Jon Caldara's animated attack on Obamacare is plane crazy

The Independence Institute's Jon Caldara last foray into YouTubery was decidedly low rent: He pimped 2008's Amendment 49 using sock puppets. This time, he's opted for a more high-tech approach, creating the animated video above to attack the Obama administration's version of healthcare reform. In his analogy, the public plan...

By Michael Roberts

October 15, 2009

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The Independence Institute's Jon Caldara last foray into YouTubery was decidedly low rent: He pimped 2008's Amendment 49 using sock puppets. This time, he's opted for a more high-tech approach, creating the animated video above to attack the Obama administration's version of healthcare reform. In his analogy, the public plan is pictured as an airplane -- and when people abandon private insurers for this lower-cost alternative, he argues that the government will start jettisoning its most vulnerable clients. Hence, images of a smiling stewardess tossing an old man who's "already been to Healthyville" and a wheelchair-bound sick guy into the wild blue yonder.

Yeah, I know: This argument makes almost no sense, even as it plays on all of those end-of-life/death-list fears that have been widely and persuasively discredited. But as usual, Caldara sells his dubious message with a showman's aplomb. Look out below!

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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