Mitch McConnell piles onto the cut Obamacare bandwagon

McConnell and Boehner, grasping for more hostages. Me, too! Me, too! cries Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. House Speaker John Boehner says the Affordable Care Act has to be on the chopping block in fiscal cliff artifice negotiations, and Eric Cantor agreed, undoubtedly thrilled to have another hostage to try to seize. Not wanting to be left out and risk having his extremist credentials questioned, McConnell added his two cents in a floor speech on Tuesday.

McCONNELL: And as Congress looks for savings, we need to look at the new health care entitlements too. While Democrats and Republicans may disagree on Obamacare, it's ridiculous to suggest that we make changes to Medicare and Medicaid, while leaving $1.6 trillion in Obamacare spending untouched.

Once again, Obamacare actually does reduce the deficit, if the CBO is to be believed. And it usually is, except selectively by Republicans who don't like some of the conclusions it reaches. There's no reason for it to be included in the mix, except that these three are still in the throes of an irrational hatred of any and everything this president has done or will do.

Never mind that the White House and the Senate leadership have shot the idea down. It's a talking point Republicans can use to try to keep their base riled in this fight and distracted from the fact that what Republicans are really fighting for is shielding the super-rich from paying their fair share.