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[karynnj]

1. He was a member of the HELP committee and he got the provision for

community health centers in the bill.

Given that the words were "helped write" -- I really don't see how you exclude anyone on the HELP or Finance committee who got a provision in - especially one of that significance. I watched a huge amount of the Senate hearings -- and what is clear is that many many people had a role on it.

If you wanted to get very very technical - the staff of the Finance committee likely drafted the majority of what became the ACA. Baucus was the chair -- do we say that Baucus wrote the ACA ... or the tireless staffers - do we add any of the other key Senators, who added provisions via the HELP bill or the Finance bill that were input to the bill.

Frankly, I think Clinton in speaking of creating CHIP is further from the truth -- as it was a Senate effort and many many people especially Kennedy, Hatch and secondarily, Kerry and Dodd had bigger roles in the idea, the details, writing the bill etc.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

3. You're right on target. Had he said he wrote the ACA, he'd have been lying. But he never said that.

He said he helped to write it.
He did help to write it.

[Trajan]

2. Sounds like Bernie was trying his best to get a better deal for the American people.

I can understand why Hillary supporters hate that whole idea ..

Adibaldo ... A name I will never see again ...

[leftofcool]

4. Another bernie falsehood!

[greyl]

5. I disagree with Politifact's conclusion here.

Bernie did not say he was "an inside crafter of the bill", or that he was "an integral player in the crafting of the bill over a long period of time". He said "I helped write it". From that statement, I think it's reasonable to assume that he helped write it.

The Politifact article also says:

"He deserves credit for one provision of it -- worth a not-insignificant $11 billion."
"Sanders’ statement contains an element of truth"
"So there’s a good case to be made that Sanders made an important contribution to the final legislation."

If 70 people helped push a loaded bus away from the edge of a cliff, I'd give them all credit for helping save lives, let alone pushing the bus. I wouldn't say those who helped less didn't help at all, and I wouldn't accuse anyone claiming credit for helping to push of exaggerating.

[Live and Learn]

6. Since when does 'helped' mean someone is taking credit? Good grief! nt

[NCTraveler]

8. I cannot begin to tell you...

how difficult it must be for him to hug and punch Obama at the same time. He really isn't in a very enviable position.