Spokane7
59°
February 18, 2012 in Opinion
Charles Krauthammer: Ills of Obamacare becoming clear
WASHINGTON – Give him points for cleverness. President Barack Obama’s birth control “accommodation” was as politically successful as it was morally meaningless. It was nothing but an accounting trick that still forces Catholic (and other religious) institutions to provide medical insurance that guarantees free birth control, tubal ligation and morning-after abortifacients – all of which violate church doctrine on the sanctity of life.
The trick is that these birth control/abortion services will supposedly be provided independently and free of charge by the religious institution’s insurance company. But this changes none of the moral calculus. Holy Cross Hospital, for example, is still required by law to engage an insurance company that is required by law to provide these doctrinally proscribed services to all Holy Cross employees.
Nonetheless, the accounting device worked politically. It took only a handful of compliant Catholic groups – Obamacare cheerleaders dying to return to the fold – to hail the alleged compromise and hand Obama a major political victory.
Before, Obama’s coalition had been split. His birth control mandate was fiercely opposed by such stalwart friends as former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and pastor Rick Warren (Obama’s choice to give the invocation at his inauguration), who declared he would go to jail rather than abide by the regulation. After the “accommodation,” it was the (mostly) Catholic opposition that fractured. The mainstream media then bought the compromise as substantive, and the issue was defused.
A brilliant sleight of hand. But let’s for a moment accept the president on his own terms. Let’s accept his contention that this “accommodation” is a real shift of responsibility to the insurer. Has anyone considered the import of this new mandate? The president of the United States has just ordered private companies to give away for free a service that his own health and human services secretary has repeatedly called a major financial burden.
On what authority? Where does it say that the president can unilaterally order a private company to provide an allegedly free-standing service at no cost to certain select beneficiaries?
This is government by presidential fiat. In Venezuela, that’s done all the time. Perhaps we should call Obama’s “accommodation” Presidential Decree No. 1.
Consider the constitutional wreckage left by Obamacare:
First, its assault on the free exercise of religion. Only churches themselves are left alone. Beyond the churchyard gate, religious autonomy disappears. Every other religious institution must bow to the state because, by this administration’s regulatory definition, church schools, hospitals and charities are not “religious,” and thus have no right to the free exercise of religion – no protection from being forced into doctrinal violations commanded by the state.
Second, its assault on free enterprise. To solve his own political problem, the president presumes to order a private company to enter into a contract for the provision of certain services – all of which are free. And yet, this breathtaking arrogation of power is simply the logical extension of Washington’s takeover of the private system of medical care – a system Obama farcically pretends to be maintaining.
Under Obamacare, the state treats private insurers the way it does government-regulated monopolies and utilities. It determines everything of importance. Insurers, by definition, set premiums according to risk. Not anymore. The risk ratios (for age, gender, smoking, etc.) are decreed by Washington. This is nationalization in all but name. The insurer is turned into a middleman, subject to state control – and presidential whim.
Third, the assault on individual autonomy. Every citizen without insurance is ordered to buy it, again under penalty of law. This so-called individual mandate is now before the Supreme Court – because never before has the already inflated Commerce Clause been used to compel a citizen to enter into a private contract with a private company by mere fact of his existence.
This constitutional trifecta – the state invading the autonomy of religious institutions, private companies and the individual citizen – should not surprise. It is what happens when the state takes over one-sixth of the economy.
In 2010, when all this lay hazily in the future, the sheer arrogance of Obamacare energized a popular resistance powerful enough to deliver an electoral shellacking to Obama. Yet two years later, as the consequences of that overreach materialize before our eyes, the issue is fading. This constitutes a huge failing of the opposition party whose responsibility it is to make the opposition argument.
Every presidential challenger says he will repeal Obamacare on Day One. Well, yes. But are any of them making the case for why?
Charles Krauthammer’s email address is letters@charleskrauthammer.com.
MAC firing begs explanation 
johnclarke on February 18 at 9:41 a.m.
Actually I would say pointless to argue with such a one sided attack article from a right wing nut job. CK’s articles are not worthy of lining a birdcage.
richardch on February 18 at 10:23 a.m.
” we will have to wait until it’s passed to see what’s in it” You put secular fundamentalists in power and this is what you get, a shredded First Amendment.
jdspokanewa on February 18 at 12:09 p.m.
richardch, do you know what secular means? The First Amendment protects you while protecting us from you, hence “secular,” so if you’re wanting non-secular, you’re arguing against the First Amendment and imo against America.
citizenX on February 18 at 12:44 p.m.
When 98% of catholic women already use birth control, this rant on Romneybama Care really seems silly and pointless. Let the Tpubs instill their theocratic back step into last century, eliminate birth control and Planned Parenthood altogether, and then lets all sit back and watch the proverbial s#%t hit the fan. This is America, CK. Women should have the right and choice for making their own body decisions. Your clever article only reveals your own damned arrogance for protecting male domination, over a strangle-hold monopoly that would apply to American women’s health issues. I’m a male, and I’m appalled for your total lack of empathy for women’s rights. Church autonomy will survive just fine, despite it’s own ridgid lack of compassion for women’s rights. Maybe you should go live in the mid-east, and learn some juxtoposition about autonomy. Your repulsive tirade sounds remarkably taliban to me.
JBlim on February 18 at 12:50 p.m.
It figures that Krauthammer would endorse Catholic bishops as they once again try to stick their nose into a presidential election. Last time they made a big deal about denying communion to John Kerry. Now they are trying to impose their extremist contraception beliefs on private sector employees and then personally blaming Obama for it.
Arbeautis on February 18 at 1:01 p.m.
The email address seems to be incorect as I copied and pasted the address and it came back undeliverable.
Thanks Charles, brilliant! Your continued logic is very much appreciated as we pass along our dissatisfaction with Obamacare and the administration’s attempt to force socialism on our nation. It is essential to our nation’s future that you and others continue to educate the citizens.
johnclarke on February 18 at 3:05 p.m.
Arbeautis on February 18 at 1:01 p.m.
The email address seems to be incorect as I copied and pasted the address and it came back undeliverable.
Thanks Charles, brilliant! Your continued logic is very much appreciated as we pass along our dissatisfaction with Obamacare and the administration’s attempt to force socialism on our nation. It is essential to our nation’s future that you and others continue to educate the citizens.
*choke*
Hey Jews and Christians are pretty much the same, right Charles?
SMARTGUY on February 18 at 3:27 p.m.
I am sorry to be the one to break this to you, but the bible is not the truth. This book was written by men, who did not have a very good understanding of how the world worked, so they made up stories. These stories are no more the truth, then the Greek myths, who believed the sun was actually a man in a chariot. Many people think anyone who does not believe in the bible, does not believe in God, but this is not true. We can imagine a higher being, but one that is truly superior to man, not filled with mans prejudice, and limited to what man can understand. King of kings, and lord of lords, reduces God to mans level, instead of being truly superior. I do not think you can understand the will of God any better then your cat understands your motivations.
Dazzeetrader11 on February 18 at 5:45 p.m.
jd..The First Amendment protects you while protecting us from you, hence “secular,” < no…it used to. ie before Obama.
Leave the Churches alone. Obama MUST abuse the Church or his sytems fails. He knows it too.
Doesn’t matter if 100% of women use BC and abortion…the CHurch will NOT buy those for them.
Obama?..well he doesn’t see it that way….this is the assualt he must do to change the country to secular socialism.
Pretty clear what’s really going on… And Charles is absolutely correct. You libs make not like what he says but not ONE of you can defeat the facts….nor the logic.
drywitt99 on February 18 at 5:48 p.m.
DAZED….more errors than usual.
Typos…..stupidity…..or the DTs….?????
gmorton on February 18 at 7:16 p.m.
Charles Krauthammer wrote,
“A brilliant sleight of hand.”
On 2/11 I wrote,
“He found a way to obscure the issue. He merely slipped the pea under a different shell. That sleight-of-hand won’t fool anyone for long.”
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/feb/11/obama-relents-on-birth-control/?comments#c410273
Charles wrote,
“It was nothing but an accounting trick that still forces Catholic (and other religious) institutions to provide medical insurance that guarantees free birth control, tubal ligation and morning-after abortifacients – all of which violate church doctrine on the sanctity of life.”
On 2/11 I wrote,
“Hardly. He’s merely started a shell game, trying to hide the pea by passing the costs along to all of an insurer’s customers, instead of just the holders of a particular policy. Some of those employer customers will be the same Catholic institutions.”
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/feb/11/obama-relents-on-birth-control/?comments#c410237
Plagiarism!
Great column, Charles.
gmorton on February 18 at 7:24 p.m.
citizenX wrote,
“Women should have the right and choice for making their own body decisions.”
You bet.
As long as they are prepared to pay to implement those decisions, and for their consequences, themselves. The moment they begin to demand that someone else pay for them they forfeit their autonomy of decision. Their right to choose does not extend to choosing how other people spend their money.
Dazzeetrader11 on February 18 at 7:32 p.m.
DRY Brain….where? Can’t argue effectively son? No errors except in your brain …chump. Harrassment much?
GMorton’s thoughts are spot on… DRY Brain…can’t argue??