MSNBC Host: True Christians Do Not Oppose 'Obamacare'
A true Christian would not oppose the Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare," MSNBC host Ed Schultz claimed on "The Ed Show" Saturday. Only a "phony Christian" would seek to repeal the law, he argued, because Jesus would want the government regulated health care program.
"They're phony Christians, phony Christians when they say that they are Christian, but then they want to take away from their next door neighbor. They don't want to be their brother's keeper," Schultz declared.
As a Christian, Schultz continued, he felt obligated to point out the "hypocrisy" of "right wing Christians" who believe that the country would be better off without the ACA.
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"Make no mistake," Schultz said. "There is no moral or religious case for taking away health care from 30 million Americans. ... If Obamacare is repealed, Americans will die. Children of God will die."
The ACA and the civil rights legislation passed in the 1960s are the two most moral things the country has ever done, Schultz said.
Schultz began the show by mockingly praying, with his eyes closed and hands held in the air: "Dear Lord, in this house of worship called Ed tonight, we bring praise to you, dear Lord. And give us the strength to fight back against these soldiers of defeat and these soldiers of deceit when it comes to Obamacare. Give us the strength to heal the sick and help the poor, because we know that's what you want Lord. Amen."
After explaining that only a true Christian would agree with him on the policy matter, Schultz criticized those "who are using religion to try to steal your health care."
Schultz questioned Ken Klukowski of the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian advocacy organization, in the last four minutes of the 18 minute segment.
"From a public policy standpoint," Klukowski said, "I want people to have as good quality health care as possible, which is why I oppose Obamacare."
For much of the rest of the segment, Klukowski's position could not be heard because Schultz spoke over him as he was talking.
Liberal comedian John Fugelsang was also on the segment. He compared the government health care program to the ministry of Jesus by arguing that the Biblical case for the ACA can be found in Matthew 10 where Jesus sent the 12 disciples out to proclaim his message and heal the sick.
"In Matthew, Jesus says it, he lays it out. He says, you received without payment, now give without payment," Fugelsang said in reference to Jesus' words in Matthew 10:8. "This [Jesus] is a Marxist, this [Jesus] is a radical."
