Con Man Obama's Bait and Switch to ObamaCare

John Kass reports:

When Obama and his Democratic majority pushed the giant health care bill through Congress, this business of compelling Americans to purchase health insurance was called a mandate. It was easier that way. The Democrats couldn't very well call it a tax and get it through. Who'd want to support an Obama health care tax? Nobody.

So they called it a mandate. Then recently, while arguing the issue before the Supreme Court, the White House lawyers switched up and allowed that yes, it was really a tax.

"Why do you keep saying 'tax'?" scolded Justice Stephen Breyer.

Why? Because the White House wanted to save the president's health care plan. A mandate could have been ruled unconstitutional. But a tax, well, the Congress has the right to raise taxes.

Sound confusing? Not if you're used to the bait and switch of big government. Though it means that some wallets get lighter, it also means that Obama comes out a winner, at least for this week.

If it's a tax increase now, wasn't it also a tax increase back then?

"No. That's not true, George," the president toldABC'sGeorge Stephanopoulos in 2009. "The — for us to say that you've got to take a responsibility to get health insurance is absolutely not a tax increase."

Con man Obama.