Title: Obamacare v. the First Amendment | TheHill
Headings: Obamacare v. the First Amendment
Obamacare v. the First Amendment
Content: We can’t do that; the First Amendment is a package deal. The news media, for example, would be hypocritical in defending freedom of the press while not defending, with equal vigor, freedom of speech, religion or any other aspect of the amendment. There were parallel constitutional principles underlying the recent decision on whether Tea Party Patriots is entitled to freedom of speech as a recognized 501 (c) (3) and (c) (4) organization by the Internal Revenue Service. We ultimately prevailed without intervention by the Supreme Court, but have an innate appreciation for the First Amendment like that held by others who struggled for years in pursuit of free speech. It’s ironic that the Hobby Lobby and Conestoga cases are being heard during the week marking the fourth anniversary of Obamacare’s enactment. The “law of the land,” as Obamacare has routinely been characterized, ought not compel people to choose between their First Amendment rights and federal prosecution. That is the question facing the court as it considers final arguments. People can have honest disagreements over the particulars of the Affordable Care Act but when it comes to preserving the First Amendment rights of people subject to it, there should be no debate. Let’s hope at least five court justices agree.