Jon Stewart thinks Jon Gruber's 'dickish comments' are the GOP's best shot at finally sinking ObamaCare
A year after its disastrous launch, the ObamaCare website is running flawlessly, just in time for 2015 open enrollment, Jon Stewart noted on Tuesday night's Daily Show. Too bad that good news has been completely swamped by year-old comments from MIT health economist and ObamaCare consultant Jonathan Gruber. Stewart played all the highlights of Gruber suggesting that voters are stupid and Democrats hid the structure of ObamaCare.
Stewart said he can see why Republicans hate this "super-egghead" economist "jerk" from "Taxachussetts" who talks in the same "pinched nasal tone" as Hollywood uber-nerd Eddie Deezen. But now Democrats hate this "Progressive boogeyman," too. Nancy Pelosi, who has cited him by name before, says she doesn't even know who he is. Stewart said the Democrats should "come clean" about previously denying that the individual mandate is a tax.
Then he addressed Republicans: "You've tried to kill this law every which way: 50,000 congressional 'repeals,' defunding threats, lawsuits up the wazoo — which, by the way, fully covered now under ObamaCare — but you keep trying, and now your best remaining move, the strongest card in your deck, looks to be the Gruber" and his "off-handed and kind of dickish comments." Well, that plus the Supreme Court. --Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
What's behind Trump's last-minute merch push?
Today's Big Question With just weeks to go before the election, Donald Trump is spending the waning days of his campaign hawking a suite of new products, from silver coins to cryptocurrency
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kamala Harris' plan to raise taxes on corporations and the wealthy
the explainer Tweaks, rather than sweeping overhauls, characterize the Democratic nominee's proposals
By David Faris Published
-
The most notable October surprises
In the Spotlight Late breaking news in October has the power to rock presidential races
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Texas dairy worker gets bird flu from infected cow
Speed Read The virus has been spreading among cattle in Texas, Kansas, Michigan and New Mexico
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Dengue hits the Americas hard and early
Speed Read Puerto Rico has declared an epidemic as dengue cases surge
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US bans final type of asbestos
Speed Read Exposure to asbestos causes about 40,000 deaths in the U.S. each year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Seattle Children's Hospital sues Texas over 'sham' demand for transgender medical records
Speed Read Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton subpoenaed records of any Texan who received gender-affirming care at the Washington hospital
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Afghanistan has a growing female suicide problem
Speed Read The Taliban has steadily whittled away women's and girls' rights in Afghanistan over the past 2 years, prompting a surge in depression and suicide
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US life expectancy rose in 2022 but not to pre-pandemic levels
Speed Read Life expectancy is slowly crawling back up
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Vallance diaries: Boris Johnson 'bamboozled' by Covid science
Speed Read Then PM struggled to get his head around key terms and stats, chief scientific advisor claims
By The Week UK Published
-
An increasing number of dog owners are 'vaccine hesitant' about rabies
Speed Read A new survey points to canine vaccine hesitancy
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published