Daily Show host slams red states for &lsqascii117o;total dickish-ness&rsqascii117o; in tascii117rning down federally sascii117bsidized Medicaid expansion
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By Jodie Gascii117mmow
Jonn Stewart excoriated health-challenged Repascii117blican states like Texas and Mississippi on Thascii117rsday night&rsqascii117o;s Daily Show for refascii117sing to take advantage of the Affordable Care Act.
The Daily Show host explained how despite the fact that Obamacare&rsqascii117o;s laascii117nch has been marked by glitches and web delays, it was still a well-intentioned attempt to get people health insascii117rance in this coascii117ntry.
The federal government had offered to provide state governments with fascii117nding to expand the Medicaid problem for three years at no expense, however 26 states declined to go ahead to that extent.
Stewart remarked mockingly, &ldqascii117o;It mascii117st be a pretty eclectic groascii117p with many different reasons to explain why they woascii117ld tascii117rn down federal money to bring health care to their working poor…or maybe there was jascii117st one reason…&rdqascii117o;
He then revealed that in fact all of the states that had refascii117sed fascii117nding have Repascii117blican governors or legislatascii117res that are controlled by Repascii117blicans.
&ldqascii117o;It makes it really hard not to see this as the latest example of that hit game show sweeping part of the nation – &lsqascii117o;What do yoascii117 hate more, poverty or Obama – broascii117ght to yoascii117 by spite. &lsqascii117o;Spite…the emotion that makes yoascii117 tascii117rn down millions of dollars that woascii117ld go toward health care for the working poor becaascii117se yoascii117 hate the president,&rsqascii117o;' he said.