Krugman to Kristol: GOP doesn't "understand anything"

The Times columnist assailed the neocon and the GOP for "ignorance" over Obamacare on "This Week"

Published September 29, 2013 3:05PM (EDT)

Paul Krugman                                                                                                                                                                       (Reuters/Anton Golubev)
Paul Krugman (Reuters/Anton Golubev)

Paul Krugman came out swinging on ABC's "This Week" in a debate over over Obamacare with neocon Weekly Standard editor and general vector of monstrosities, Bill Kristol.

The New York Times liberal columnist accused the GOP of "policy ignorance" in voting to delay the healthcare act.

Krugman commented:

"All of the substantive news about ObamaCare over the last couple of months has been good...Premiums are coming in below expectations. Health care costs are moderating. Probably there will be some technical glitches with the computer systems, but those are not fundamental. People who support this law are looking forward, they’re almost cheering, at the preliminary results. The odds are, this is going to do a lot of good for a lot of people. Why not put it into effect now?”

On the issue of delaying the employer mandate, Krugman expressed support and accused Kristol of failing to understand.


By Natasha Lennard

Natasha Lennard is an assistant news editor at Salon, covering non-electoral politics, general news and rabble-rousing. Follow her on Twitter @natashalennard, email nlennard@salon.com.

MORE FROM Natasha Lennard


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Bill Kristol Gop Obamacare Paul Krugman Republicans Sunday Shows This Week