S.C. Senator Vincent Sheheen (D-Camden) made a critical tactical error earlier this year in endorsing the Medicaid expansion associated with Barack Obama’s socialized medicine plan. In fact Sheheen’s fateful decision could cost him his chance to defeat S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley in next year’s rematch of their 2010 gubernatorial race.
Allow us to explain: Given the extent to which Haley – a “Republican” – has been ballooning the state’s Medicaid rolls since taking office, Sheheen had a golden opportunity to get to the “right” of the governor on a critical spending issue. And he could have done so while telling his Democratic base he was still committed to “responsible Medicaid expansion.”
That, in a nutshell, is how you win elections.
For those of you keeping score at home, the Obamacare Medicaid expansion – which failed to pass the S.C. General Assembly this year – would have added approximately 545,000 new beneficiaries to the state’s already bloated Medicaid rolls over the next seven years (sixty percent of which would have likely gone on the taxpayer dole within the first year). Along with other growth, this expansion would have ballooned the state’s Medicaid population from its current level of 1.1 million to 1.7 million by 2020. Of course under the Haley administration – which has spent more than $60 million of your money expanding Medicaid – 130,000 new beneficiaries are being added to the rolls this year alone.
For taxpayers, that’s death by degrees … but for Sheheen it could have been political gold. Yet rather than recognize the tremendous political opportunity in front of him, Sheheen was blinded by Democratic dogma. And so he bit on the Obamacare expansion – turning what could have been a potent line of attack against the governor into a potent line of attack for her.
That, in a nutshell, is how you lose elections.
This week, the S.C. Republican Party (SCGOP) launched the first of what we suspect will be many salvos from many directions over Sheheen’s boneheaded decision. Seizing on a report from the S.C. Department of Insurance (SCDOI) showing rising health care premiums in the Palmetto State associated with Obamacare’s implementation, the SCGOP issued a press release decrying the “Obama-Sheheen health care disaster” and the “Obama-Sheheen health care takeover.”
“Vince Sheheen has spent four years supporting Obamacare, and now the people of South Carolina are stuck paying for it – to the tune of an insurance hike of up to 70 percent,” SCGOP chairman Matt Moore said in his party’s release.
Ah, “Obama-Sheheen.” The once and future Democratic gubernatorial nominee should probably get used to hearing that line again, and again and again (and again).
90 comments
HALEY-CHILDREN MAY DIE FROM MISMANAGED TB RESPONSE!
Easy game.
HALEY-CHILDREN MAY DIE FROM MISMANAGED TB RESPONSE!
Easy game.
It isn’t an error if that is what he actually supports. Lying about his position on something to win votes is typical politician bullshit and is exactly why we have the breed of politicians we have in this state. It is the same exact reason a certain political blog endorsed Haley for taking such lies hook line and sinker.
It isn’t that Sheheen made an error, he simply isn’t the candidate you are looking for.
Exactly. But he may be the candidate that other people are looking for. Considering how close he came to winning last time during such a banner election cycle for GOP candidates, I’d say he is. Tying Sheheen to Obama doesn’t hurt him because he’s never shied away from that comparison. He embraced Medicaid expansion and universal 4K – both Obama agenda items. He knew what he was doing.
I agree. Sheheen has been a thief from the start. At least he has that truth over Nimrata.
It isn’t an error if that is what he actually supports. Lying about his position on something to win votes is typical politician bullshit and is exactly why we have the breed of politicians we have in this state. It is the same exact reason a certain political blog endorsed Haley for taking such lies hook line and sinker.
It isn’t that Sheheen made an error, he simply isn’t the candidate you are looking for.
Exactly. But he may be the candidate that other people are looking for. Considering how close he came to winning last time during such a banner election cycle for GOP candidates, I’d say he is. Tying Sheheen to Obama doesn’t hurt him because he’s never shied away from that comparison. He embraced Medicaid expansion and universal 4K – both Obama agenda items. He knew what he was doing.
I agree. Sheheen has been a thief from the start. At least he has that truth over Nimrata.
Hahahhahah!! The Republikans in this State will be on the outside looking in!!
LMAO!! at Lindsey Graham wanting bomb everyone and Nancy Mace, the female that wanted to be the first female Citadel graduate. Rug muncher at best, now is a conservative?? LMAO!!
Just like the stimulus, SC will be paying for Medicaid expansion for everyone else.
Stupid is as Stupid does. No place like South Carolina!!
Agreed, Stupid starts at the top in South Carolina.
Hahahhahah!! The Republikans in this State will be on the outside looking in!!
LMAO!! at Lindsey Graham wanting bomb everyone and Nancy Mace, the female that wanted to be the first female Citadel graduate. Rug muncher at best, now is a conservative?? LMAO!!
Just like the stimulus, SC will be paying for Medicaid expansion for everyone else.
Stupid is as Stupid does. No place like South Carolina!!
Agreed, Stupid starts at the top in South Carolina.
About this Medicaid cost. Feds pay %100 then in 2020 its a 90/10 split. That’s a hell of a lot better than highway funding and creates twice as many jobs. Why do you never talk about the 44,000 jobs that could be created in SC if not for obstructionist republicans.
Because no one pays him to?
So you agree that the gubmint should be legally allowed to steal from our children and grandchildren?
The 70% premium increase figure is pure political bullshit from the purely political SC Insurance Commissioner.
Since Nimrata chose not to set up an SC health exchange, no one knows what premiums will be until the Feds set up the exchange that SC residents will use.
Maryland did set up an exchange and found that premiums there will decrease.
Well she actually did something correct during her term. You see Medicare, Obuttheadcare and Social Security is theft of the livelihood of your children and grandchildren and anon.
Medicare, Obuttheadcare and Social Security is theft of the livelihood of your children and grandchildren and anon.
Better go push over some random old person and take money out of their wallet to “get yours back.” Better make sure they are sickly too so that it makes up for Medicare. Then all you have to do is find a cancer patient on chemo and rob them too, just to cover “Obuttheadcare.”
Thank goodness our children will never be denied coverage by their insurance company through a technicality for the high crime of becoming unprofitable for them. Thank goodness our children will be forced to save for their retirement (assuming they even can), lest they work until they die or live below the poverty line. Thank goodness that we’ll deny health care to old people who are too high risk to insure normally and can’t afford to buy their own health insurance.
Our children might be worse off, but at least gubmint won’t be stealing from them! Hopefully all of the other poor people with no resources available to help them don’t decide to steal from them, though.
Oops. Wrong entity.
What would be better for me is if my children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children didn’t have to pay for your selfish pro-thievery mentality.
You see, without the gubmint to coddle you with the taxes of others, My Children will be flush with cash because I teach them to work hard for their earnings, while you apparently are only interested in teaching yours how to steal from the masses come hell or high water.
You must be so lonely, Snarks. To light fires to contain the water? Odd. Poor dear.
Judging by your drunken rants on this site I find it hard to believe that anything that emanates from your loins would ever accomplish anything more than to have their picture plastered 10 feet high on the side of a Goodwill Truck with a caption that reads: “Gudwil hep me git gud job!”
Yeah, sure. I saw your site. Million Dollar Baby there. BBbbwwwahahahahahahahahahahaahah
Which site? I have several. I’m surprised you can see anything given your alcoholism. BTW, not everybody who writes a blog does so for commercial purposes. There are actually folks out there who just enjoy writing about life’s experiences. Emily Dickinson never made money off of her art. Neither did Van Gogh.
http://2big2fall.wordpress.com/2010/11/20/bullshit-factory/
I am also a decent guitar player having played in one of Charleston’s oldest and busiest jazz bands for two and a half years. I started playing when I was 17. At no point in my learning phase did I say “Oh, boy! I’m gonna make a lot of money at this!”
Those. like yourself, for whom money is the end all be all of existence simply can’t relate to doing something for the pure joy.
I am assuming, for now, that “Frank Pytel” is not just another of Will’s numerous fake posters designed to generate comments, anger, and controversy.
No. But Thank You. I’m honored and humbled at such a distinguished compliment :)
What would be better for me is if my children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children didn’t have to pay for your selfish pro-thievery mentality.
You see, without the gubmint to coddle you with the taxes of others, My Children will be flush with cash because I teach them to work hard for their earnings, while you apparently are only interested in teaching yours how to steal from the masses come hell or high water.
You must be so lonely, Snarks. To light fires to contain the water? Odd. Poor dear.
To Frank Pytel UTTER AND COMPLETE BULLSHIT! Where do you come up with your numbers to back up your inane statement? Typical ASSHOLE shouting from the hip, but in case shooting from your ass.
Who paid for the first SS check? Was it the recipient? Hell no. It was the children of the recipient through the theft of their paycheck. You really don’t think too hard do you?
As usual you make absolutely no sense, but what should we expect. If you had an ounce of intelligence you would be able to understand we pay into SSA, which by the way is NOT AN ENTITLEMENT! I suggest you crawl into back into your hole.
Extremely simple question. This should not stretch your brain. Where did the money come from to pay the first social security check?
As I said stupid “we pay into the system”. Sorry to burst your little bubble, but the recipient did pay, as the recipient still does pays into the system. It’s not rocket science” it is a very simple fact. So what’s your point? Or if you can try to expand and attempt to make your point. Not only are you FUCKING STUPID, BUT FUCKING BORING!!!!!
You didn’t answer the question. :)
Frankie boy, I know you have problems reading and comprehending the English language, but kindly look at my post where I stated “the recipient” pays into SSA in order that she or will receive their their benefits “SOCIAL SECURITY” It’s like pissing the wind, but being South Carolina educated has to be tough for a ignoramus as you. Get a life, better yet get a job.
But that’s not the question Fred. I didn’t ask you who pays into it.
Where did the money come from to pay the first SS check?
Social Security is the short name for the program. The full name for the program ends in the word Insurance, which in your travels I’m sure you leaned means some pay more, some pay less, some never get to collect, some pay little and collect big.
Do the homework, even though I realize it doesn’t get you nearly as much attention.
So precious. :)
About this Medicaid cost. Feds pay %100 then in 2020 its a 90/10 split. That’s a hell of a lot better than highway funding and creates twice as many jobs. Why do you never talk about the 44,000 jobs that could be created in SC if not for obstructionist republicans.
Because no one pays him to?
So you agree that the gubmint should be legally allowed to steal from our children and grandchildren?
The 70% premium increase figure is pure political bullshit from the purely political SC Insurance Commissioner.
Since Nimrata chose not to set up an SC health exchange, no one knows what premiums will be until the Feds set up the exchange that SC residents will use.
Maryland did set up an exchange and found that premiums there will decrease.
Well she actually did something correct during her term. You see Medicare, Obuttheadcare and Social Security is theft of the livelihood of your children and grandchildren and anon.
Medicare, Obuttheadcare and Social Security is theft of the livelihood of your children and grandchildren and anon.
Better go push over some random old person and take money out of their wallet to “get yours back.” Better make sure they are sickly too so that it makes up for Medicare. Then all you have to do is find a cancer patient on chemo and rob them too, just to cover “Obuttheadcare.”
Thank goodness our children will never be denied coverage by their insurance company through a technicality for the high crime of becoming unprofitable for them. Thank goodness our children will be forced to save for their retirement (assuming they even can), lest they work until they die or live below the poverty line. Thank goodness that we’ll deny health care to old people who are too high risk to insure normally and can’t afford to buy their own health insurance.
Our children might be worse off, but at least gubmint won’t be stealing from them! Hopefully all of the other poor people with no resources available to help them don’t decide to steal from them, though.
Oops. Wrong entity.
What would be better for me is if my children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children didn’t have to pay for your selfish pro-thievery mentality.
You see, without the gubmint to coddle you with the taxes of others, My Children will be flush with cash because I teach them to work hard for their earnings, while you apparently are only interested in teaching yours how to steal from the masses come hell or high water.
You must be so lonely, Snarks. To light fires to contain the water? Odd. Poor dear.
Judging by your drunken rants on this site I find it hard to believe that anything that emanates from your loins would ever accomplish anything more than to have their picture plastered 10 feet high on the side of a Goodwill Truck with a caption that reads: “Gudwil hep me git gud job!”
Yeah, sure. I saw your site. Million Dollar Baby there. BBbbwwwahahahahahahahahahahaahah
Which site? I have several. I’m surprised you can see anything given your alcoholism. BTW, not everybody who writes a blog does so for commercial purposes. There are actually folks out there who just enjoy writing. Emily Dickinson never made money off of her art. Neither did Van Gogh.
http://2big2fall.wordpress.com/2010/11/20/bullshit-factory/
I am also a decent guitar player having played in one of Charleston’s oldest and busiest jazz bands for two and a half years. I started playing when I was 17. At no point in my learning phase did I say “Oh, boy! I’m gonna make a lot of money at this!”
Those such as yourself, for whom money is the end all be all of existence, simply can’t relate to the pure joy of creating.
I am assuming, for now, that “Frank Pytel” is not just another of Will’s numerous fake posters designed to generate comments, anger, and controversy.
It would seem by now that Mr. Folks could generate at least one sensible, intelligent alter-ego.
No. But Thank You. I’m honored and humbled at such a distinguished compliment :)
What would be better for me is if my children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children and their children didn’t have to pay for your selfish pro-thievery mentality.
You see, without the gubmint to coddle you with the taxes of others, My Children will be flush with cash because I teach them to work hard for their earnings, while you apparently are only interested in teaching yours how to steal from the masses come hell or high water.
You must be so lonely, Snarks. To light fires to contain the water? Odd. Poor dear.
To Frank Pytel UTTER AND COMPLETE BULLSHIT! Where do you come up with your numbers to back up your inane statement? Typical ASSHOLE shouting from the hip, but in case shooting from your ass.
Who paid for the first SS check? Was it the recipient? Hell no. It was the children of the recipient through the theft of their paycheck. You really don’t think too hard do you?
As usual you make absolutely no sense, but what should we expect. If you had an ounce of intelligence you would be able to understand we pay into SSA, which by the way is NOT AN ENTITLEMENT! I suggest you crawl into back into your hole.
Extremely simple question. This should not stretch your brain. Where did the money come from to pay the first social security check?
As I said stupid “we pay into the system”. Sorry to burst your little bubble, but the recipient did pay, as the recipient still does pays into the system. It’s not rocket science” it is a very simple fact. So what’s your point? Or if you can try to expand and attempt to make your point. Not only are you FUCKING STUPID, BUT FUCKING BORING!!!!!
You didn’t answer the question. :)
Frankie boy, I know you have problems reading and comprehending the English language, but kindly look at my post where I stated “the recipient” pays into SSA in order that she or will receive their their benefits “SOCIAL SECURITY” It’s like pissing the wind, but being South Carolina educated has to be tough for a ignoramus as you. Get a life, better yet get a job.
But that’s not the question Fred. I didn’t ask you who pays into it.
Where did the money come from to pay the first SS check? Please take note Fred. The operative word here is “first” and that the question lacks the word “who”.
Social Security is the short name for the program. The full name for the program ends in the word Insurance, which in your travels I’m sure you leaned means some pay more, some pay less, some never get to collect, some pay little and collect big.
Do the homework, even though I realize it doesn’t get you nearly as much attention.
So precious. :)
Will Folks, the libertarian crusader, now cut and pasting talking points for the SCGOP. This cat is a hatchet-man and pimp for the worst gutter trash this state has to offer.
But at least he doesn’t steal from his chidren and grands!! :)
He was a state employee, so he “stole from someone’s kids/grandkids” at one point.
You are pretty immature.
Not really Snarks. Just pointing out the obvious. Further, Sic was not stealing because the gubmint needs to grow, right? Therefore he was just another productive employee, right?
The point is that he was stealing by your logic, Frank, not Smirks’ logic. Damn, man, put down the bottle.
He wants to “steal” my money to fund his kids’ private school.
I’m pretty sure if he didn’t get a nickel from the gubmint, he’d be ok with defunding the pubic mess known as edumacation in the souf. DuhHea
Will Folks, the libertarian crusader, now cut and pasting talking points for the SCGOP. This cat is a hatchet-man and pimp for the worst gutter trash this state has to offer.
But at least he doesn’t steal from his chidren and grands!! :)
He was a state employee, so he “stole from someone’s kids/grandkids” at one point.
You are pretty immature.
Not really Snarks. Just pointing out the obvious. Further, Sic was not stealing because the gubmint needs to grow, right? Therefore he was just another productive employee, right?
The point is that he was stealing by your logic, Frank, not Smirks’ logic. Damn, man, put down the bottle.
He wants to “steal” my money to fund his kids’ private school.
I’m pretty sure if he didn’t get a nickel from the gubmint, he’d be ok with defunding the pubic mess known as edumacation in the souf. DuhHea
Fits selling out cheap. Could it be pressure on the mortgage front, or simply too many shoe purchases?
Fits selling out cheap. Could it be pressure on the mortgage front, or simply too many shoe purchases?
So how much does it cost Nikki to run a “story” like this?
So how much does it cost Nikki to run a “story” like this?
You don’t win elections saying screw you to your base.
He’d gain 10 pissed off moderate Republcans and lose thousands of Democrats. That is NOT how you win elections.
If you are truly the voice of experience on this, on what issue did Sanford pivot LEFT to pick up Democratic votes and at the same time telling his GOP base some similar lame excuse about the”real gains.”
You know what – I don’t think Sanford pivoted left at all! Poor Willie is losing his touch.
You don’t win elections saying screw you to your base.
He’d gain 10 pissed off moderate Republcans and lose thousands of Democrats. That is NOT how you win elections.
If you are truly the voice of experience on this, on what issue did Sanford pivot LEFT to pick up Democratic votes and at the same time telling his GOP base some similar lame excuse about the”real gains.”
You know what – I don’t think Sanford pivoted left at all! Poor Willie is losing his touch.
There is not enough money in all of SC for Sheheen to run tv ads to highlight all of Haley’s screw-ups.
There is not enough money in all of SC for Sheheen to run tv ads to highlight all of Haley’s screw-ups.
There really is only ONE issue for any SC Democrat to run for anything on:
Competency
The entire Sanford/Haley run has been one scandal of gubernatorial ineptitude after another: SCDOR, SCDOT, SCDEW, SCDHEC, SCDSS…
And, any others come to mind?
There really is only ONE issue for any SC Democrat to run for anything on:
Competency
The entire Sanford/Haley run has been one scandal of gubernatorial ineptitude after another: SCDOR, SCDOT, SCDEW, SCDHEC, SCDSS…
And, any others come to mind?
Don’t believe everything you hear on Faux News?. Have you been to the hospital lately?
Something needs to be done to change the current system of healthcare in this country and I don’t hear Republicans offering up any ideas…other than voting to undo “Obamacare” another 40+ times.
You are correct. They should not have to vote 40 times. A change to the healthcare system needs to occur immediately and Faux News does not accurately report this overall issue.
Of course none of the MSM report this accurately. They should have voted only once and the Senate should be mandated to take up the vote and repeal this legislation.
Those that steel from their children and grandchildren should be ashamed of themselves. Further they should be horse whipped.
Don’t believe everything you hear on Faux News?. Have you been to the hospital lately?
Something needs to be done to change the current system of healthcare in this country and I don’t hear Republicans offering up any ideas…other than voting to undo “Obamacare” another 40+ times.
You are correct. They should not have to vote 40 times. A change to the healthcare system needs to occur immediately and Faux News does not accurately report this overall issue.
Of course none of the MSM report this accurately. They should have voted only once and the Senate should be mandated to take up the vote and repeal this legislation.
Those that steel from their children and grandchildren should be ashamed of themselves. Further they should be horse whipped.