iPhone or Healthcare? GOP’s Jason Chaffetz Gets Raked After Suggesting People May Have to Choose
Rep. Jason Chaffetz says that the GOP's long-awaited health care plan may lead people to put aside money for their health care instead of "getting that new iPhone."
Rep. Jason Chaffetz says that the GOP’s long-awaited health care plan may lead people to put aside money for their health care instead of “getting that new iPhone.”
That’s the Utah Republican’s advice to consumers who are concerned about the changes to the health care system that may be on the way under the House GOP’s long-awaited health care plan.
The plan puts more emphasis on health savings accounts at the expense of former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, which offers more generous subsidies of insurance premiums.
To make his point, on CNN’s New Day, Chaffetz advised consumers that instead of buying a new phone “maybe they should invest in their own health care.”
Chaffetz was rebuked on social media, with many Twitter users criticizing him for making it seem like the cost of health care and an iPhone were comparable.
Chaffetz tried to walk back his comments on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom “What we’re trying to say — and maybe I didn’t say it as smoothly as I possibly could — but people need to make a conscious choice and I believe in self-reliance,” said Chaffetz. “And they’re going to have to make those decisions.”
Here’s a look at some of the reaction on Twitter:
“I’m Jason Chaffetz of the @GOP & I don’t think people with leukemia should be allowed to have phones.” pic.twitter.com/utRKRkElkT
— rob delaney (@robdelaney) March 7, 2017
My broken ankle cost $117,000 so that’s around 234 iPhones @jasoninthehouse.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 7, 2017
So Trumps trips to Florida cost 13 million so far. That is a lot of phones. And how does he justify those trips? What is his reason? https://t.co/RW4aD1EPyL
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) March 7, 2017
should i get the new iphone or the chemotherapy
— ?netw3rk (@netw3rk) March 7, 2017
Shutdown this awful Obamacare replacement bill. https://t.co/JZCOA2dxnl
— John Legend (@johnlegend) March 7, 2017
– Cost of iPhone: $399
– Cost of healthcare for 1 year: $10,345
– Hearing @jasoninthehouse compare the 2 as if they are the same: priceless— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) 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
Chaffetz’s health care-iPhone line is 2.0 version of Reagan citing a mythological “strapping young buck” on welfare buying t-bone steaks.
— Frank Rich (@frankrichny) March 7, 2017
Great way to get out of poverty is to not have a phone. Maybe poor ppl should stop buying shoes too? This is Republican Party in a nutshell. https://t.co/BM5YmQ6IvJ
— Adam McKay (@GhostPanther) March 7, 2017
