You can tell that House Republicans know they passed a terrible healthcare bill because ever since Thursday they’ve been spinning, lying, and avoiding both the media and their constituents.
A perfect example is Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s spokesperson, AshLee Strong, who sent out this tweet on Saturday:
While we're setting the record straight: AHCA was posted online a month ago, went through 4 committees, & has been scored by CBO — twice.
— AshLee Strong (@AshLeeStrong) May 6, 2017
But Strong’s contention that the bill had been scored by the CBO–Congressional Budget Office–twice is a flat-out lie. It was scored when the bill was in its first iteration, and the CBO estimated as many as 24 million Americans would lose coverage under the plan. But the House deliberately voted on Trumpcare 2.0 before the CBO could release its revised numbers.
It didn’t take long for Twitter karma to catch up with Ms. Strong, and it was not kind when it arrived:
She just tweeted two links from March. That's not the same legislation, is it?
— Charlie Millson (@MillsonCharlie) May 6, 2017
I want to know if snopes can verify whether @AshLeeStrong is legitimately the press secretary for @SpeakerRyan…because wow. Just wow.
— William Meservy (@WilliamMeservy) May 6, 2017
Hi! I'm the managing editor for @Snopes and we'd also love links to back this claim + the current score. Thanks!
— Brooke Binkowski (@brooklynmarie) May 6, 2017
You, young lady, are a lying sack of s**t. https://t.co/1FZtPc3Wsr
— Marina Sirtis (@Marina_Sirtis) May 7, 2017
Once the digital criticism started, Strong went on Twitter again to whine about the barbs:
Reporters trying to reach me for inquiry, email is best today. My feed is cluttered w/ the "tolerant" left swearing at me.
— AshLee Strong (@AshLeeStrong) May 6, 2017
Would you like some cheese with that whine, AshLee? On second thought, here’s more scorn instead:
It's funny how not wanting to die makes people impolite.
— Richard Lawler (@rjcc) May 6, 2017
Most of those responding aren't swearing. They're countering your "facts" with real facts. Suggestion: don't lie, less clutter.
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) May 6, 2017
Ashlee are you saying Lindsay is lying here? https://t.co/gl36DEg3dC
— Matt (@mttyspn) May 6, 2017
Feel better Ash! Just look in the mirror & say, "This is hard, people are mean, but it's worth it to let poor people die for the tax cuts."
— David Iserson (@davidiserson) May 6, 2017
AshLee, people are upset because you are lying about something that could kill a lot of people. Proximity to power is not worth your soul,
— Molly Knight (@molly_knight) May 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/pjfuller/status/861036402443735040
It’s interesting to note that since Thursday, Paul Ryan has been in short supply. Even he seems reticent to defend this indefensible monstrosity of a bill which would condemn millions of Americans to having inadequate healthcare. Personally, I say each member of Congress who voted for the bill should have to covered by it. Any takers on that challenge? Speaker Ryan? AshLee?
Yeah, I didn’t think so. Cowards!
Featured Image Via NBC News
