Politics

Pelosi Nearly Calls Obamacare Mandate a ‘Tax’ During Contentious Wordsmithing on ‘Meet the Press’

Nancy Pelosi Almost Calls Obamacre Penalty a Tax on Meet the Press

Democrats have a record of flubs on NBC’s “Meet the Press” (see Joe Biden — maybe). And Nancy Pelosi almost made one this past Sunday while trying to wordsmith her way around the Supreme Court upholding Obamacare as a “tax” while the Democrats work hard to say it is not and are thus keeping to their promise of no new taxes.

That’s a hard task, as Pelosi found out. After host David Gregory pressed her on the issue, Pelosi started talking in circles and caught herself in an almost-awkward position. Politico reports:

“It’s a penalty that comes under the Tax Code,” Pelosi said on NBC’s “Meet The Press” as host David Gregory pressed her to say whether she agreed with the Supreme Court, which deemed the law constitutional because the fee used to enforce the individual mandate amounts to a tax, or with President Barack Obama, who has maintained the fee is not a tax.

“It’s a ta—; it’s a penalty for free riders,” Pelosi said, nearly uttering the dreaded T-word before cutting herself off.

Watch Pelosi struggle to stay on message below:

The confusion continues.

Comments (210)

1 2 3 ... 6
  • djeffcoat
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:39am

    Miz Nancy’s constituents must be really delusional to continue voting for this whack-job.

    Report Post »  
    • 79USMC83
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 10:02am

      LMAO!! The new WORD is “Free Riders” But nothing is free !! You fo to the emergancy room for care without insurance, they send you a BILL !!! My daughter just visted me from out of state and we had to go from the airport right to a medical clinic with my grandson. They have insurance but the clinic still charged us $125.00 for the visit. This is an Oligarchy: a Government of the few to control the people for corrupt and selfish purposes. My grandmother and aunt lived to be 86 , 99 and never had to go to the doctor except at the end. Not much they can do for you at that age. NOTHING will change unless we have TERM LIMITS NOW !! and a FAIR TAX !! Look up how long these TRAITORS are serving. They are career politicians. !!

      Report Post »  
    • Tax Revolt
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 10:57am

      @79USMC83; You are absolutely correct. Had the dems included opening up insurance competition, and acceptance across state lines (like our car insurance), your daughter would have only paid the co-pay. Unfortunately it appears that the so called leaders in DC lack a very important feature that most American families and adults have. Common Sense and the ability to think beyond their one vote book and check book.

      Report Post »  
    • Gold Coin & Economic News
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:06am

      Here’s a basic economics lesson for the most ignorant woman in Congress or maybe the entire world:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOKcdOI25ig

      Report Post » Gold Coin & Economic News  
    • Gold Coin & Economic News
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:12am

      After watching the video, I think I‘m going to be I’ll. Arrrrrghhhhhhh!!! This woman and her ilk have spent their entire political careers creating “free riders” to keep them in power. Nancy, what do you think you were doing when you were riding around in Air Force planes and running up a booze bill of over $200,000? It’s called FREE RIDING on OUR money.

      Nancy, you are the free rider here!!!

      Report Post » Gold Coin & Economic News  
    • love the kids
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:14am

      If she doesn’t call it a tax, then she must disagree with the supreme court ruling, right???

      Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:16am

      Bottom line is there can’t be any free riders. Are the anti-mandate saying the people without insurance and adequate resources not receive care. Cause I‘m tired or paying for people who don’t take responsibility for their own risk and bills. It is no different than individuals who transfer their assets to their children when the get older, so the state picks up their nursing home bills. Rational from the individual perspective, but unethical and fraudulent in terms of the larger community. If people need an economic incentive to be responsible for their own risk and medical bills, then so be it.

      Report Post »  
    • anomnomnommm
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:41am

      Allow Mitt Romney to explain the mandate in this presentation from 2006. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTByvLtYIYA&feature=youtu.be

      Report Post »  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:44am

      I would think that the illegal aliens will remain ‘Free Riders.’ After all they are a protected class….of free riders in every since of the way.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • midwesthippie
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:53am

      …the progressives are against free riders? only when it comes to health care…the world is now upside down…

      Report Post » midwesthippie  
    • flickman
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 12:01pm

      Isn’t she a free rider as well? We pay for her healthcare.

      Report Post »  
    • AmericanFightingMan1
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 12:13pm

      This hag has no soul.

      Report Post » AmericanFightingMan1  
    • JRook
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 12:31pm

      @flickman We pay for veterans health care also, and police, firefighters and other public servants. Your point is? Taxes are a form of payment for services that are provided by various government run entities. Nothing more nothing less. Check the average cost of private school vs. public schools on a per pupil basis and you’ll see public schools are either very efficient or under funded. The figure don’t lie.

       
    • Leader1776
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 1:07pm

      @JROOK
      Please re-word your post. If we pay for ‘services’ only, we wouldn’t be paying for healthcare. Don’t know your whereabouts, but in most locales per pupil costs approach many private schools while providing an inferior product. No one (except those in the systems) believe public schools are efficient or under-funded.

      Report Post » Leader1776  
    • AmericanFightingMan1
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 1:31pm

      JROOK, wrong you are my friend. You aren’t paying for it, my kids are. Why? Because fools who believe we are actually “paying” for what we receive in services are delusional. It is on the credit card. Maybe you are part of the Barney generation where if you want something, it just happens. Poof. Magic.

      Private schools versus Public. Hmmmm. Let me see. Marxist indoctrination versus maybe some real education with enough instruction on God and Country to keep our kids, perhaps, from becoming hedonistic animals that the public schools churn out.

      Keep it going baby. You got me laughing big time.

      Report Post » AmericanFightingMan1  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 1:46pm

      That’s the way JROOK..use the terms you were issued by your keepers “free riders”..I must have heard that 20 times from Obama’s cronies over the weekend.
      Obama just imposed the biggest tax hike on the middle class in US history and you’re going wtih “free riders” are you sport?

      Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 2:01pm

      While Govenor, did Mitt Romney enacted the largest tax increase in Ma. history? In 2009, in Mitt’s Op Ed calling for the Mandate, was Mitt advocating a tax increase on the American Public?

      Report Post »  
    • lookatthefactsjack
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 3:22pm

      The libs keep skipping over the most important part of this whole issue…. It’s not the well to do who have no insurance, it’s the poor and the working poor. The same people who don’t have any money to pay this penalty (tax). SO…. if they can‘t afford insurance and can’t afford the penalty, who pays????

      Damn right, the middle class

      Report Post » lookatthefactsjack  
    • I.Heart.America
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 3:44pm

      Reminder to azz-tro-turf San Fran Nan….your side argued that it IS a TAX in court. You GOT what you asked for…A TAX

      Report Post » I.Heart.America  
    • I.Heart.America
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 4:10pm

      Please sign the Repeal It ALL Petition started by Senator Jim Demint of S.C.

      http://www.repealitall.com/?c=bd1260e8bc77e978f374a01a1f8338d5

      I.Heart.America  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 5:23pm

      ENCIDIOT..what’s “good” for MA isn’t necesarily good for Florida or Ohio or PA though is it champ? The one-size-fits-all Obamacare is succeeding in raising premiums not lowering them.
      Now that Obamcare is a tax the money to pay the premiums on “pre-existing conditions” is going to the IRS not to the insurance companies. This is what the mandate was meant to cover. Now watch your premiums skyrocket up. You’re such an idiot.

      Report Post »  
    • RejectFalseIcons
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 6:27pm

      The free riders are the 545 oligarchs in washington getting fat off our descent into serfdom.

      Report Post » RejectFalseIcons  
    • bobbiejean
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 7:04pm

      @DJeffcoat, Yeah, Jeff. Sorta like the constituents who keep voting for Rangel.

      Report Post »  
    • dustyweasel
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 10:27pm

      They honestly believe we are stupid. I’m urging all that I know to vote. karma is coming…

      Report Post »  
    • charleyrocks
      Posted on July 3, 2012 at 4:21am

      I am wondering about the poor, will they have to pay a tax if they don’t get insurance or will medi take care for free?

      Report Post » charleyrocks  
    • bigdaddyt46
      Posted on July 3, 2012 at 6:50am

      this is how i was able to figure out economics and i hope this helps:

      i would like a ferrari, i cannot afford a ferrari, therefore i won’t get one. i know what you‘re saying Larry that’s just crazy talk, let‘s break it down ok let’s break it down. i would like a ferrari, i cannot afford a ferrari, therefore I WON’T GET ONE. near as i can figure it congress says we would like a ferrari, we cannot afford a ferrari, therefore we’ll take the red one. in fact we’ll take 535 of them, that’ll be really neat.

      Larry Miller

      Report Post » bigdaddyt46  
    • boyd9
      Posted on July 3, 2012 at 10:44am

      The mandate is probably the least onerous of all the provisions in this 2600+ page intrusion into our personal lives, it is just the thing that was immediately irritating about Obamacare. If the mandate was not part of this bill, I still don’t like Obamacare. It creates a huge government bureaucracy, increases the number of IRS agents and attempts to regulate all aspects of health care-personal, doctors, insurance companies, prosthetic devices, etc. America is NOT Europe. this is a large complex economy and the Europeans can’t even regulate there rather small economies. If they were successful then they might be worth emulating but when they are all on the verge of bankruptcy because of these silly green energy and entitlement programs then attempting to follow them and do what they did to completely destroy themselves makes about as much sense as sending your 3 year old to play on the freeway. We know what the end result of this kind of government intrusion is, Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, etc, are the current modern day examples of the unavoidable consequences of this kind of Progressive foolishness.

      Report Post »  
  • dbdbdb
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:38am

    Dingbat!

    Report Post » dbdbdb  
  • webuildchampionsB1
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:36am

    If I am to understand her the purpose of Obamacare is to make healthcare more affordable by penalizing the 1% who can pay for insurance but chose not to?

    … they should be called Deceitacrats

    Report Post »  
    • anomnomnommm
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:42am

      Allow your new candidate to explain it to you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTByvLtYIYA&feature=youtu.be

      Report Post »  
    • TheDan
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 2:36pm

      @Anon: And here is your candidate speaking against the individual mandate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FknJLMc84bo

      What’s your point?

      Because the point of this article is speaking direclty to the mandate only being Constitutional when the mandate is classified as a tax. And yet, the leaders in the Democrat party are trying to deceive their constituents by calling it a penalty, instead of a tax. It is a tax, just be honest about it.

      In regards to former Gov. Romney, do you not think there is a difference between a state mandate and a federal mandate?

      Report Post »  
  • tbo
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:34am

    Wasn’t it Queen Nancy that said something like “Hey, quit your job- we will pay for your health coverage” to her liberal artists. Isn’t that Free Loading? Wasn’t the mandate/tax supposed to prevent Free Loading?

    Report Post » tbo  
    • Tax Revolt
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:02am

      Exactly. She wants those who are not productive in society (entertainers, artists, political activists,) to continue to not be productive in society so they can focus on their art. This would leave them without any type of health insurance.

      Report Post »  
    • tbo
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 6:51pm

      So does Timothy Geithner have to figure out what he owes the government with “TurboMandate”

      Report Post » tbo  
    • Dougsopinion
      Posted on July 3, 2012 at 10:41am

      Jrook, you stated that public schools are either very efficient, or under funded. Neither is true. The problem is too many administrators making over$200,000 a year, along with a unionized teacher with a pension rivaling the presidents. Throwing more money at that problem will not solve anything. I can teach a classroom full of students if I stick to the AGENDA. I don’t have a college degree, but I can get more results in one day than a unionized teacher can get in a month. And it would be the truth that I would teach, not some watered down version of history, or current events etc. You want to know what the problem is with this country? Look no further than your public school systems, and their curriculum. Indoctrination, indoctrination, indoctrination.

      Report Post »  
  • SREGN
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:31am

    Oh what a tangled web we weave…..

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 10:07am

      Exactly, she can’t even remember what the latest lie is.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Silversmith
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:02am

      No kidding!!! If it’s a penalty it is unconstitutional. If it is a tax it is constitutional -(barely) So it was a penalty to get passed, a tax to remain on the books, now it is a penalty again???

      If it’s a penalty and and a tax – IT’S NEITHER —- IT’S THEFT. Having it both ways should be a mandate to replace this law AND this administration.

      Silversmith

      Report Post » Silversmith  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:49am

      Furthermore, the bill that started these 21 new ‘taxes’ started in the Senate. What does the Constitution say about that?

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • rickinpa
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:30am

    Pelosi – “it’s a penalty for free riders” SO the Illegal Aliens will be penalized for Healthcare, education, etc? What a joke this administration is…it would be funny if it wasn’t fing up our country.

    Report Post »  
  • Fonz777
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:29am

    truthful lips endure forever

    Report Post » Fonz777  
    • Bluebonnet
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:43am

      No Hope, No Change. I’m ready for a new cause New Hope, New Change and God Help US. I tried the spoonful of Obama and it didn’t go down well at all. In fact, I’m sick, depressed and ready to FIGHT against this liberalism. NO Obamatax, no obama at all. Don’t believe him.

      Report Post »  
  • USPATRIOT101
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:28am

    This woman needs to go the way of Hugo Chavez.

    Report Post » USPATRIOT101  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:26am

    If you feel yourself being overcome by BAD NEWS, like nancype’s lies, just move on over to MADISON RISING’S version of OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM and restore your courage, folks!

    Report Post »  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:26am

    If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck…..

    Report Post » biohazard23  
  • Tigress1
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:24am

    That interview was amazing. David Gregory repeatedly asked Pelosi if Obamacare was a tax and each time she denied it and refused to say the word “tax”!
    Hey, Dingbat Pelosi! The SUPREME COURT said it was a tax! If WE have to accept it as a tax, so do YOU! You just realize that the Democrat Congress and Obama were DECEITFUL when you sold us Obamacare and WE KNOW IT! Obama is going to pay for that dishonesty in November when he gets kicked out!
    We are TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY! Get it?????

    Report Post » Tigress1  
  • ripvanwinkle
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:23am

    Tax: A compulsory contribution to revenue levied by the government. As they said in Avatar: I see you.

    Report Post » ripvanwinkle  
  • brntout
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:18am

    “Come on and take a free ride”. Thanks Pewlosi for putting that tune in the list of tunes stuck in my head for the day.

    Report Post »  
  • Stratosaurus
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:17am

    Ah, the always-lpvely but never-sensible comrade piglosky! To quote many fellow Navy vets: “If brains were gasoline, she wouldn‘t have enough to drive a pissant’s motorcycle halfway around a ball bearing.” I’m firmly convinced that all that plastic surgery and botox injections have affected the fourteen functional synapses remaining inside that heavily-calcified skull. I think the best method to use while interviewing comrade piglosky would be to use direct questions, and tell her that the only acceptable answer would be a yes or a no. While connected to a polygraph. On national TV.

    I’m sure that if all media outlets did this, we would no longer be saddled with the inanities coming from the libturd insane clown posse. Hooking a politician up to a polygraph whenever on television would be a GREAT idea. Show the multi-trace graph paper as an inset, then have an analysis by a certified-neutral polygraph expert presented on-camera immediately after the interview is finished. We would NEVER see Odildo the Mad on TV again.

    And that would be a good thing….

    Report Post » Stratosaurus  
  • OhioRifleman
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:17am

    I think she almost dropped a freudian slip there.

    Report Post » OhioRifleman  
    • oneshiner
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:26am

      OK, Proof Positive as to what that puluzie is full of, you know what.

      Report Post »  
  • alrunner58
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:16am

    Poor ole women I didn’t understand a word she said. I guess when your entire life is a lie it’s hard to remember the truth or even what you said a year ago.

    Report Post » alrunner58  
    • oneshiner
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:37am

      That’s the liar, progressive, liberal tactic. They double talk, spin it, turn it over, burn it a bit and when they’re finished, they hope you can’t remember what they said or why. They said NONSENSE as always.

      Report Post »  
  • brntout
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:15am

    At least they’re free- riding ,and not free- loading,you twit.

    Report Post »  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:12am

    The truth to Nancy Pelosi would have the same reaction as water poured on the Wicked Witch of the West! Thank God that my parents had the sense enough to move us back from the Bay Area in 1955.

    Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • Rickfromillinois
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:12am

    A rose by any other name…….Call it what you may Dems, IT”S A TAX! That’s what the administration said it was when arguing the case in front of the Supreme Court and that is why the Supreme Court said that Obamacare was Constitutional, because Congress has the right to tax. If it is not a tax, then Obamcare has no right to enforce it’s “mandate”.

    Report Post » Rickfromillinois  
    • oneshiner
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 10:10am

      Let’s apply the correct word when we talk about it from now on. It’s OBAMATAX.

      Report Post »  
  • RightUnite
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:08am

    What the hell is this idiot smoking? So, we can assume the word “Penalty” is the new word for “Tax” then??

    Report Post »  
  • PingPongPing
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:08am

    a simple majority can overrule Obamacare even if there were 0nly 50 Republicans including the President, because this is just a tax measure. Thank you Judge Trai.. er, Roberts….

    Wait for it, November is just around the corner.

    Report Post » PingPongPing  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:06am

    Of course it’s a tax,Nancy’s just doing what comes natural to career politicians,she’s lying.Twenty one new taxes to pay for ‘free’ health care,and it would’ve been safer for Roberts to let the constitution guide him like Scalia,Thomas, Kennedy and Alito did. If Romney loses the tax can still be rescinded if the republicans get a majority in both houses.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:22am

      PROGRESSIVESLAYER, You make a good point there. Maybe they do see this coming and Pelosi is trying to deflect enough to keep a potential small margin of Republicans in the Senate from repealing the law.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • MeCpl13
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:37am

      Sad thing is it isn’t even free, my family is going to be paying much more when this travesty comes into full play in ‘14. Quite honestly I have no idea what we’re gonna do. P.S. Pelosi, if we have to accept this as a tax, you have to admit it is a tax. You stupid twitface.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:03am

    Obama, Pelosi and Reid, as with the administration try to spin it as a ‘mandate’ or ‘penalty’ when that terminology is to their best advantage; and as a ‘tax’ when it is otherwise to their advantage, they are playing both sides off the middle, seeing total gain while actually setting up their own downfall.

    I still say they are trying to validate it under the mandate/penalty to avoid a repeal when the Right takes back the Senate and the White House. For them its all a matter of perceptions and distortions, they still are evil and corrupt with darkness to the core.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • TEXASGRANNY73
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:13am

      Just saw the movie The Rum Diary with Johney Depp. Nancy Pelosi reminds me of the tongue they saw when on drugs. Dipstick with lipstick. She is a fanatical joke..

      Report Post »  
  • blazesmatts
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:02am

    What the heck is she talking about? Doesn’t hardly make sense. People who have the where-with-all to buy insurance and don’t are free riders? So, someone making $80,000….$120,000 $250,000….or even $50,000 are NOT buying health insurance and going to the emergency room for all their care?? Who does that? THOSE are the people making health care more expensive cause they don’t buy it? Really? The $90,000 earner doesn’t buy health insurance? Man, that just sounds idiotic, but if you don’t pay attention to what she says….you wouldn’t notice. If you‘re blinded by bias would wouldn’t take the time to run the statements back through your head and rationalize it yourself. I hope everyone is waking up.

    Report Post »  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:15am

      It almost sounds like an attack on illegal aliens, but we know it’s not. That will never happen as long as the likes of 0bama and any democrat can buy votes.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • TEXASGRANNY73
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:17am

      Some of us have been awake since 2006 when this fanatic was in her rant then.

      Report Post »  
  • PA PATRIOT
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 8:59am

    The TRUTH will PREVAIL.
    Nancy. “You have to pass the bill before you can find out what is in it.”
    March 9, 2009
    The sleeping giant is awake.
    11-6-2012

    Report Post » PA PATRIOT  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:05am

      Indeed, they have woken the sleeping giant of the WE the PEOPLE, of America, and now they will comprehend our wrath shall be most severe.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • TSUNAMI-22
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:11am

      @ Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}

      Indeed, they have woken the sleeping giant of the WE the PEOPLE, of America, and now they will comprehend our wrath shall be most severe.
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      I’ll believe that when I read some headlines regarding assassinations.

      Report Post »  
    • kickagrandma
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:13am

      Not only is the sleeping giant awake, it is stirring and staggering to its feet after decades of slumber, shaking its great head, clearing the fog that surrounds it. WOE to its enemies for the sleeping giant called RIGHTEOUSNESS will reign once again, and soon!

      Run and hide you little wormette, nancype. Best take your vbf harrietreid with you and your other vbf, the blaquecawcaws.

      WE THE PEOPLE ARE COMING. WE SURROUND YOU. Yep, that was us you nearly tripped over. Watchale machita.

      Report Post »  
    • KoolAidDrinker
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:20am

      More Smoke and Mirrors….More Bait and Switch…

      Report Post » KoolAidDrinker  
    • Tigress1
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 10:58am

      The sleeping giant is awake a p!ssed off!

      Report Post » Tigress1  
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