Richard Mack, former sheriff of Graham County, Arizona, who became better known as a virulent opponent of the national health care law known as “Obamacare,” is now begging for money from strangers online to pay medical bills for himself and his wife — because they refused to buy into an Obamacare health plan and as a result, have no insurance.

Mack, 63, drew national publicity in 2014 when he became an outspoken supporter of renegade rancher Cliven Bundy, in Bundy’s standoff with the government over the rancher’s unpaid fees for allowing his cattle to graze on public land.

At the time, Mack announced that if federal agents took armed action to end the standoff, Bundy and his supporters would have used women as human shields to take the brunt of the armed federal attack that never materialized.

But Mack is also a founder of the “Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association,” a radical group which believes that only local law enforcement officers such as sheriffs, and not the federal government, have the authority to decide and enforce what counts as constitutional.

As such, Mack also took an outspoken stand against the Affordable Care Act, the health care law also known as Obamacare, designed to make health insurance more accessible to Americans who may not otherwise have access to, or be able to afford coverage.

“The States do not have to take or support or pay for Obamacare or anything else from Washington DC. The States are not subject to federal direction,” Mack said, stating his position on his website.

But according to his site, Mack suffered a heart attack in January and his wife began experiencing ill health late last year. Unfortunately, because Mack refused to buy an insurance plan under Obamacare, he is now without any form of health coverage.

Mack has now started an online GoFundMe campaign, soliciting cash from anyone willing to give him some, in order to pay his considerable health expenses.

Mack’s site explains that he and his wife are “self-employed” and therefore have no medical insurance — even though the Obamacare law is designed specifically to allow self-employed Americans to obtain health coverage.

“It is difficult and humbling to say that we need your help, but we do,” the former sheriff wrote on the site.

The campaign elicited numerous responses from donors or potential donors who see a bitter irony in Mack’s current predicament.

“Here you go, Sheriff,” wrote one $5 donor.

“You could have signed up for Obamacare last year, and you wouldn’t need to go begging on the internet. I believe there’s still two weeks left for you to still sign up. No one’s life should be ruined by health care bills.”

“I know what it is like to not have access to healthcare and now you do,” wrote a $15 donor. “Now, go get yourself and your wife some that good old Obummer care like a freakin’ responsible human being.”

“Sheriff Mack, I hope you and your wife and family do get healthy,” wrote another $5 donor. “But turning around and BEGGING FOR MONEY to pay for your health recovery, AFTER YOU staunchly tried to OBSTRUCT the ACA, is APPALLING, REPREHENSIBLE, AND OBSCENE!!!”

Nonetheless, Richard Mack has raised almost $18,000 via his GoFundMe campaign as of February 25 — slightly more than half of his $30,000 funding goal — a goal he certainly would not have needed to reach had he simply signed up for Obamacare.

[Image: YouTube Screen Grab]