Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Oops, He Did It Again - Pete Poses Tough Obamacare Question to Jay Carney

PPPS (Washington, DC)—Once again, Citizen Pete, posing as Chief White House Correspondent Political-Beat Pete, asked a tough Obamacare question to White House Press Secretary Jay Carney at the end of yesterday's White House Press Briefing.



This was not Pete's first time at the press briefing rodeo, having visited almost one year ago to ask Secretary Carney about the president's lavish vacations at taxpayer expense.

But this time, Pete asked about something a little more personal, the Affordable Care Act. Pete's wife, Citizen Caryn, had her health insurance policy canceled because of the law, and in order to avoid the security risks associated with the Obamacare exchanges, and find a plan in which she could still keep he doctor of many years, she now pays about double her previous premium. If it were not for the extra $3,600 per year out of the family budget due to Obamacare, Pete might make more frequent trips to the White House press room.

Here is the transcript:
White House Press Briefing: March 10, 2014

PETE:    Jay, one more question from Colorado?
MR. CARNEY:  Colorado, what do you got?
PETE:   Okay.  I just wanted to follow up on that one about Obama -- well, the Affordable Care Act.  And you mentioned that the Republicans are giving this pitch to, I guess, repeal the bill.  And so my question --
MR. CARNEY:  Surely your reporting reflects that.
PETE:  What’s that?
MR. CARNEY:  I’m not misstating --
PETE:  No, no, no, it was the reasons you gave that I wanted to ask you about.  And the last time I was here, I asked you a question and you didn’t really answer it, so I hope I’ll have better luck this time.  (Laughter.) 
MR. CARNEY:  I think he’s waiting for his -- have you got the camera on him?  Go ahead.
PETE: And I saw you using notes, so I’m going to use mine as well.
MR. CARNEY:  Go for it.
PETE:   When the law was first debated and passed -- and we’re talking about the Affordable Care Act -- the polls showed a majority of the people were not in favor of that, and yet it was pushed through.  And so in terms of this pitch, the President continued to pitch to get it passed using statements like “you can keep your plan.”  And, by the way, I know that’s not true because my wife lost her insurance because of the Affordable Care Act -- that you can --
MR. CARNEY:  What’s your question, sir?
PETE:  Well, I’m getting to it. 
MR. CARNEY:  Okay.
PETE:  We don't get here very often from out in middle country, so when you get your chance, you got to ask.
MR. CARNEY:  You’re welcome.  Sure.
PETE:  Okay.  So anyway, the President’s pitch was that you can keep your plan, that your costs will go down, and I know that not to be true.  So my question is:  Will the President accede to the greater majority of Americans now who want it repealed?
MR. CARNEY:  Well, actually that's not --
PETE:  Why won’t he listen to the American people?
MR. CARNEY:  You obviously haven’t seen the data because the majority of Americans do not in any poll want it repealed.  The majority supports fixing it and improving it, not repealing it.  I would ask you to check your data.
Secondly, the President made that pitch.  Republicans in Congress fought it tooth and nail.  It went to the Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court upheld it.  It was the principal argument in a presidential election.  The President won reelection.
And again, Republicans are free to make the repeal argument. My point was simply that when you go to individuals and you ask them, do you want quality, affordable health insurance, or do you want the insurance company to tell you that you’re not going to get coverage for that condition you have because the fine print says you can't.  In fact, your sister, we’re going to charge her double even though you have identical medical histories because she’s a woman --
PETE:  Well, my wife is getting charged double now because she lost her insurance.
MR. CARNEY:  Well, again, I don't know the circumstances with your wife.  And what I can tell you is that the Affordable Care Act provides quality, affordable health insurance to millions of people.  They are -- million are --
PETE:  But that's not true.  More people have lost their insurance because of the act right now than have been -- didn't have insurance and have signed up.  That is a fact.
MR. CARNEY:  Okay, well, you’re entitled to your facts, sir. What I can tell you is that you and others who want to campaign on repeal are welcome to.
What I’m saying is that repeal for millions of Americans is not a good option and for all the reasons that I enumerated.
Thank you all very much.
And here is a link to the video posted at Breitbart TV:
(click on link, not the pic)
Colorado Reporter Confronts Carney, Demands Repeal of ObamaCare



Update: We found this photo circulating on Twitter, source unknown.





Sunday, March 9, 2014

Bedtime Stories from CPAC - Sarah Palin Style


Still clip from official CPAC video.
PPPS (National Harbor, MD)--Governor Sarah Palin woke up some sleepy conservatives yesterday, even as she told a bedtime story to close out the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

Her speech was peppered with great Palin-style one-liners, and perhaps a smidgeon of sarcasm, as she brought the audience repeatedly to their feet.

Recalling Senator Ted Cruz's reading to his daughters on the Senate floor from Dr. Zeus' Green Eggs and Ham, Palin added a few new verses:
I do not like this Uncle Sam.
I do not like his healthcare scam.

I do not like these dirty crooks,
or how they lie and cook the books.

I do not like when Congress steals.
I do not like their crony deals.

I do not like this spy'n man.
I do not like 'Oh yes we can.'

I do not like this spending spree.
We're smart. We know.  There's nothing free.

I do not like reporters' smug replies,
when I complain about their lies.

I do not like this kind of hope.
And we won't take it....
Nope,
           Nope,
                       Nope!
                     
View from the Press Gallery as Sarah Palin speaks.
After referring to President Obama's remaining time in office as "the end of an error," Palin said he is now the "lamest of lame ducks."

She then went on to lambast President Obama for his "wobbly" and weak foreign policy, in particular towards Russia and President Vladimir Putin's expansionist incursion into Ukraine. But then, she quickly apologized, stating "I'm sorry. But really, I'm probably being too hard on the President. After all, who could'a seen this coming?"

But Palin's pokes were not exclusively reserved for Obama and other Democrats. Speaking of the 2010 election, which brought the Republicans back to power in the House of Representatives and in state legislatures and governors' mansions across the land, Palin reminded some in the GOP establishment that "you didn't build that........the Tea Party did!" and implied that the broom that will be sweeping in 2014 may pick up some dust on both sides of the aisle.

It was a memorable speech, and we have to admit that we caught some of the normally fair, balanced and objective PPPS staff applauding or standing at times.

Here is Sarah Palin's full speech. For those with a short attention span, or just looking for a bedtime story, that starts at about minute 12:00. Enjoy.


 



Saturday, March 8, 2014

Pundit Pete at CPAC

PPPS (National Harbor, MD)--Once again, the Pundit Pete Press Service has been covering the annual Conservative Political Action Conference being held at National Harbor, just south of our nation's capitol. And this time, our leader, Pundit Pete, has been in attendance.

Although often mobbed by his own admirers as he moves around the venue, Pete has managed to connect with some of the "rock stars" of the conservative movement and has secured a few photo opportunities. In many cases, Pete even waived his usual fee for having his photo taken.

Pundit Pete w/ Wayne Dupree the NewsNinja @ Blog Bash


Here he is with blogger and radio show host Wayne Dupree at the exclusive Blog Bash party.

Check out Wayne's coverage of CPAC.







Andrew Malcolm and Pundit Pete @ Blog Bash



 
Pete also met with legendary journalist and blogger Andrew Malcolm of Investors Business Daily.


Anita MonCrief and Kira Davis @ Blog Bash
 



Two of Pete's admirers posed for a photo:

The courageous Acorn whistleblower and columnist Anita MonCrief who was featured in our New Voices.

Radio host and another courageous blogger, Kira Davis who once posed a tough question to the leader of the "most transparent adminstration in history."
Mary Katherine Ham & Pundit Pete @ Blog Bash