Intro: "Rep. Michele Bachmann's creativity is unrivaled in contemporary politics. Consider her remarks yesterday to a gathering of the Republican Leadership Conference.... Bachmann's principal problem is that she combines the worst of two important traits: she's strikingly ignorant about public policy and she's paranoid to the point of delusion."

Michele Bachmann suggested that President Obama secretly wanted Medicare to go bankrupt so retirees would be forced to enroll in 'Obamacare.' (photo: AP)

Bachmann's Latest Conspiracy Theory Is a Doozy

By Steve Benen, Washington Monthly

18 June 11

�

ep. Michele Bachmann's (R-Minn.) creativity is unrivaled in contemporary politics. Consider her remarks yesterday to a gathering of the Republican Leadership Conference.

Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, the latest candidate to join the Republican presidential campaign, suggested Friday that President Obama secretly wanted Medicare to go bankrupt so retirees would be forced to enroll in the new national health care law.

"This hasn't been talked about very much - the president's plan for senior citizens is Obamacare," Ms. Bachmann told party activists here. She added, "I think very likely what the president intends is that Medicare will go broke and ultimately that answer will be Obamacare for senior citizens."

Bachmann's principal problem is that she combines the worst of two important traits: she's strikingly ignorant about public policy and she's paranoid to the point of delusion.

It's these qualities that lead Bachmann to come up with such odd theories. In this case, the unhinged Minnesotan believes President Obama is secretly trying to eliminate Medicare, forcing seniors into the Affordable Care Act. Is there any evidence at all to support this? Of course not, but that's not important right now.

In practical terms, Bachmann apparently thinks the president is secretly right-wing - she believes Obama wants to end the existing system of socialized medicine for seniors, and force these millions of seniors into the private insurance market.

Of course, there is a group of people who actually support such an approach. They're called "House Republicans." Indeed, the House GOP budget plan - written by Paul Ryan and endorsed by none other than Michele Bachmann - seeks to end Medicare and convert the program into an ACA-style system. Bachmann's conspiracy theory is that Obama secretly agrees with her far-right colleagues.

This isn't just wrong; it's mad-as-a-hatter crazy.

Bachmann's ability to come up with remarkable conspiracy theories has always impressed me. Remember the time the right-wing presidential candidate argued that the U.S. Census may lead to "internment camps"? How about when she warned of a "one-world currency" because she got confused about what a global reserve currency is? Or maybe the time she thought the "Lion King" was secretly gay propaganda? How about the time she said a bipartisan national service bill could lead to "re-education camps"?

This new one, though, is probably my favorite to date. Anytime a right-wing lawmaker talks to a right-wing audience and thinks it's wise to attack President Obama as secretly on their side, it deserves some kind of award.

Steve Benen is a contributing writer to the Washington Monthly, joining the publication in August, 2008 as chief blogger for the Washington Monthly blog, Political Animal.

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+26 # swimdoc 2017-05-19 18:05

Go for it, Iowans! Demand Improved and Expanded Medicare for All! Don't prematurely "compromise" by accepting the promise of a public option before you even get started. Insist that your elected members of Congress sign on to HR 676 while still opposing dismantling of the ACA. It's time to move beyond the ACA to real national health coverage for everyone living in the U.S.

+3 # JCM 2017-05-19 18:56

+10 # Charles3000 2017-05-19 19:27

I wish everyone could learn that Medicare is NOT single payer; it is either two or three payers involved. We need "single payer" NOT Medicare for All!"

+13 # Scott Galindez 2017-05-19 22:18

You are right Charles...Medic are for All is a slogan but Conyers bill and Bernie's that is coming expand Medicaid to a single payer system. Medicare is popular with the American people so we are using that to sell universal healthcare.

+18 # diamondmarge7 2017-05-19 19:32

This is SUCH exciting news! I had heard of NY & CA moving towards single psayer; I have also contributed & fotwarded emails to contacts regarding the heavy efforts in CO. How fabulous that IA is moving in this marvelous direction, too. Mebbe we "exxceptional" Americans might finally join the rest of the industrial world & stop being gouged and screwed by for-profit
BigMed and BigPharma. I AM SO THRILLED.

+3 # elkingo 2017-05-19 23:07

Socialized Medicine Goddammit!

+15 # lamancha 2017-05-20 00:28

I find it almost criminal that the network pundits - CNN, MSNBC and others - are not taking up the cause of single payer. Even the so-called liberal network hosts & pundits ( no progressives in sight ), are not taking up the cause. All they report on is what the Republicans are proposing. What a waste!

0 # RNLDaWy 2017-05-20 10:28

Correct they make their money on whining about losing the election and mislead you with that. Also elected officials who work for our government have the best healthcare and salaries and guaranteed income of any person in the country same as high earners in the private sector. They don't want you to know the facts Medicare is not single payer .. at least a two tier system would be better .. Medicare for All .. unless you are a high earner then you can choose your plan .. because not a problem for those with the dough .. or WORKING IN GOVERNMENT .. wink wink wink!

+5 # virtualaudio 2017-05-20 16:45

Kudos to Bernie for planting the seed of Single Payer in the minds of most Americans. Though I'd prefer he had won the election, this profound shift of public sentiment justifies the time & money I put into his primary bid. If only the Dems in Congress and the 'progressive' news & opinion outlets would take up the cause.. Before the presidential race, I'd occasionally hear people like Chris Hayes talk about single payer. He also did a lot of segments on climate change. Since the election season started, I haven't heard a peep about these issues from him or others. There seems to be a an attitude of disdain toward Bernie from these guys.. During the primary, Maddow interviewed Sanders & Clinton on the same day, while Matthews did Trump; Trump made a stupid comment about punishing women for getting abortions, which Maddow used to ambush Sanders.. when asked, Sanders reiterated his commitment to women's rights, then dismissed Trumps comment as more B.S. Maddow then tracked down Clinton and told her only the 2nd half of what Sanders said, which gave Clinton the opportunity to slam Sanders for not being sufficiently pro-choice. Maddow had this smirk on her face when she talked to Clinton, like a little kid who knew they were doing something bad and getting away with it. What's wrong with these people? If you want the public's trust, be consistent! Otherwise Trump's assault on the media will continue to resonate. (sorry to digress, but it is annoying)

0 # futhark 2017-05-20 10:12

The government has no more business in providing medical insurance than it does providing fire protection and police services, educational opportunities for minors, roads and highways, or protection from foreign invasion. It seems that an increasing number of people are waking up to the fact that there is little justification to have any of these without the others.

+7 # Wise woman 2017-05-20 10:41

State by state looks like the only way single payer will be accomplished. If that's the way it has to happen, so be it. All the more reason we have to get on top of our elected officials to do the right thing for America. Here in CT, where I live, big med and big pharma rule. Blumenthal and Murphy have to get on the ball and change that. That and legalizing mj which is presently under the control of the state and the price gaugers as well as the criminal element.

-3 # Rain17 2017-05-21 20:00

The biggest obstacle to single-payer:

"I don't want my tax dollars going to pay for other people's healthcare ( i.e. illegal immigrants, minorities on welfare, or any other umpopular group) at my expense."

Too many Americans maintain that position. Until artitudes toward socisl programs chanfe for the better single-payer will remain politically a nonstarter in this country.

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