Spin goes the healthcare ruling

Within minutes of the Supreme Court’s healthcare ruling Thursday, the press releases were flying. Groups from every political perspective couldn’t wait to weigh in on what the decision meant. Here is a sampling of reaction drawn from emailed statements and website postings.

Americans for Limited Government

The U.S. Constitution died today. The underlying hope and belief that our nation’s founding document protected individual freedoms from an ever encroaching government is a thing of the past based upon this ruling.

Troy Newman, president, Operation Rescue

We will not comply with this socialistic and oppressive law that forces us to not only purchase insurance we may not want, but more importantly, forces us to violate our consciences and fund abortion coverage. We must demand that Congress change the law for the good of our nation.

DOCUMENT: Supreme Court ruling on healthcare law

Neera Tanden, president, the Center for American Progress

The Supreme Court today merely confirmed what the Constitution and 200 years of precedent already made clear: The Affordable Care Act is without any doubt constitutional…. Republican attorney generals have wasted millions of dollars using the courts to achieve their political ends. Today the court affirmed its role as the neutral arbiter of the law for all Americans.

Richard A. Viguerie, chairman of ConservativeHQ.com

There are now 130 days until election day. The Supreme Court has spoken, and the real work of protecting America from tyranny is now in the hands of Mitt Romney and the Republican Party.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka

Today’s decision means that we can continue moving full speed ahead to implement and build upon the Affordable Care Act…. The election this November provides a clear choice between the president, who has stood for fairness and for working men and women, and Romney, who urges repealing health insurance protection for working families. We stand with the president.

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.)

I am deeply disappointed by the court’s decision.… Now, the only way to save the country from Obamacare’s budget-busting government takeover of healthcare is to completely repeal it.

Rick Wiley, Republican National Committee political director

The Supreme Court’s decision does not change the facts about Obamacare: It’s a bad law that America neither wants nor can afford. And now the only way for voters to end it and pursue true reform is to vote Republican in November.

California Democratic Party

The reaction from the Republican House leadership and their calls for a full repeal are another reminder that Democrats’ work is far from done and reforms won’t be fully protected until we win back the House and return the speaker’s gavel to Nancy Pelosi.

Maureen Martin, senior fellow for legal affairs, the Heartland Institute

Today’s decision will go down in infamy. It marks the moment when we all lost our freedom because the Supreme Court drew a road map to guide those dedicated to imposing a totalitarian, statist government on the American people.

Steven R. Shapiro, ACLU legal director

The decision is especially welcome for disadvantaged minorities, who are more likely to be uninsured, and for women, who are more likely to suffer gaps and discrimination in their healthcare coverage. We trust that the states will recognize those needs and accept the additional funds that the federal government is offering under the new law to expand Medicaid coverage for needy individuals.

Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips

The court got it wrong, and now Congress must step in.

Libertarian Party

The Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare does not matter. It will make little difference to America in the short run, and no difference in the long run. Why? Because almost all elected Republicans and Democrats are big government politicians — in all things — including healthcare. After this Supreme Court decision, they will get back to work expanding government involvement in all things — especially healthcare.