Here's a quick summation of what basically happened this morning on the first day of Obamacare hearings in the Supreme Court...
Though the top Obama administration's attorney would like to have it both ways, referring to the fine for not purchasing insurance under the mandate as both a “penalty” and a “tax,” at least two justices prodded at this notion to the point of Obama's man being laughed at!
Here's the entire hearing of Day 1 for those interested.
ADDENDUM I: Rick Santorum took to the steps of the Supreme Court following Monday's oral arguments, positioning himself as THE candidate to make the repeal of Obamacare a leading issue in the 2012 race.
ADDENDUM II: Mark Levin led the first couple of segments in Monday's program delving into Day 1 of this most important issue:
TheRightScoop: Mark Levin explains what happened on the first day of Obamacare at the Supreme Court and why Obamacare’s individual mandate penalty cannot be a tax. Not only that, but he also includes audio of Obama in 2009 making a compelling argument that it can’t be a tax and Acting White House Budget Director Jeff Zients agreeing as well.
And Mark posts on his website for Monday's program:
"The fate of the nation in many respects is being argued in the Supreme Court this week during the Obamacare hearings. The Administration wants to fundamentally change the relationship between the citizen and the federal government by forcing a person to pay into a healthcare plan that they may not want. The individual will no longer have the power to make voluntary, free thinking decisions."
ADDENDUM III: CNSNews points out a noteworthy exchange on Monday in which Justice Samuel Alito forced solicitor general Donald Verrilli to admit that under Obamacare 'free riders' will not be eliminated despite the individual mandate; that is, a select group of people will be permitted to receive health care benefits, but not have to pay for it, not be compelled to purchase insurance, nor will they be required to pay a penalty. Basically, more subsidized freebies. Huh, kinda sounds like class or racial profiling...
