
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
It would be nice if you could bring yourself to quit making nasty, sexist remarks about a female candidate for higher office, Box, but I suppose it's too much to ask. Calling her stupid names doesn't really change anything about her. Anybody notice that John Kerry's male running mate was not subject to all the "heartbeat away from the Presidency" scrutiny that Ms. Palin was? Why? Because being male, he was entitled to a free pass from people like Katie Couric? They knew, btw, about his unorthodox family situation when he was a candidate for higher office, but they didn't think it mattered as much as everything about Sarah did, evidently. I wish Kerry and Palin had won. I can't think of any area where they wouldn't have done a better job than this bunch.
It would be nice if you could bring yourself to quit making nasty, sexist remarks about a female candidate for higher office, Box, but I suppose it's too much to ask. Calling her stupid names doesn't really change anything about her. Anybody notice that John Kerry's male running mate was not subject to all the "heartbeat away from the Presidency" scrutiny that Ms. Palin was? Why? Because being male, he was entitled to a free pass from people like Katie Couric? They knew, btw, about his unorthodox family situation when he was a candidate for higher office, but they didn't think it mattered as much as everything about Sarah did, evidently. I wish Kerry and Palin had won. I can't think of any area where they wouldn't have done a better job than this bunch.
The republican party is full of capable, smart, effective and successful women who could have ran for the VP spot. Instead, McCain picked an air head with no experience, no talent (other than finishing third in the "Miss Alaska" Pageant. IMO, opting for Palin over so many qualified Republican women is much of the reason the GOP has trouble attracting women candidates and women voters.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
The republican party is full of capable, smart, effective and successful women who could have ran for the VP spot. Instead, McCain picked an air head with no experience, no talent (other than finishing third in the "Miss Alaska" Pageant. IMO, opting for Palin over so many qualified Republican women is much of the reason the GOP has trouble attracting women candidates and women voters.
I am NOT saying that Palin was the best choice or even a good choice nor was she the worst for a Vice Presidential nominee -- however -- it is interesting that Box uses very demeaning sexist language when attacking Sarah Palin (interestingly -- so has Paul Tonko in the past). Quite honestly, this proves the HYPOCRISY and LACK OF INTEGRITY of the extreme left when it comes to issues like Respect for Women and Women's Rights. Apparently, the only women who deserve respect from Box and certain extreme liberal politicians are women who agree with them. Oh -- and lest we forget -- the extreme left doesn't think female unborn babies deserve ANY respect or any rights. Our own Congressperson voted AGAINST making gender selection abortion (which primarily targets female unborn babies) illegal. Our own Congressman chose to take the same position on gender selection abortion as the leaders of Communist China and North Korea.
Sarah Palin vs. Barack Obama By Gerard Baker - September 1, 2008
Democrats, between sniggers of derision and snorts of disgust, contend that Sarah Palin, John McCain's vice-presidential pick is ridiculously unqualified to be president.
It's a reasonable objection on its face except for this small objection: it surely needs to be weighed against the Democrats' claim that their own candidate for president is self-evidently ready to assume the role of most powerful person on the planet.
At first blush, here's what we know about the relative experience of the two candidates. Both are in their mid-forties and have held statewide elective office for less than four years. Both have admitted to taking illegal drugs in their youth.
So much for the similarities. How about the differences?
Political experience
Obama: Worked his way to the top by cultivating, pandering to and stroking the most powerful interest groups in the all-pervasive Chicago political machine, ensuring his views were aligned with the power brokers there.
Palin: Worked her way to the top by challenging, attacking and actively undermining the Republican party establishment in her native Alaska. She ran against incumbent Republicans as a candidate willing and able to clean the Augean Stables of her state's government.
Political Biography
Obama: A classic, if unusually talented, greasy-pole climber. Held a succession of jobs that constitute the standard route to the top in his party's internal politics: "community organizer", law professor, state senator.
Palin:A woman with a wide range of interests in a well-variegated life. Held a succession of jobs - sports journalist, commercial fisherwoman, state oil and gas commissioner, before entering local politics. A resume that suggests something other than burning political ambition from the cradle but rather the sort of experience that enables her to understand the concerns of most Americans..
Political history
Obama: Elected to statewide office only after a disastrous first run for a congressional seat and after his Republican opponent was exposed in a sexual scandal. Won seat eventually in contest against a candidate who didn't even live in the state.
Palin: Elected to statewide office by challenging a long-serving Republican incumbent governor despite intense opposition from the party.
Appeal
Obama: A very attractive speaker whose celebrity has been compared to that of Britney Spears and who sends thrills up Chris Matthews' leg
Palin: A very attractive woman, much better-looking than Britney Spears who speaks rather well too. She sends thrills up the leg of Rush Limbaugh (and me).
Executive experience
Obama: Makes executive decisions every day that affect the lives of his campaign staff and a vast crowd of traveling journalists
Palin:Makes executive decisions every day that affect the lives of 500,000 people in her state, and that impact crucial issues of national economic interest such as the supply and cost of energy to the United States.
Religious influences
Obama: Regards people who "cling" to religion and guns as "bitter" . Spent 20 years being mentored and led spiritually by a man who proclaimed "God damn America" from his pulpit. Mysteriously, this mentor completely disappeared from public sight about four months ago.
Palin: Head of her high school Fellowship of Christian Athletes and for many years a member of the Assemblies of God congregation whose preachers have never been known to accuse the United States of deliberately spreading the AIDS virus. They remain in full public sight and can be seen every Sunday in churches across Alaska. A proud gun owner who has been known to cling only to the carcasses of dead caribou felled by her own aim.
Record of bipartisan achievement
Obama: Speaks movingly of the bipartisanship needed to end the destructive politics of "Red America" and "Blue America", but votes in the Senate as a down-the-line Democrat, with one of the most liberal voting records in congress.
Palin: Ridiculed by liberals such as John Kerry as a crazed, barely human, Dick Cheney-type conservative but worked wit Democrats in the state legislature to secure landmark anti-corruption legislation.
Former state Rep. Ethan Berkowitz - a Democrat - said. "Gov. Palin has made her name fighting corruption within her own party, and I was honored when she stepped across party lines and asked me to co-author her ethics white paper."
On Human Life
Obama: Devoutly pro-choice. Voted against a bill in the Illinois state senate that would have required doctors to save the lives of babies who survived abortion procedures. The implication of this position is that babies born prematurely during abortions would be left alone, unnourished and unmedicated, until they died.
Palin: Devoutly pro-life. Exercised the choice proclaimed by liberals to bring to full term a baby that had been diagnosed in utero with Down Syndrome.
Now it's true there are other crucial differences. Sen Obama has appeared on Meet The Press every other week for the last four years. He has been the subject of hundreds of adoring articles in papers and newsweeklies and TV shows and has written two Emmy-award winning books.
Gov Palin has never appeared on Meet the Press, never been on the cover of Newsweek. She presumably feels that, as a mother of five children married to a snowmobile champion, who also happens to be the first woman and the youngest person ever to be elected governor of her state, she has not really done enough yet to merit an autobiography.
Then again, I'm willing to bet that if she had authored The Grapes of Wrath, sung like Edith Piaf and composed La Traviata , she still wouldn't have won an Emmy.
Fortunately, it will be up to the American people and not their self-appointed leaders in Hollywood and New York to determine who really has the better experience to be president.
Gerard Baker is US Editor and Assistant Editor of The Times of London.
ADDENDUM: American citizens allowed to be murdered by terrorists while Obama played golf or went to fundraisers or slept? 4 in Benghazi + at least 2 at the hands of Isis
Americans killed due to Sarah Palin: 0
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
OMG BUCK....I just spit my adult drink out my nose!!!!!!
as far as credentials go....palin wasn't the best nor was she the worst. the only credentials obuma has is that he wasn't white!!!
funny how the radical, racist left can call a female/Palin a BIMBO....but don't ya dare reference obuma as BLACK!! ya just can't make this stuff up!
HOWEVER......it is the entire system that sucks!!! we were talking to some relatives that lives out of state....the are DONE voting!!!! they believe, as do many these days....that it is a rigged corrupt system and they won't be a part of it!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
One more American is dead at the hands of terrorists. When will President Obama and the "terrorism deniers" (extremist liberals in the Democratic Caucus in Congress) wake up and realize the threat that these terrorists pose to national and global security ?????????????????? How many Americans will have to die at the hands of terrorists before Obama, Pelosi, Reid and Tonko stop blaming everybody (GW Bush, GOP in Congress, Fox News, etc.) but the terrorists for terrorism?
Below is a letter from Peter Kassig written to his family while in captivity: The family of American aid worker Peter Kassig released the following letter that he wrote while in captivity. The Islamic State extremist group claimed on Sunday it killed Mr. Kassig, a Muslim convert who had worked to provide medical care for victims of Syria’s civil war.
It is still really hard to believe all of this is really happening… as I am sure you know by now, things have been getting pretty intense. We have been held together, us foreigners … and now about half the people have gone home. … I hope that this all has a happy ending but it may very well be coming down to the wire here, and if in fact that is the case then I figured it was time to say a few things that need saying before I have to go.
The first thing I want to say is thank you. Both to you and mom for everything you have both done for me as parents; for everything you have taught me, shown me, and experienced with me. I cannot imagine the strength and commitment it has taken to raise a son like me but your love and patience are things I am so deeply grateful for.
Secondly, I want you to know about things here and what I’ve been through straight from me so you don’t have to wonder, guess, or imagine (often this is worse than the reality). All in all I am alright. Physically I am pretty underweight but I’m not starved, & I have no physical injuries, I’m a tough kid and still young so that helps.
Mentally I am pretty sure this is the hardest thing a man can go through, the stress and fear are incredible but I am coping as best I can. I am not alone. I have friends, we laugh, we play chess, we play trivia to stay sharp, and we share stories and dreams of home and loved ones. I can be hard to deal with, you know me. My mind is quick and my patience thinner than most. But all in all I am holding my own. I cried a lot in the first few months but a little less now. I worry a lot about you and mom and my friends.
They tell us you have abandoned us and/or don’t care but of course we know you are doing everything you can and more. Don’t worry Dad, if I do go down, I won’t go thinking anything but what I know to be true. That you and mom love me more than the moon & the stars.
I am obviously pretty scared to die but the hardest part is not knowing, wondering, hoping, and wondering if I should even hope at all. I am very sad that all this has happened and for what all of you back home are going through. If I do die, I figure that at least you and I can seek refuge and comfort in knowing that I went out as a result of trying to alleviate suffering and helping those in need.
In terms of my faith, I pray everyday and I am not angry about my situation in that sense. I am in a dogmatically complicated situation here, but I am at peace with my belief.
I wish this paper would go on forever and never run out and I could just keep talking to you. Just know I’m with you. Every stream, every lake, every field and river. In the woods and in the hills, in all the places you showed me. I love you.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson