This is a hairline crack in the Obamacare foundation, but a crack nonetheless. Obamacare was passed over the objection of voters, and now big MO has expressed its objection by about a 73% vote. From the story:
Voters in Missouri overwhelmingly opposed requiring people to buy health insurance, in a largely symbolic slap at the Obama administration’s health overhaul. The referendum was the first chance for voters to express a view on the overhaul, although turnout in the state was low and Republican voters significantly outnumbered Democrats. With more than half of precincts reporting, 73% of voters supported Proposition C, establishing a state law that says Missouri cannot compel people to pay a penalty or fine if they fail to carry health coverage. Twenty-seven percent voted against the proposition. The state law runs counter to the federal health law President Barack Obama signed in March, which calls on most Americans to carry coverage or pay a fine.
Those who think this doesn’t matter are whistling in the dark. Not only does it keep Obamacare in the news–which is bad for both the health care law and the president’s polling numbers–but also adds to the rising wind in favor of repeal and should aid candidates that make rejection of Obamacare a central plank of their campaigns. It’s a good thing.
Repeal. Revise. Reform. Defund.
August 3rd, 2010 | 11:32 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Vince Humphreys, Stand In The Gap and Andrew A Bair, Wesley J. Smith. Wesley J. Smith said: Missouri Overwhelmingly Rejects Obamacare Mandatory Insurance Scheme » Secondhand Smoke | A First Things Blog http://shar.es/01Uf3 [...]
August 4th, 2010 | 1:32 am
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August 4th, 2010 | 4:00 am
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August 4th, 2010 | 5:55 am
Missouri? Have they produced anyone with a brain since Harry Truman?
Wesley J. Smith Reply:
August 4th, 2010 at 10:47 am
You know, History Writer, people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
August 4th, 2010 | 11:22 am
[...] passed by Congress in March.” The referendum passed easily by a 3-to-1 margin, with nearly 73 percent of the [...]
August 4th, 2010 | 1:00 pm
Folks should have the Liberty & freedom to make their own choices. Citizens should not have a nanny state with excellent leadership dictating edicts over the populace let alone this group of power-hungry loons. The Houses of Congress & Senate plus the present President & Vice President will cost the American people their country,Liberty & freedom with the path they have chosen.
August 4th, 2010 | 1:31 pm
Why would someone pretend that 71 percent of the folks in Missouri are stupid because they would rather have the freedom & Liberty to manufacture their own life skills??? That is the problem with folks with the limited capacity to think out of the Political agenda box such as History writer have with folks making their own personal choices.
August 4th, 2010 | 3:59 pm
[...] bandwagon. Referencing Missouri, Catholic Key is ecstatic. Pewsitter headlines it. First Things declares that “Missouri Overwhelmingly Rejects Obamacare Mandatory Insurance Scheme” [...]
August 4th, 2010 | 4:10 pm
I think it’s great that the voters of Missouri did this but folks, does anyone believe that a Fed court won’t over turn the vote?
Our government has gotten pretty out of hand, me thinketh.
August 4th, 2010 | 7:57 pm
HW,
In which state do you find the people with big brains? Illinois (Reagan), California (Nixon), Massachusetts (Bush I) or Connecticut (Bush II).
Except for Kansas City, St. Louis and Columbia, Missouri is by and large a conservative state. Healthcare reform is unpopular in conservative and rural America and especially with Republicans.
August 5th, 2010 | 4:46 am
This was a repub primary so no real major blow. Make it a general election issue and lets see what happens
August 6th, 2010 | 10:25 am
Donnie: “Why would someone pretend that 71 percent of the folks in Missouri are stupid because they would rather have the freedom & Liberty to manufacture their own life skills???”
It wasn’t 71% of all Missouri, Donnie. It was 71% of an approximate 23% voter turnout. That turnout, in fact, was high because a large Republican contingent showed up specifically for this measure.
It took me a while to find any turnout numbers on this primary, finally found some at:
http://www.fox2now.com/news/sns-ap-mo–missouriprimary-turnout,0,5694066.story
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