World News Korner

Matt Drudge lies about having to pay Obamacare penalty for not having health insurance even though there are no penalties until 2015. Conservatives come out to defend him including Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin.

Just paid the Obamacare penalty for not 'getting covered'... I'M CALLING IT A LIBERTY TAX!
— MATT DRUDGE (@DRUDGE) March 21, 2014

Courtesy of Yahoo News:

Conservative Internet pioneer Matt Drudge has built his career on scooping up salacious gossip and breaking news stories.

But Drudge himself has become the focus of attention after announcing he paid a federal tax penalty after refusing to sign up for the Affordable Care Act.

On Friday, Drudge posted a message on Twitter to his 250,000 plus followers.

However, several left-leaning publications jumped on the claim, accusing Drudge of lying (or being misinformed) and arguing that the penalty is not in fact due until 2015.

The White House directly responded to Drudge’s claim on Twitter, with Director of Progressive Media and Online Response Jesse Lee writing:

Flat lie, no fee for previous year. Scary how much influence he once had. RT @DRUDGE: Just paid Obamacare penalty for not 'getting covered'
— Jesse Lee (@jesseclee44) March 21, 2014

Was Drudge lying or misinformed? Or is he being unfairly criticized?

Conservative outlets including Breitbart and the Washington Times jumped to his defense, echoing a later claim from Drudge himself that he was actually paying a small business or self-employed tax as part of his quarterly 2014 estimated tax payments.

The H&R Block Tax Institute told The Wire that Drudge is likely overpaying his tax debt now and that the overpayment will be deducted once the health insurance penalty is assessed early next year. However, H&R Block also said there is no formal payment calculation yet in place by the IRS for the Individual Shared Responsibility Provision. What’s more, when individuals make estimated tax payments, they cannot specify which government program their payments are going to, i.e. building roads, fighting wars or health care. So if H&R Block is right, Drudge’s claim is probably not exactly true. At best, he’s overpaying his taxes and assuming that extra money will go to his eventual penalty for not getting health insurance.

It's sort of convoluted but essentially Drudge is anticipating that he will have to pay the penalty for not having purchased health insurance as part of his estimated 2014, but there is no actual penalty that has been calculated as of yet.

So essentially Drudge is lying.

Of course the scent of lies drifting in the air attract the Right Wing blowhards like flies to a pile of shit.

So Limbaugh weighed in first, closely followed by desperate for attention Sarah Palin, who wrote this on Facebook:

From one Dittohead to all you others, aren't you thankful Rush defends truth, and as importantly, he defends those speaking truth! Rush is consistently loyal to the cause of justice, walking the walk as he does here in defense of Drudge calling out Obamascare. It's not commonplace that someone as high profile as is humanly possible takes valuable time to defend others. Very admirable. Very. Let me know what you think!

"Someone as high profile as is humanly possible?"

Okay that made me throw up in my mouth a little.

And by the way, how is having a radio show that is mostly listened to by rabid right wingers and comedians looking for material, add up to high profile?

High profile would be like Jennifer Lawrence right now, or Jimmy Fallon now that he took over the Tonight Show, or, dare I say it, the President of the United States.

Now THAT is as high profile as is humanly possible.

Let's face it the conservatives are so freaked out about being called out on their lies so consistently by others that they are impulsively circling the wagons whether there is anything defensible in the comments made by their colleague or not.

Palin is probably hoping that if she provides a little cover for Drudge and Limbaugh that they will do the same for her the next time SHE says something ignorant or untrue. Which will likely happen the very next time she opens her mouth.

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