Exposed: Donald Trump's Sham Populism

[OKIsItJustMe]

Last edited Fri Mar 10, 2017, 07:42 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/exposed-donald-trumps-sham-populism

[font face=Serif][font size=5]Exposed: Donald Trump’s Sham Populism[/font]

By John Cassidy 05:50 P.M.

[font size=3]Kevin McCarthy, the Republican House Majority Leader, went on Sean Hannity’s show on Thursday night and tried to talk up the awful health-care bill that his party had just rushed through two committees. His message was aimed at the ultra-conservative groups, such as the Freedom Caucus and Heritage Action for America, that have come out strongly against the proposed legislation. McCarthy didn’t try to claim that the bill would make health care more affordable or widely available. Instead, he defended its conservative bona fides, twice pointing out that it would repeal all the taxes that were introduced under the Affordable Care Act—taxes that mainly hit the one per cent.

Hannity, who is one of President Trump’s biggest boosters, didn’t hide his loyalties or his concern about the political firestorm that the bill has set off. “This has to work: there is no option here,” he said at one point. Later, he warned, “As soon as it passes, you own it.”

Intentionally or not, Hannity summed up the political dilemma facing Trump and his Administration. The White House has embraced Paul Ryan’s handiwork—the House Speaker is the bill’s top backer—and they are now trying together to persuade the full House and the Senate to vote for at least some version of it. But if the bill does pass and Trump signs it into law, what happens then? The health-care industry will be thrown into turmoil; many millions of Americans will lose their coverage; many others, including a lot of Trump voters (particularly elderly ones), will see their premiums rise sharply; and Trump will risk being just as closely associated with “Trumpcare” as Barack Obama was with Obamacare.

Two questions arise: Why did Ryan and his colleagues propose such a lemon? And why did Trump agree to throw his backing behind it?

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[caroldansen]

1. To question number one, maybe he wants it to fail and is secretly on our side. To the second

question, probably for the sake of time. He might want to push it through fast.

[kimbutgar]

2. No I think Cheeto wants to brag that he made a campaign promise

No matter how many people are screwed over by it. The wall another one where he will defund all social services and institutions and the money to build his stupid wall. Muslim ban check, destroy Obamas legacy is his final campaign promise. But he can't take away that Obama got Bin Laden and left his presidency with high approval ratings and no major scandals. 50 days in everyday uncovers a new scandal or horrible policy for him.