June 21, 2012

The New York Times' Broccoli Obsession

Last week, the New York Times ran a lengthy and sarcastic front-page article attacking the use of broccoli to illustrate why the ObamaCare individual mandate is unconstitutional. My  critique of that article was just posted at American Thinker. In part, I state:
"Because, in a sense, the broccoli example is a reductio ad absurdum ridiculing ObamaCare's overreach, the Times disingenuously attempts to ridicule this legitimate ridicule."
Using typical media bias techniques, the Times attempts to marginalize ObamaCare opposition as confined to extremists, seeks out a professor to proclaim ex cathedra that broccoli is a “simplistic metaphor” and “such a bad argument,” implies that justices would be naïve to strike down the law on the basis of this inapt “defining symbol,” and disputes “that limiting the commerce clause protects personal freedom,” which it derides as a mere “notion” in the sense of a foolish idea. 
For reasons elaborated upon in my article, I conclude:
"[I]f ObamaCare is upheld, there will be no end to interference in people's lives -- far more than already exists. There is never any end to the schemes concocted in the fertile minds of petty martinets who derive their greatest satisfaction in life from bossing other people around, in the guise of legitimate exercise of government power.

"Despite the Times' attempt to belittle the broccoli example as a far-fetched 'notion' of right-wing extremists, broccoli will be just the beginning."

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