Joel Hansen — the Nevada conservative using some unique arguments in his suit challenging the new health care law — told TPMMuckraker that his argument that health care reform imposed a form of slavery on the nation might not be his strongest argument, but it was a valid one.
“I think it is involuntary servitude, if they force you to buy a product,” Hansen said. But, he noted, “It’s not the same thing as the African-American slaves were under.”
Hansen said that the arguments he expects to be most successful in the court are his argument that the health care law violates the 1st Amendment freedom of religion because, he says, socialism is a type of religion being imposed by the Obama administration through the health care law.
Hansen added that he believes that his argument that the health care law violates the right to privacy is also a winner.
Six lawyers worked on the lawsuit over a period of three months, Hansen said.
He also said his suit has the support of Nevada Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle. A spokesman for Angle’s campaign did not return a phone call seeking comment.
“I saw her several times and she’s very much in favor of this,” Hansen said.
Ryan J. Reilly
Ryan J. Reilly is a D.C.-based reporter for TPM. Prior to joining TPM, he worked for a news website covering the Justice Department and was a researcher for Bloomberg News. His email address is ryan(at)talkingpointsmemo.com.