On March 28, 2010, shortly after the Affordable Care Act passed, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had a litany of predictions regarding the health law on NBC’s "Meet the Press", nearly all of which proved to be untrue.
"Well, I think as people learn about the bill, and now that the bill is enacted, it's going to become more and more popular."
Since the bill’s passage in March of 2010, Obamacare has become increasingly unpopular. In December 2013, a CBS News/New York Times poll found 34 percent of Americans believed the law will hurt them personally, while only 16 percent thought it would help. Even among the uninsured, 37 percent believed Obamacare would hurt them while 33 percent thought it would help.
"And the number one lie that bothers people is ‘You'll lose your insurance if you have it now and you're pretty happy with it.’"
Schumer was echoing President Obama’s claim that "If you like your plan, you can keep it. Period." But Obama’s claim was deemed "Lie of the Year" in 2013 by fact-checking site Politifact as millions of Americans saw their health insurance plans cancelled due to regulations in the Affordable Care Act. NBC News reported in October that the Obama administration even knew that Obamacare would terminate half of the plans on the individual market.
Those on the individual market were not the only ones affected either, as large companies dropped employees from their health plans rather than offer more expensive plans under Obamacare.
Schumer also cited a firefighter who complained he would lose his health benefits, but Schumer responded that the bill would not affect firefighters. Just last week, WHIO-OH reported that firefighters in Ohio were facing cut hours due to Obamacare.
"Small businesses will get tax breaks so they'll be either able to cover their employees--many small business people want to but can't afford it--or keep the coverage if they have it already."
In November, CBS reported that Obamacare was forcing many small businesses to drop insurance due to skyrocketing costs. The report highlighted Nancy Clark, a small business owner once featured in a White House Video Blog, who saw her rates raised by 39% under Obamacare.
"So I predict, David, by November those who voted for health care will find it an asset, those who voted against it will find it a liability."
Perhaps his most inaccurate prediction of the interview, Schumer thought Obamacare would help Democrats in the November 2010 elections. In fact, Senate Democrats lost 6 seats in that election, and House Democrats lost 63 seats, losing control of the lower chamber in the process.
Obamacare continues to hound Democrats in the lead up to the 2014 elections. Vulnerable Democrats in red states including Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR), Kay Hagan (D-NC), and Mary Landrieu (D-LA), have all been distancing themselves from the President and his health law since the botched rollout last October.