Anti-Obamacare Republican renounces ‘pigheaded’ GOP — and he wants you to know why

[arcane1]

The 49-year-old South Carolina man who garnered attention — and thousands of dollars in donations — after revealing his medical issues online is now supporting the Affordable Care Act and turning away from the GOP, Think Progress reported.

“Now that I’m looking at what each party represents, my wife and I are both saying, ‘Hey, we’re not Republicans!'” Luis Lang said, adding that he wants to rip his voting registration card up on national television to confirm his change of political affiliation.

As of Tuesday night, Lang had received just over $22,000 in online donations to help him seek treatment for a partially detached retina and bleeding from his eyes.

While Lang initially blamed President Barack Obama for his inability to sign up for a healthcare exchange program, he said he was motivated to learn more about the federal mandate after his case was widely reported online.

-snip-

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/05/anti-obamacare-republican-renounces-pigheaded-gop-and-he-wants-you-to-know-why/


Extra kudos to those progressives who showed real kindness to this man and donated toward his medical bills. You led by example!

[randys1]

1. And I like this, and all. But understand this person does NOT come around until HE

is the one needing help.

Millions needed help while he denounces ACA, it wasnt until HE needed something.

Typical con.

I know we have to encourage them when they do this, I get all that, but think about it.

[arcane1]

3. Agreed 100%. I think most conservatives never think "what if this was me?"

And thus never think outside themselves.

[truebluegreen]

22. Defining characteristic of conservatives: no empathy. nt

[demwing]

4. Could not care any less about this guy. This STORY, on the other hand

may make a few people think, and the more people think, the more they vote Dem.

[Ed Suspicious]

5. I get it, but personally I don't care how he finds God, just so long as he does. Prodigal son and

all that. I'm an atheist so I'm not sure if I'm using that correctly, but I hope you get my point.

[IronLionZion]

6. All those other people are lazy bums and free loaders

except for me!

[Capt. Obvious]

7. As the saying goes

A conservative says, "this has never happened to me so why should I care?"

A liberal says, "this should never happen to anyone and that's why I care."

[Skittles]

17. yup

that is a typical repuke

[okaawhatever]

31. I don't think a lot of people appreciate how little is known about the ACA in states like South

Carolina. I live in Tennessee and the only ads that were pro-ACA (or had any factual information on the subject) were paid for by Organizaing for Action. The local media doesn't report on it and when only conservative stations are on the air, the press coverage is negative.

I'm not excusing this gentleman, but remember what Maya Angelou said, "I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better".

This guy is admitting on a national platform that he was wrong, and I can assure you his fellow South Carolinians will not take his newfound respect for the Democratic party well. He will be punished.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Yeah. You want compassion, find a leftist.

That's what makes us leftists.

This is a great story on more than one level.

[DFW]

8. It's like this too often

So many people are Republicans until they find out on a personal level what the Republicans are for, and they finally realize they're not it!

[Arugula Latte]

9. I'm actually shocked that he admitted he had been wrong.

That hardly ever happens.

Well, good.

[Skittles]

18. I will give him points for that

no matter what it took, it seems some repukes are unable to ever become aware of things that don't directly affect them

[Arugula Latte]

21. Often even if something happens to them, many continue to think that

they a special case and that other people don't deserve the thing that they are asking for. At least this guy came around.

[calimary]

28. No kidding. Most of these assholes will barely go even as far as

the highly antiseptic, carefully tweezer'd and focus-group-tested "mistakes were made." By whom? Oh, somebody over there somewhere. Certainly not perfect all-American USA-USA-USA red-white-&-blue us!!!

[okaawhatever]

33. See, he was a Democrat all along. LOL nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

10. Let's see if gets a cross burned on his lawn.

[Eric J in MN]

11. The Supreme Court ruling which made Medicaid expansion optional

...probably hurt the most people of any Supreme Court ruling of the past ten years.

[Scurrilous]

12. It took going blind to make him see the light. n/t

[napkinz]

13. ...

[MaggieD]

16. Exactly

[calimary]

29. Checkmate. Hit the bull's eye. Outta the ballpark. Game, Set, Match.

And all the rest of the sports terminology.

This simply NAILS it - in two sentences.

[WillyT]

14. Huge K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[MaggieD]

15. Imagine that....

Once he needs help he can understand why we need the ACA.

[Skittles]

19. that is what it takes to make selfish people see the light

I am convinced most conservatives lack the ability to empathize

[MaggieD]

20. Sad but true

[calimary]

30. They LAUGH at the idea of empathy.

That's for weaklings and naive idiots, they insist. Remember when cheney scoffed and sneered at the concept of empathy? Then again, a man with no heart can probably do that and still get some sleep at night.

[Canoe52]

23. Worked with a guy...

Self employed, no insurance, Voted for G Dub, but after his wife was diagnosed with cancer he became a Hillary supporter for the 2008 primaries.

[calimary]

32. Welcome to DU, Canoe52!

Glad you're here! We seem to see this "syndrome" exemplified again and again. Turn yer nose up at people in need, and call them names, reducing them to little more than "takers" and "lazy moochers." Until fate deals you a bad hand and then you become one, yourself.

The old sayings about knowing another completely when you've walked a mile in their shoes... those old sayings still apply. Remember the voices in the red states afflicted by severe weather including killer tornadoes and Hurricane Katrina? Remember how there were voices speaking up, begrudgingly admitting that - "uh, well, gee, I guess sometimes we actually DO need the federal government after all. I guess maybe it isn't such a bad thing..."

They won't learn - heck, they will ACTIVELY REFUSE to learn - until they're dragged kicking and screaming and scratching into the light. Wonder how miserable it was trying to teach these folks stuff in school?

[Lagom]

24. he has went even beyond the ACA now, he wants full universal healthcare

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/05/19/3660701/luis-lang-obamacare/

but he also believes that the United States should move toward a universal health care system that makes coverage available to everyone regardless of their income level

[arcane1]

25. This is what happens when one ignores the slogans and buzz words.

[randys1]

26. I have known forever that if the pain righty votes for over and over is visited on him and her

they will change.

They are not very smart, they are easily influenced by buzz words and dogma, but if PAIN is inflicted on THEM, shit happens quick

They have no interest in your pain or mine, none.

But the minute their world is effected, watch out.

[fredamae]

27. "Pigheaded"? Call Joanie Ernst ASAP! n/t