Liar or idiot, you make the call

On Wednesday night, the Congressional Budget Office released its score on the Trumpcare bill that House Republicans had gleefully passed earlier this month, and the news was exactly what anyone with more than two brain cells had expected: millions losing coverage, skyrocketing premiums for those most in need, a nice big tax cut for the rich … and, of course, screwing over people with pre-existing conditions.

So, with all that in mind, check out this load of codswallop from Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows, who “played a pivotal role” in including the option that specifically hurts those with pre-existing conditions:

When reporters pointed out the portion of the CBO report saying individuals with preexisting conditions in waiver states would be charged higher premiums and could even be priced out of the insurance market — destabilizing markets in those states — under AHCA, Meadows seemed surprised. “Well, that’s not what I read,” Meadows said, putting on his reading glasses and peering at the paragraph on the phone of a nearby reporter. [...] After reading the paragraph, Meadows told reporters he would go through the CBO analysis more thoroughly and run the numbers, adding he would work to make sure the high-risk pools are properly funded. Meadows, suddenly emotional, choked back tears and said, "Listen, I lost my sister to breast cancer. I lost my dad to lung cancer. If anybody is sensitive to preexisting conditions, it’s me. I’m not going to make a political decision today that affects somebody’s sister or father because I wouldn’t do it to myself.”

Well, sure. How could Meadows have known? After all, it was only pointed out by every Democratic lawmaker, every health organization and every sentient human being who had opposed Trumpcare. In short, sell it up the street, Mr. Meadows. You—and every other Republican who supported this bill—own your vote.