Memo to Kasich: Have your ducks in a row before you invoke scripture to defend redistribution

Otherwise you face the ridicule of policy wonks who have thought about this far more deeply than you:

Ohio Gov. John Kasich got a rocky reception from leading conservative economists and media representatives in a New York City gathering, with one questioning whether Kasich thinks opponents of Medicaid expansion “are going to hell.”

Kasich’s frequent use of the Bible to justify the expansion — made possible by Obamacare — didn’t sit well with many at the exclusive gathering in the tony Four Seasons restaurant on Wednesday night, especially Avik Roy, Manhattan Institute senior fellow and a Forbesopinion editor.

“He’s really calling into question the character and the motivation of those who disagree with him on the Medicaid expansion, pretty much literally saying that you’re going to rot in hell if you didn’t agree,” Roy told The Dispatch on Thursday when asked about his open challenge of Kasich the night before.

“I would say that it’s highly probable that many conservative Christians will be offended that they’re not good Christians if they don’t support a massive expansion of government health care. I would say that’s almost disqualifying in a Republican primary.”

Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said the exchange “comes with the territory for any public official. You routinely get challenged on policies or issues or ideas, and you challenge them back.”< /p>

Kasich conceded that Roy had described his position on Obamacare and Medicaid correctly, but added, “I'm gonna send you the transcript so you can get it right,” according to Newsmax, a conservative media organization based in Florida.

It's true that Matthew 25 charges us to "care for the least of these," but utility-grade government services are probably the least effective way to even try to do that.  And the business about being asked at the gates of Heaven whether you balanced the budget is vulgar and boneheaded and indicates a lack of a rudder that does nothing to place the governor among the principled conservatives worthy of greater stops along their career paths.