The swift reaction to the long overdue release of Trump’s proposed Obamacare replacement plan details on Monday evening has so far not been very kind, leaving House Republicans scrambling to put the spin on it, that — no, it’s not nearly as bad as it sounds (which is admittedly pretty bad). One such attempt at damage control came from Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz who visited CNN’s New Day Tuesday morning to discuss the plan with anchor Alisyn Camerota, but only succeeded in demonstrating just how woefully out of touch top Republicans are when it comes to the healthcare needs of millions of Americans.
In an astounding soundbite, Chaffetz compared healthcare coverage to getting a new iPhone, telling Camerota, “So maybe rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and they want to go spend hundreds of dollars on that, maybe they should invest in their own health care. They’ve got to make those decisions themselves.”
Ah, yes. Indeed. Nevermind that in the modern world one needs a smartphone to have a job, as most jobs require constant communication, the ability to access email and the internet, etc. Really, it just boils down to people choosing between smartphones and doctors. So simple when you put it that way. Except that Chaffetz’s analogy is anything but simple, and aside the rich irony of him uploading a photo from his appearance to his “Jason in the House” Instagram account, Twitter was quick to jump on him to point out the flaws in his logic.
I get a new iPhone every few years when my plan allows an upgrade. 20 minute doc appt for my husband last week cost a few hundred more.
— Kat Kinsman (@kittenwithawhip) March 7, 2017
How many cell phones do you buy in a year, Jason Chaffetz? Because one won't cover even one ER visit. #elitist #clueless #NoHealthcareForYou
— Minda of the Cemeteries ** Keep writing ** (@cemeteryminda) March 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/JessieLahrr/status/839136382912184320
Unless Jason Chaffetz is offering a free healthcare plan with a two year contract, he needs to sit down and be quiet.
— Pr1s0n M1k3 (@pr1s0n_m1k3) March 7, 2017
How can Jason Chaffetz look his daughter in the eye when she's on her new iPhone that she just loves?
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) March 7, 2017
Things Jason Chaffetz is OK with
Poor people choosing between necessities
Rich guys paying the president $200,000 a year to hang with him
— L O L G O P (@LOLGOP) March 7, 2017
How much does Chaffetz think phones cost? With his poverty shaming bullshit.
— Imani Gandy (Orca’s Version) ⚓️ (@AngryBlackLady) March 7, 2017
wait till jason chaffetz finds out that some poor people have cars
— Nick Baumann (@NickBaumann) March 7, 2017
Jason Chaffetz clearly has no idea how much an emergency room visit costs. Or prescription drugs. Or blood tests. Or an iPhone. #healthcare
— andrew. (@rewstermania) March 7, 2017
Jason Chaffetz would do really poorly on "The Price Is Right."
Which costs more? The comprehensive healthcare plan or the phone?
Um, same?— T.R. Morley (@TheRealMorley) March 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/jbouie/status/839104420952563713
https://twitter.com/ShirlHerbert/status/839124010889785344
Aw, that's so cute how Jason Chaffetz has no idea how much healthcare costs. #AHCA #Trumpcare
— T.R. Morley (@TheRealMorley) March 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/owillis/status/839120432200626176
https://twitter.com/coreyspring/status/839116527987273729
Hey @Apple, any comment on Jason Chaffetz's implying that iPhones are keeping us poor folk from getting healthcare?
— Pr1s0n M1k3 (@pr1s0n_m1k3) March 7, 2017
Jason Chaffetz says Low-income Americans must choose healthcare or a phone. I say he chooses between giving folks healthcare & having a job.
— Drew Gibson (@SuppressThis) March 7, 2017
So this last one doesn’t actually have anything to do with his healthcare remarks, but I think we’ve all been thinking it, anyway:
I just learned Jason Chaffetz's Twitter handle is @JasonInTheHouse
and
I just pic.twitter.com/AsDe81FyDS
— julia reinstein 🚡 (@juliareinstein) March 7, 2017