If you're even thinking about pursuing a life of crime, I'd stay away from anyone in the Obama administration. After seeing them sell out the CLASS Act so fast this week, it's a bit of wonder they pushed for it at all in the first place.
This is a recurring theme with this particular administration, and a sad commentary on how far the Chicago political machine has fallen into disrepair. At least back in the day they got stuff done and actually stood by it.
The rise and fall of the Class Act, a key component of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, not only represents a microcosm of the reform law as a whole, but the administration's broader political strategy – for a lack of better word.
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Maybe they never had any intention of backing up the Class Act, figuring once Ted Kennedy died it didn't matter anyway, but you have to wonder why they touted that section of the reform law at all when trumpeting its deficit-reduction side effects, implying that its elimination will actually have an adverse impact on an already bleeding budget.
Speaking of adverse, who was the genius who drafted this thing up as voluntary to begin with? Anyone with half a brain could see the adverse selection in that program coming a mile away: The old and sick would be the first in line while the youngsters kick back on Mom and Dad's couch – since they're still on their insurance plans, anyway.
So, from that perspective, the CLASS Act's passing is an act of mercy, but along with so many other legislative moves and policy decisions, you've got to wonder who's advising these people.
And this wasn't some sudden, morning after decision, either. You could see the Department of Health and Human Services inching toward this months ago, so they knew what they were doing.
First you enrage the right by shoving this law through Congress when there were clearly other priorities. Now you tick off the left by backing off when the going gets tough. I swear Obama makes Jimmy Carter look like a Nobel Prize winner.
Does the administration stand for anything?
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