The Sorting Hat Puts Chief Justice John Roberts in Gryffindor!!

In the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Professor Albus Dumbledore states “it takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to you friends.” In awarding Gryffindor 10 points in the race for the house cup, Professor Dumbledore was recognizing the courage of Neville Longbottom in standing up to the series heroes, Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Grainger.  I know this because my youngest daughter was ten when the first Potter book was released and like many parents I spent the next decade waiting in line for books, tickets to midnight showings and at the entrance to the Potter ride in Orlando. 

But, the exchange at the end of the first Potter movie reminds me, in a very strange way, of Chief Justice John Roberts recent opinion in NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS ET AL. v. SEBELIUS, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ET AL. or “the Obamacare ruling.” In a decision that shocked a city in which all views and opinions are developed  through a  Republican/Democrat or liberal/conservative filter, Roberts showed a glimpse of courage and integrity almost extinct in our nation’s capitol. For all those who laughed at his suggestion that he was simply an umpire in court cases and that “nobody pays to see the umpire“ Roberts displayed a remarkable degree of statesmanship. 

Ironically, despite the condemnation of most Republican lawmakers, Roberts ruling was very restrained in nature.  He joined the majority in declaring the expansion of Medicaid to be coersive toward states and rejected the right of the Federal government to enact the penalty/tax for lack of health care coverage under the commerce clause.  Many respected court observers have argued that Roberts majority opinion actually reigns in federal power and is a victory for states rights.

So, Chief Justice John Roberts has managed to alienate Reps and Dems as well as conservatives and liberals.  In my mind, that alone makes John Roberts a leader to be emulated. 

Throughout the Potter movies, Neville Longbottom has an increasingly significant role to play in the battle against the evil Lord Voldemort and was forced to make decisions based on what was right and not what was easy.  Politicians can learn a lot from Longbottom and Roberts. 

I’ll leave it to you to determine the political affiliation of “he who must not be named.”

The Conservative History of the Individual Health Insurance Mandate

The Heritage Foundation is described on their website as “…a research and educational institution—a think tank—whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.”  So…would it surprise you to learn that the Heritage Foundation was one of the first national organizations to argue in favor of the same health insurance mandate that conservatives are now calling socialized medicine or worse “Obama care”?

On page six of The Heritage Lectures: Assuring Affordable Health Care for All Americans Stuart Butler very eloquently argues that health insurance is a responsibility of individuals and not businesses and the household mandate requires families to provide insurance.  And “each household, to the extent it is able, to avoid placing demands on society by protecting themselves.  He further argues that the Heritage Foundation “envisions an expansion of the subsidized risk-pools operated through the states.”  Sound familiar?

The first two attempts at Congressional approval of an individual health insurance mandate were bills introduced by REPUBLICANS.  S.1743, The Consumer Choice Health Security Act, introduced by Don Nickels (R-OK) and cosponsored by 24 Republicans, contained an individual mandate.  And, John Chaffee (R-RI) introduced S.1770, The Health Equity and Access Reform Today Act, which required “Each citizen or lawful permanent resident to be covered under a qualified health plan.

So, did President Obama sell out by embracing a conservative ideology or did the Republican’s flip-flop?  If the toxic political environment in which we currently exist has taught us anything, it’s that this can’t possibly be a good idea.  As this historic reality comes to light, it will be fascinating to watch the speed at which conservatives distance themselves from themselves.   

As someone once said, you just can’t make this stuff up!