Earlier this week, President Obama sat down with a reporter from an NBC affiliate Iowa, who asked the president to explain why a local company had closed "as a direct result" of the Affordable Care Act. Obama said that was almost certainly not true, causing the Romney campaign to pounce -- it was proof the president didn't understand how "Oba,acare" is "hurting small businesses."
So, who's right? I'll give you a hint: it's not Romney.
The company is called Nemschoff Chairs, and it makes medical furniture. Did it company close? Actually, no -- as Jonathan Bernstein noted, Nemschoff Chairs is moving from Iowa to Wisconsin, not closing up shop.
Did Nemschoff Chairs struggle as a result of the Affordable Care Act? Strike two -- Greg Sargent talked to the company's spokesperson, who completely contradicted Romney's version of events.
It turns out that the company didn't close because of Obamacare at all, according to a company spokesperson. What's more, the company sees lack of demand as the key problem -- a lack of demand that is partly due to the drive to repeal or modify Obamacare, not to the implementation of the law itself. [...]
Obamacare's implementation had nothing to do with the decision, Mark Schurman, a spokesman for parent company Herman Miller, tells me.
"We never said health care reform is the reason we're closing and consolidating that operation," Schurman said. "We never said it's the result of the health care reform legislation."
This is especially inconvenient for Romney -- the company spokesperson not only debunked the GOP claim, he also reinforced Obama's argument about the economy. Worse, Nemschoff Chairs' said the Republican effort to kill the Affordable Care Act is causing "uncertainty" that's undermining business.
Wait, it gets even better.
Glenn Kessler dug a little deeper and found what caused financial troubles for the company in the first place.
[C]utbacks in federal government spending -- precisely what Republicans such as Romney have demanded -- led to the closure of the Nemschoff facility in Iowa, not the health care law.
Romney thought he'd finally hit a goldmine: a small business in a swing state that closed its doors because of Obamacare. Instead, we see a company that suffered as a result of government spending cuts, and moved its business for reasons that have nothing to do with health care reform.
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Will the NBC affiliate in Iowa report on the follow-up? Will faux news parrot the romney-bot line and not the follow-up?
$5 says the answers are no and yes......
At least we have the truth from you, Steve. Hope all is well with you.
Exactly, the lie will keep going, the truth will be ignored.
(Why am I signed-in as "bannedbyhuffpo"? Does anything connected with Facebook even WORK?)
[sigh] I was GOING TO SAY... we need to know exactly WHO fed this reporter the false fact about ACA and this plant, to make the President look bad. And then, I want to hear someone tell us again how the mainstream media is "in the tank" for Obama and liberals.
Because any reporter who has sources feeding him or her easily documentable lies, and they get used verbatim as "questions", is clearly a "friendly" Republican "journalist". And his or her lack of impartial credibility needs to be outed.
I live in iowa and will call them and report back on maddow blogs / Steve's ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD OPEN THREAD on Friday afternoon
KWWL Waterloo Newsroom
1-800-947-7746 or 319-291-1240
http://www.kwwl.com/story/8142806/kwwl-addresses-phones-faxes-and-email-links
kwwlnews@kwwl.com
TO Patango and whoever "bannedbyhuffpo" really is: This deserves further investigation and attention. Remember death panels and the woman who got fired because they edited her speech to make it sound racist, when it was actually anti racist?
Yabut yabut ...our version of the truth got out first so sayeth the Romney .
And if you think that any MSM is going to actually point out that it's a lie you are dumber than a Hannity viewer
They won't point out that it is a lie because the MSM is infested with corporate wh0res and moral cowards.
Hey Steve Benen:
Proofread, proofread, proofread.
★★★★!!!!
and which version of the story do you think is going to be on the evening news? hmmmmm? it is that reason alone that obama isn't thirty points ahead in this race.
When did we adopt the Teatard playlist or the Conservatard canard? It's literally not "Obamacare" ladies and liberals.. Pleases stop dumbing down the already depressing discussion. Where are we, the Carolinas?
THANK YOU! I think "that" term is most disrespectful. The act that was signed into law was The Affordable Care Act. Why don't we create an acronym....umm...let's say TACT, something the Teatards and Pubes need to learn.
As a longtime North Carolina resident, I'd really like to take issue with your snide allusion to our state...But I can't. Our Republican legislature is as dumb as a bag of hammers and twice as dangerous!
And, while I tend to agree with Trollop that there's a sense in which using the term "dumbs down" the "discussion", that's politics in 'Murica these days, right? FWIW, the Administration has, shrewdly (I think), begun co-opting the Rape-Public-CON "trolls" by proudly referring to the Act as "Obamacare"... why, yes, we'll take ownership of that, and consider it a compliment. We do care, thank you! Why don't you care?
I disagree with OBX and Trollop. Trashing an entire state (or country, or culture, or family, or ...) based on the few ignorant acts that make what passes for news is just, well, childish.
@ December27: I only wish the ignorant acts perpetrated by our NC legislature was limited to a "few". Unfortunately, that is not the case. They are engaged in the wholesale destruction of voting rights and access, LGBT rights, our educational system, women's health and personal privacy issues, and more. I wish there was time and space for me to list it all. In fact, like many Republican-held legislatures, and the Republican Party, in general, they are intent on reversing much of the accomplishments of the 20th Century and returning us to a world in which the Robber Barons of the Gilded Age would have felt quite comfortable. This is not hyperbole. We are about to find ourselves living in a nation that I believe few of us really want, and that none but the rich will truly benefit from.
Sorry if my snark was too close to home. I officially change it to "Where are we, San Diego?"
I have been proudly calling it Obamacare for a long time. Even the Obama camp adopted the twitter hash #ILikeObamacare some months back.
Let it forever be remembered that a Democrat signed Obamacare into law. And that was after Democrats passed Obamacare. And the SCOTUS did whatever it will do to Obamacare. And, if they call it unconstitutional, those who die died because the Republican Congress or POTUS, and/or the Republican's on the SCOTUS killed Obamacare.
OBXartist,
All quite true, but too many of those avowedly outside the right are pigheadedly determined to be good little boys and girls no matter how quickly the US goes down the drain.
you could call it Romneycare seeing how it was written by the same dude.
If Obamacare is struck down, it should have never have been. This is unpopular and extremely divisive, with a long line of folks lining up to sue the Gov't. The uncertainty of it all was caused by the Democrats shoving it down the American people's throat with zero GOP support, closed meetings. Let's hope the SCOTUS does the right thing and tosses it.
Yes the ACA, being for all rights and purposes of GOP origin, is being shoved down the Amercian people's throats.. As opposed to shoved back up into their vagini as the "Jobs, jobs, jobs" team has been so distracted with since 2010 in the house of "Representatives" there Tool!-2804575
Why would you quote that and ignore what it says?
Conservatives really do seem to have an obsession with things being shoved down their throats. They had the same gag reflex over Social Security and Medicare.
Christopher Porter:
"Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience."
Jesus Eric, your idea of "shoving it down peoples throats" is laughable. Not only was the law debated for a very long time, it has taken multiple presidents to get it done and almost all the ideas in the law were once championed by republicans! Get a grip you loser.
@Eric - you are wrong about the ACA having no GOP support. First, it never would have passed without at least some GOP support. Second, I know a young man who was interning in DC when the ACA was being drafted and in the room to witness the following. There were plenty of GOP in the room, and they proposed a list of 73 changes or additions to the bill, Democrats accepted ALL of them. The GOP folks were so flabbergasted by it, their leader didn't know what to say.
So get some facts straight before you parrot your talking points. Not only was this supported by the GOP; the bill contains MANY provisions that came directly from the GOP. They just feel obligated to oppose it now because they're afraid to lose votes from the lunatic fringe right, plus they don't want Obama to get credit for anything good.
Eric you mean it was shoved down our throats like the Bush's wars were.The AHCA is meant to save lives here at home,not to have them lost in some foreign land so companies of mass construction can make a ton of money for or a vice president and his old pals.
The only reason it's "unpopular" and "divisive" is because the Repubs have repeatedly lied about it. When surveyed, the majority of Americans favor the various aspects of the AHCA (no pre-existing condition exclusions, no lifetime maximums, keeping children on until they're 26, etc.), but then they'll say they don't like "Obamacare."
I'll give the Republicans credit: they are absolutely masterful at spinning, coming up with pithy catchphrases that stick in the public's mind ("death panels!") and staying on message. The Dems could use a little of that discipline.
CB107 - your comment about "death panels" reminds me of an e-mail I got from my (Republican) stepmother. It was all about some guy who had had many tests done on his heart over the last 12 years. Then recently, he went in for another and was told that Medicare had denied pre-approval. If he had developed the condition that the test was for and couldn't get the test or treatment, he would surely die. Of course this is supposedly because of the Obamacare "death panels;" they had decided he should die. Then when he threatened to contact his elected officials, Medicare suddenly changed their minds.
The original e-mail claimed it was sent by a nurse, certainly in an attempt to give it some credibility.
I replied to all on it, did a "LOL," and offered my stepmother the opportunity to buy some Florida "oceanfront" property.
Why the **** is that troll's comment still showing?
They're moving to Wisconsin - wonder if that has anything to do with FitzWalkerStan's militant stance against unions, and the voters' complicity in that?
that was my first thought
I am sure Romney will correct himself on this one. Just like he has on all the rest. "Oh, that's not true? Well, I'm gonna keep saying it anyway. Don't forget to shop around for college."
That would be a first.
Just FYI, Nemschoff Chairs is already located in Sheboygan, WI. Or at least their corporate offices are. (It appears that their manufacturing plant is located in Sioux Center, IA) So there are likely some other factors at play if there is in fact move of the Iowa plant.
why would you keep inviting Gop to meetings where there is no compromise. Why don't the republican party robots vote in their constituents interest? Even when a bill (let's say the one about raising taxes on the very wealthy) have over 60% support from their constituents, they vote against it, just to further their top priority, "making Obama a one term President" The Affordable Care Act is the only thing having me hang on for dear life, how do you suppose that people will survive when they take away all the healthcare for anyone who is sick, and they only insure the cream of the crop? oh, and give all of Congress the best healthcare possible for free, ....for life? Have you seen their benefits package??? Geez, get a clue, they are screwing you over for their best interests....and you are following them right off the cliff.
They are just hoping those wedge issue voter will hear this one claim and decide that Mittens is the man for him. Instead of doing some investigating and find out the real truth, there are a lot of people that have one issue that they follow.
I have a neighbor that is on disability for a stroke, raising two kids, etc. She told me very proudly that she was a Republican and always voted for Republican because she is prolife. I asked her "Haven't you ever heard of a Pro life Democrat?" No, she just keeps voting against her own best interest because of one issue.
there are a lot of people that vote based on one sound byte they have heard, whether true or not, its their ticket to vote for the right.
“Today’s radical Republicans have another agenda. Not hiring more cops, not doing something to stop the teacher layoffs, but their goal is to drag down the economy because it is good for their politics. They believe the more horrible the economy is, the better off they are going to be in November. They love bad news.” Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid
“The simple reason is, I’m afraid, that you have a Republican mindset that says, ‘Hmm, let’s see, we can repair theinfrastructure, save money long-term, create millions of jobs — bad idea, Barack Obama will look good… If it is good for America, if it creates jobs, if
it is good for Barack Obama, we can’t do it.’” Senator Bernie Sanders (I) VT
I suppose Gov. Walker or Lt. Gov. Kleefisch called them up to try to get them to come to Wisconsin too?
Yes Nags, Scooter boy and Becca will take the credit for this and the sheep will be in agreement.
What's the name of the reporter in Iowa? Why didn't he do his job before baffling our president with a false accusation?
Matt Breen, from KTIV. Not sure exactly where that is in Iowa; we don't get that station here in CR (thankfully). I assume he didn't do his job because he was trying harder to create a "gotcha" moment. Epic fail.
Actually KJ it was reported here thru kwwl channel 7 , it is on their web sight , I posted this above
I live in iowa and will call them and report back on maddow blogs / Steve's ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD OPEN THREAD on Friday afternoon
KWWL Waterloo Newsroom
1-800-947-7746 or 319-291-1240
http://www.kwwl.com/story/8142806/kwwl-addresses-phones-faxes-and-email-links
kwwlnews@kwwl.com
Thanks Patango - I didn't see it there because I watch KCRG religiously. Never KWWL or (God forbid) Fox-affiliated KGAN. I got the Matt Breen/KTIV from clicking on the link in Benen's story (the word "asked" links to it). It must have been aired on both stations since they're both NBC affiliates.
Thanks KJ , I just happen to catch it on kwwl /NBC , so I thought it was from them , I understand now , hopefully they will address the issue
kgan is now doing the GOP ETHICAL EDITORIALS , I think they just started that , I believe they are starting a morning show also , I figured it would only be a matter of time before theymorphed into local gop networks across the nation , disturbing
I got a survey last week abut local news and what I do/don't want to see on it. You're not supposed to be able to tell who's asking, but it was clearly KGAN. I told them I do not want them to cover politics so much, and certainly not offer their editorials on issues. Of course it doesn't matter to me, because every time I forget to flip to KCRG and KGAN news comes on, I change it faster than a cat jumps out of a full bathtub.
You've gotta love the corporate owned media - never an objective look at the real answers - just parrot what they want people to believe......Sigh
It is impossible for Republicans to triumph with their current agenda.
They are against any progressive ideas, and they are almost all white. Let them contine on this path and they will dwindle down to nothng. I just hope I live long enough to see it.
The only Republican I can stand is my cat--all cats are Republican.
No, all cats are monarchists... with themselves as the monarchs.
Yes, off-topic a bit, but I felt we needed a little pleasant humor to counter the unpleasant stupidity shown in the article that seems so sadly prevalent these days.
I have to laugh at people who sneer at Mexican politics because this particular example of the MSM in the US is considered SOP and no one cares. The same kind of thing right now as we speak has ignited massive protests in Mexico with university students of all social classes and all political parties from the rich down to the poor (In Mexico even the poor can afford to go to university. High school is a different story.) screaming in the streets about how the Mexican MSM has totally corrupted the political process. But the sheeple in America just let themselves be led by the nose.
I wish I could believe that this disclosure would demolish Romney's arguments. I don't. For this to make a difference people would have to stop, listen, and think. Republican strategy planners and candidates don't care about facts; they care about spin. If they can shout loudly enough that Obamacare (ugh!) is destroying jobs, it becomes fact to many Americans. Sorry.
Are we jumping to conclusions? Maybe the spokesperson didn't get the talking points and maybe they did close shop and now we hear from the company in a foreign country: Winsconsin.
Sounds like a job for super investigative reporter from the NBC affiliate in Iowa since they seem like a sharp bunch of informed journalists.
I live in iowa and will call them and ask if they will correct their reporting , then report back on maddow blogs / Steve's ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD OPEN THREAD on Friday afternoon
KWWL Waterloo Newsroom
1-800-947-7746 or 319-291-1240
http://www.kwwl.com/story/8142806/kwwl-addresses-phones-faxes-and-email-links
kwwlnews@kwwl.com
I just got an answer back from Matt Breen at KTIV, and I copied and pasted my letter and his in an email to rachel@msnbc.com. He stands by his reporting, of course.
Eric!-2804575.. You said "If Obamacare is struck down, it should have never have been. This is unpopular and extremely divisive, with a long line of folks lining up to sue the Gov't. The uncertainty of it all was caused by the Democrats shoving it down the American people's throat with zero GOP support, closed meetings. Let's hope the SCOTUS does the right thing and tosses it."
Your wrong on many levels.. but I have 1 question for you.. if this were true.. how is it any different than the GOP shoving their religious beliefs down my throat with little to none Dem support and a long list of people not being allowed to voice an opinion on it when it would directly affect them??
maddow is again wrong, right along with her hero Dictator O-Blamo. The plant is indeed closing and laying off 111 people in Iowa, due the the major reason: OBAMACARE. But the Dictator just lies about it, and taliban loving liberals just suck it right on down.
Geez, you should tell the executives of the chair company right away. 'Cuz they're cranky about Mitt's lies about why they're moving. And they're saying so. Does that make them "taliban loving" CORPORATE liberals?
I work for Nemschoff Iowa and yes when we were told they were closing the doors, they did say because of the government cut backs but I believe there was also mention of uncertainity of insurence for the reason why the hospitals weren't buying Maybe we wouldn't have to worry about this if the government spending was looked at because they do spend my tax dollars on stupid stuff It was reported a few years ago that my tax money was going to turtle brides in Florida REALLY? or maybe I should attack my own state spending money to disect cow and pig poop to see what the effects are on the environment Hello these animals have been here for how long I don't think they do much damage and maybe some people should get there facts straight and watch the report before they attack the reporter He only reported on what was said to us in our meeting