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.
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.
-
'Many of us have warned for years of a rising ecofascist threat in response to climate chaos'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Is this the end of cigarettes?
Today's Big Question An FDA rule targets nicotine addiction
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
A beginner's guide to exploring the Amazon
The Week Recommends Trek carefully — and respectfully — in the world's largest rainforest
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
California declares bird flu emergency
Speed Read The emergency came hours after the nation's first person with severe bird flu infection was hospitalized
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Bird flu one mutuation from human threat, study finds
Speed Read A Scripps Research Institute study found one genetic tweak of the virus could enable its spread among people
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Dark chocolate tied to lower diabetes risk
Speed Read The findings were based on the diets of about 192,000 US adults over 34 years
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
ACA opens 2025 enrollment, enters 2024 race
Speed Read Mike Johnson promises big changes to the Affordable Care Act if Trump wins the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
McDonald's sued over E. coli linked to burger
Speed Read The outbreak has sickened at least 49 people in 10 states and left one dead
By Rafi Schwartz, 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