Forget for a moment how both CNN and Fox messed up their first reporting of the U.S. Supreme Court (henceforth known as SCOTUS because beltway insiders love words with no bearing in nature) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA, or ACA, a.k.a Obamacare; either way, have fun with that link) today.
What the decision ultimately meant, in the short run, was the opening of the digital floodgates to anyone with a soapbox interested in health care or, perhaps just as importantly, the political impact of the ruling.
Here's a snapshot of what landed in our email boxes at AkronNewsNow today in the minutes and hours immediately following the ruling and through the afternoon. We considered color-coding so you could easily see which side was represented, but they're all fairly obvious. Also worth noting: some political figures didn't waste any time finding the opportunity to ask for money for their campaigns, regardless of their political orientation.
- - -
10:29 a.m. "Somewhere in Ohio this law will help a family survive financial devastation from health care bills. Somewhere in Ohio this law will help a child born with a pre-existing condition survive and thrive. Somewhere in Ohio this law will help a person facing life or death decisions over fair access to affordable health care services." - Brian Rothenberg, Executive Director, ProgressOhio
10:31 a.m. "“As the licensed professionals in Ohio to advise consumers on their health care options, OAHU members stand ready to assist Ohioans whatever the Supreme Court may decide.”- Ohio Association of Healthcare Underwriters
10:35 a.m. "it means Republicans will be re-energized now to defeat Barack Obama so that Obamacare can be repealed by a Republican President and Congress." - GOP consultant David Johnson, CEO Strategic Vision, LLC
10:35 a.m. "Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a clear, unambiguous, and complete victory for long-overdue health care reform. It sends an unmistakable message that the building of a better, fairer health care system will continue to move forward." - Ron Pollack, Families USA
10:40 a.m. "This is a bright day for democracy in our country, as the Supreme Court of the United States put the health of over 31 million Americans ahead of politics and corporate profits.” - Becky Williams, President of SEIU District 1199
10:42 a.m. “The Supreme Court has spoken, and we need to move forward. It is past time for members from both parties to move on to the major economic problems facing our country – creating jobs and helping small businesses grow" - Betty Sutton, U.S. Congress D-OH-13
10:51 a.m. "ADF is challenging the Obama administration’s abortion pill mandate in several lawsuits because it unconstitutionally requires faith-based employers to provide or pay for insurance coverage of abortion-inducing drugs and devices for their employees regardless of whether the employers object on moral or religious grounds." Alliance Defense Fund statement
10:55 a.m. "I am disappointed by the Supreme Court's decision on the constitutionality of Obamacare. It is a matter now that will again be fought in the political arena and will be the preeminent issue of the presidential campaign." - Mike DeWine, Ohio Attorney General
10:56 a.m. "While the Court has deemed the law constitutional as a tax on the American people, it is still flawed policy that is unaffordable for our families, our small businesses, and our government." - Rob Portman, U.S. Senate, R-OH
11:01 a.m. "The Obama-Sutton health care law is not only driving up premiums on struggling families, but will also force millions of Americans from their health care plans and put unelected Washington bureaucrats between patients and their doctors. While the Court has determined that the law complies with the constitution, that doesn’t mean it complies with common sense." - Jim Renacci, U.S. Congress R-OH-16
11:04 a.m. "Republicans like Speaker Boehner, Congressman Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney have put their political careers ahead of working Americans struggling to afford and keep their healthcare. Insurance companies and corporate insiders have spent millions to take away the benefits of the law. Today, the Supreme Court rejected their cynical approach and working people won a resounding victory." - Mary Kay Henry, SEIU President
11:05 a.m. "Today's Supreme Court decision sets the stakes for the November election. Now, the only way to save the country from ObamaCare's budget-busting government takeover of health care is to elect a new president." - Reince Priebus, chairman, National Republican Committee
11:06 a.m. "the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) calls on Congress to improve upon several deficiencies in this legislation by eliminating the flawed Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, implementing cost-saving measures, like comprehensive medical liability reform, and finding alternative ways to achieve access to medical care other than already underfunded and overstressed public programs, such as Medicaid." - Deepak Kumar, M.D., President, Ohio State Medical Association
11:14 a.m. "The Supreme Court Ruling on ObamaCare does not matter. It will make little difference to America in the short run, and no difference in the long run. Why? Because almost all elected Republicans and Democrats are Big Government politicians – in all things – including health care. After this Supreme Court decision, they will get back to work expanding government involvement in all things – especially health care." - Libertarian Party of America statement
11:20 a.m. "The United States Supreme Court dealt a stunning blow, not just to pro-lifers, but to Americans overall by upholding the largest expansion of socialized healthcare and abortion our nation has ever seen." - Mike Gonidakis, President of Ohio Right to Life.
11:24 a.m. “Today is a good day for young adults, seniors, people with cancer and other health problems, and small businesses. The Affordable Care Act makes coverage more secure by ensuring that Ohioans cannot be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition, or lose their coverage when they get sick." - Col Owens, Co-Chair, Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage
11:28 a.m. "“The court’s opinion today did not decide the issues in our cases. We are challenging the Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate on religious liberty grounds which are not part of today’s decision. We will move forward seeking vindication of our client’s First Amendment rights." - Hannah Smith, Senior Counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
11:41 a.m. ""I'm really pleased that we've seen the healthcare law held up. I think that what this means is that we're moving ahead, we're continuing on a journey of reforming healthcare in the United States. We're addressing access for people who haven't had access before. We're beginning to address quality and developing a more efficient healthcare delivery system." - Dr. Toby Hargrove, CEO, Cleveland Clinic
12:08 p.m. "Young Americans are faced with the prospect of either paying increased premiums for extensive coverage they may not need, or paying the Obamacare tax. This is yet another reason why we believe young Americans at the polls this fall will vote to take the nation in a different direction.” - Derek Flowers, executive director of Crossroads Generation
12:24 p.m. "“We’re very disappointed that this flawed law has been allowed to stand. The Supreme Court has confirmed what everyone knew all along—but that the White House tried to deny: this is a massive new tax on the middle class. Hopefully Congress will eventually repeal the law altogether and replace it with improvements that actually address the most pressing needs in health care, especially the need to reduce costs in order to improve access." - Governor John Kasich and Lt. Governor Mary Taylor, statement
12:34 p.m. “Let me tell you: We are not going back,” Gerard said. “Under President Obama’s leadership, we have made too much progress to turn back the clock, and too many Americans stand to lose if this law is overturned. This country deserves a system that works for everyone, not just the healthy and the wealthy." - Leo Girard, President, United Steelworkers
12:43 p.m. "Today’s decision is legally sound, but more importantly, it’s morally responsible. Because of President Obama and Democrats’ bold vision, America is on course to lower our health care costs. With this decision, millions of Americans can breathe a sigh of relief as we move forward to ensure that more of our children, parents, and those with pre-existing conditions will have access to the health care resources they need to stay healthy and recover from sickness." - Chris Redfern, chairman, Ohio Democratic Party
1:04 p.m. "I know there will be a lot of discussion today about the politics of all this, about who won and who lost. That’s how these things tend to be viewed here in Washington. But that discussion completely misses the point. Whatever the politics, today’s decision was a victory for people all over this country whose lives will be more secure because of this law and the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold it." - President Barack Obama
1:08 pm. "The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Obamacare based on the individual mandate’s classification as a tax is a distressing blow to taxpayers. The ruling undermines President Obama’s 2009 assertion that his health care law was ‘not a tax’ and makes it clear that he tried to deceive the American people in order to get the bill passed by Congress. Now, Obamacare represents the single largest tax increase on young people in the nation’s history." - Tom Schatz, Citizens Against Government Waste
1:10 p.m. "The question now is whether Republicans will also put politics aside and work with Democrats to help make this law work for all Americans. Unfortunately, it doesn't look that way, at least in Congress. This morning, Speaker of the House John Boehner promised more politics as usual. He says he intends to waste even more time trying to repeal this law. Congressional Republicans are proving once again that they have no interest in bi-partisanship or in working together on behalf of the American people. No wonder disgust with Congress is at an all-time high." - Innovation Ohio, statement
1:10 p.m. “Today is an historic day for Americans of all ages, an affirmation of a law that helps children, workers, and retirees obtain affordable health care. Americans can now live more secure, knowing that their health and well-being are no longer tied to the whims and greed of the big insurance companies." - David Friesner, President of the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans
1:27 p.m. "Today’s landmark Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act validates the hard work that we as a nation have done to advance our policies toward achieving affordable health care for all. While this is a big step forward, we still have more work to do. Here in Ohio we must now undertake the task of implementing the law, including the creation of health care exchanges." - Tim Burga, President, Ohio AFL-CIO
1:59 p.m. "You have my firm pledge that this will be our first order of business after the election. But we need your urgent financial help, so in the name of liberty, I ask you to make one generous gift to the NRSC right now using our secure credit card donation form. The liberals have nowhere to hide – the American people are against ObamaCare, and we will campaign relentlessly against it. As long as we have the financial resources necessary, we WILL gain the 4 seats we need for a new Republican Majority, and we WILL get rid of ObamaCare." - Senator John Cornyn, National Republican Senate Committee
2:15 p.m. “Today’s ruling means that more than 1.2 million Ohio seniors will continue to have access to cancer screenings and wellness exams through Medicare. Nearly 97,000 young adults in our state will continue to be able to stay on their parents’ health insurance until they’re 26. Parents of children with pre-existing conditions – like cancer, asthma, or diabetes – will no longer worry that they will be unable to buy health insurance." - Sherrod Brown, U.S. Senate, D-OH
3:58 p.m. "Right after the Supreme Court’s decision this morning the Democratic National Committee started celebrating - these are direct quotes: “it's constitutional. B****es.” "TAKE THAT MOTHER******S!!" This is the party that speaks for women? I’m appalled. As a Mother, I fear my kids will grow up in a country where Washington controls healthcare decisions best left to Moms, Dads and families. We must get rid of this law by defeating the crass Democrats who support it." (editor's note: this was followed by a link asking for donations) - Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers , National Republican Congressional Committee
4:00 p.m. "It neither protects patients nor makes care affordable-quite the opposite in fact. It was designed as, and remains, a top-down technocratic attempt to address an incredibly complex and diverse industry with one-size-fits-all mandates, subsidies and regulations from bureaucrats in Washington, DC. It is an attempt to wish away basic economic principles and "protect" consumers by giving them less power and control over their healthcare decisions. Ironically, the least fortunate are likely to pay the highest price for this hubris." - Kevin Holtsberry, President, Ohio Buckeye Institute
4:06 p.m. (Round 2) "Hopefully Congress will eventually repeal the law altogether and replace it with improvements that actually address the most pressing needs in health care, especially the need to reduce costs in order to improve access. Until then, Ohio taxpayers could be saddled with dramatically higher costs. The Administration will carefully analyze the decision to determine the appropriate next steps. We are very concerned that a sudden, dramatic increase in Medicaid spending could threaten Ohio’s ability to pursue needed reforms in other areas, such as education." - Governor John Kasich and Lt. Governor Mary Taylor
4:33 p.m. "Many in my District struggle everyday with financial burdens as a result of chronic disease and illness. Today we respect the final decision of the Supreme Court that moves us toward a more human health care system. And now we need to get back to the important work of getting the economy moving and helping small businesses compete in a global economy.” - Congressman Tim Ryan, D-OH-17
4:44 p.m. "Friend -- today was a great day for millions of Americans. But the special interests and the far right aren’t about to give up in their effort to erase basic protections for middle class families -- and they aren’t going to let up in their attacks on me. Make no mistake, they are about to pile on to the $10 million they’ve already spent to defeat us. Click here to help us fight back (link to donation website removed by editor). The truth is I need you on my side before the deadline -- it’s just a few days away." - campaign committee for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
