Both sides spin the upholding of the Affordable Care Act, but Mitt Romney's deceit is especially egregious.

Courtesy of USA Today:

Obama reiterated his "if you like your plan, you can keep your plan" refrain, despite the fact that at least a few million workers won't keep their employer-sponsored plans, according to the Congressional Budget Office. (Essentially because there is nothing to keep employers from changing their health care plans, which of course they can do now as well. And those with private insurance may find that it does not meet the minimum requirements of the new law, and have to change it or instead choose to opt into an employer based health care plan.)


The president also exaggerated the benefits of the law, such as the number of young adults who were able to join their parents' plans, thanks to the law, and the number of individuals who will receive rebates issued by insurance companies that didn't spend enough premium dollars on health care. (The White House has been touting a 6.6 million number for young adults that are now able to remain on their parent's coverage when, according to the HHS, the number may be closer to 3.1 million.)


Romney repeated a number of distortions, saying that the law would "cut Medicare" by $500 billion and that it "adds trillions to our deficits." That's a reduction in the future growth of Medicare spending over 10 years. And CBO says the law would reduce the deficit. 

Romney said the law is a "job-killer." But CBO says the law would have a "small" impact on jobs, mainly affecting the amount of labor workers choose to supply. Those getting subsidies, for instance, might work less hours since they're paying less for health care. 

Romney claimed the law "puts the federal government between you and your doctor." The law would set minimum benefits packages, but medical services will not be government-run, nor does the law allow for rationing of care.

As we all know in politics the costs and savings of new policies are often exaggerated, and there is certainly evidence that the President is guilty of some of that, but what Romney, Palin, Limbaugh, and the other Right Wing mouthpieces are doing is to outright lie that this bill does incredible damage to the deficit, jobs, and Medicare. And essentially they could not care less if they get caught, because if they can't poison it in the minds of Americans enough to get it repealed before it becomes fully implemented, they are screwed. Something of which they are painfully aware.

 And it is getting harder and harder for them to hide it.