TPM Editor’s Blog

Up Against the Tanning Bed, Whitey!

Let’s face it. The crazy world of politics involves a lot of mock surprise and feigned outrage. But every so often I hear something and can’t help but think: You’re kidding. We’re really talking about this?

I just happened upon this article in the Post about the ‘tanning tax’ in the Health Care Reform law and whether it is unconstitutional because it violates the equal protection rights of white people. In other words, in the era of Obama, who presumably isn’t in great need of an insta-tan, the tax on tanning salons is a grand effort to stick it to whitey.

On the one hand, yeah, I can conjure up some funny scenes of Snooki and The Situation from Jersey Shore marching down the boardwalk singing ‘We Shall Overcome’. But apparently, this is actually being discussed. Rush has been going on about it and a guest host on Glenn Beck’s show said: “I now know the pain of racism.”

It’s part of my professional responsibility to keep up on what’s percolating on the outer fringes of The Crazy and, man, I hadn’t heard about this and did not see it coming.

Now, lest I be misunderstood. The Post doesn’t seem to have much question that the law probably passes constitutional muster.

But still, we’re talking about this?

Josh Marshall

Josh Marshall is editor and publisher of TalkingPointsMemo.com.

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