White Florida Rep. Feels Burned By Obamacare's "Racist" Tanning Bed Tax

Republicans have finally discovered how to convince people that Obamacare is a bad for them. Congressional Freshman Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) has exposed the one flaw in this controversial piece of legislation. Ladies and gentlemen, Obamacare will fail because it is racist against white people.

Huh?

I hope that by this point you are as confused, dumbfounded, and concerned as I am. Racist? Really? According to Rep. Yoho, the 10% tanning tax the Affordable Care Act imposes is racist because darker-skinned people don't need to tan, and therefore it is racist against white people. The tax on indoor tanning services was written in the bill to help fund the $940 billion health care bill. Over the next 10 years, the stipulation is expected to yield $2.7 billion.

At a town hall meeting where he also affirmed that he would support birther legislation introduced by Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas), Yoho described the thought process behind his revelation:

"I had a little fun with [John] Boehner and told him about the sun tanning tax. He goes, 'I didn't know it was in there,' and I said, 'Yes, it's a 10% tax.' He goes, 'Well, that's not that big of a deal.' I said, 'It's a racist tax.' He goes, 'You know what, it is.' I had an Indian doctor in our office the other day, very dark skin, with two non-dark skin people, and I asked this to him, I said, 'Have you ever been to a tanning booth?' and he goes, 'No, no need.' So therefore it's a racist tax and I thought I might need to get to a sun tanning booth so I can come out and say I've been disenfranchised because I got taxed because of the color of my skin. As crazy as that sounds, that's what the left does right."

This is absurdity to the first degree. Sure, disagree with the fact that helping to fund health care by implementing a 10% tax on a business is wrong, in fact disagree with the entire piece legislation if you want to, but it is not "racist." 

During the 2012 Republican primary election for Florida's 3rd district, Yoho had pulled a major upset against incumbent Rep. Cliff Stearns (R). A former animal veterinarian, Yoho supports a reduction in taxes by introducing a flat tax rate and cutting federal programs that can't be balanced by revenues streams. He is a member of the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.