Christie Says He’ll Accept U.S. Money to Expand Medicaid

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Nw York Times

Christie Says He’ll Accept U.S. Money to Expand Medicaid
By KATE ZERNIKE and MARC SANTORA
Published: February 26, 2013

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, who has been a strident critic of President Obama’s health care law, said Tuesday that he would accept federal money to expand the state’s Medicaid program for the poor.

The decision, announced during his annual budget address here, makes Mr. Christie one of the most prominent Republican governors to embrace part of the health care law. In so doing, he enabled tens of thousands more people in New Jersey to receive insurance.

“Let me be clear: I am no fan of the Affordable Care Act,” Mr. Christie said. “I think it is wrong for New Jersey and for America. I fought against it and believe, in the long run, it will not achieve what it promises. However, it is now the law of the land. I will make all my judgments as governor based on what is best for New Jerseyans.”

Mr. Christie, who has been viewed as a possible presidential contender but must first win re-election this year in a mostly Democratic state, portrayed the move as being based on practical considerations. Noting that under the law the federal government would pick up a greater share of state Medicaid costs, he said the federal money would allow 104,000 more poor people to get much needed health services, and save New Jersey taxpayers approximately $227 million in 2014.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/nyregion/christie-backs-medicaid-help-from-federal-government.html?=&_r=0

[Populist_Prole]

1. Well it's good to see being a pragmatist trump being an ideologue, especially from a 'bagger.

Question is whether this is just part & parcel of "what's in it for me?" Randian dynamic, or another crack in the hard-ass teabagger conservative ediface.

[another_liberal]

2. Only an out-and-out racist . . .

Good for Governor Christie! Only an out-and-out racist governor would reject millions in federal aid to the poor of his State just because our current President happens to be an African-American. That said, I guess there still are about a dozen such out-and-out racist governors who plan to do just that.

[benld74]

3. Brought to you by the Jersiens for Christie Committee, Joe Nobody Chairman,,,,,,

[djean111]

4. Is it just me, or is Christie illogical?

“Let me be clear: I am no fan of the Affordable Care Act,” Mr. Christie said. “I think it is wrong for New Jersey and for America. I fought against it and believe, in the long run, it will not achieve what it promises. However, it is now the law of the land. I will make all my judgments as governor based on what is best for New Jerseyans.”

The CA is wrong for New Jerseyans, but he has made a judgement to enact it because it is what is best for New Jerseyans......
seems to me he is just pissed off that he had to implement it and doing that might affect his political aspirations, whatever they may be.
So he is talking out of both sides of his mouth.

[Populist_Prole]

5. Don't think it's just you. I believe the cognitive dissonance ate him up inside

I mean, the "ID" side of him wants to, and feels he has to hate and oppose everything from the present administration in order to tow the nutbagger party line. Once it's a done deal however, he is somewhat liberated from pandering to his nutjob "base", because he thinks he's in good with them by making a big hoo-hah about being against it. He knows it's really a good thing and can now act relatively free of ideology, all while claiming he fought the good fight.

Like I said above: He's either a latent pragmatist or just a slimy Randian. I know some. Some of my union-shop co-workers are hard-right pro-business conservatives who are brainwashed to hate unions, yet happily indulge in whatever benefits being in a union can bring; And- Without a hint of irony. To them, it's just scoring the best deal for the least amount of cost and "lookin' out for number one". They know they're full of shit, yet it works for them. I think this is the same dynamic with the nutbaggers too.

[freshwest]

6. It'll be another privatized Medicaid scam like Scott is doing in Florida.

I'm sure Voldemort and Christie are best buds.