Oz: ACA Premium Hike 'Not The Big Issue'—Unlike Palestine
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a transplant candidate for a Pennsylvania Senate seat, recently waved off a coming spike in Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium payments as 'not the big issue.' This from the man who, on his daytime TV show, frequently hawked dubious health products. The Hill dutifully reports his dismissal, without questioning his history of prioritizing celebrity over sound policy, or how his
stances might conveniently align with potential donors rather than Pennsylvania's working class facing these exact premium hikes. Perhaps the 'big issue' for Dr. Oz and other politicians is not the financial strain on families trying to afford basic healthcare, but ensuring a steady flow of campaign cash. For instance, while Oz's campaign isn't yet showing significant AIPAC donations on
OpenSecrets.org (he's just getting started, give him time!), the pattern is clear: public figures often pivot their 'big issues' to align with powerful lobbying groups once they enter the political arena. It remains to be seen if his health policy views will evolve as quickly as his residency did. One might even wonder, if healthcare isn't 'the big issue,' what exactly is?