Obama laughs off GOP critics

"All of this would be funny if it weren't so crazy"

Published September 26, 2013 5:36PM (EDT)

     (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)
(AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

As reported by the Huffington Post, President Obama laughed off Republican critics of Obamacare on Thursday, saying apocalyptic warnings of Obamacare's consequences would be funny if they "weren't so crazy."

Obama picked out three Republican statements in particular.

One, from Louisiana congressman John Fleming, called Obamacare "the most dangerous piece of legislation ever passed in Congress" and the most "existential threat to our economy since the Great Depression."

The next, from New Hampshire state Rep. Bill O'Brien, called Obamacare "as destructive to personal and individual liberties as the Fugitive Slave Act," the controversial 19th century law that mandated runaway slaves be returned to their masters.

The final Republican warning to earn Obama's mockery came from Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, who urged the repeal of Obamacare "before it literally kills women, kills children, kills senior citizens."

"I have to say that is from six months ago," Obama chuckled before adding, "I just want to point out that we still have women. We still have children. And we still have senior citizens."


By Elias Isquith

Elias Isquith is a former Salon staff writer.

MORE FROM Elias Isquith


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

Bill O'brien John Fleming Michele Bachmann Obama Obamacare The Huffington Post