President Obama has outlined a plan to do away with Medicare completely, according to Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.) who appeared on NBC's Meet the Press on April 15. Bachmann didn't back up the claim with specifics, but in previous statements she has claimed to have heard Obama mutter under his breath on this subject at an off-the-record White House meeting.

Bachmann also said on Meet the Press that Obama wants to force the elderly into buying healthcare coverage through Obamacare. She claimed Obamacare has made the president a "healthcare dictator."

[Political Malpractice: How politics distort Americans' perception of health reform.]

How has the social media universe responded to the Congresswoman's latest incendiary statement?

On the Minnesota Post website, commenters have been sharing their thoughts on the idea of Obama as a healthcare dictator. Dennis Tester says that Obama plans on taking $500 billion out of Medicare to help pay for Obamacare. "With the baby boomers retiring, Medicare costs will increase over the next 10 years, so why does he think he can cut it by $50 billion a year?" he asked.

Commenter Jackson Cage fought back. "Dennis, you do realize that Obamacare was passed by Congress, or that virtually every state has healthcare mandates written into state law?" he said. "If that makes you a 'dictator' then I think this country has more dictators than it does loyal subjects."

Bachmann also voiced that women were hurting most from the "terrible" economic policies that President Obama has put into place.

"We want women to make choices, that's why on healthcare we want women to have health savings accounts and the ability to be able to make their own choices in healthcare. You see, that's the lie that happens under Obamacare," she said.

On a Fox News blog reporting the story, commenter @debok agreed with Bachmann. "As a woman," she said, "I agree. As a citizen I should have a right for my choice of healthcare. I don't need the president telling me I need free contraception."

On the Think Progress Facebook page, Bernard Terway said that women don't need anyone to tell them what to do on healthcare. "We want women to have their own choices, their own money, that way they can make their own choices for the future of their own bodies."

Kristie Hayes said that people are confusing a healthcare mandate with mandated healthcare. "One day you may be in an emergency situation and have no choice in the care you receive... I like choice and like to think I have control over what happens to me and to some extent I do. But there is also the unforeseen and things we do not plan to happen."

"Obama wasted precious political capital on his poorly crafted healthcare plan rather than addressing the unemployment crisis," tweeted @BlackBuzzNews this week, after hearing the Bachmann remarks.

@Hilary_Thomson disagrees. "I've been thinking about how much President #Obama focuses on fairness. It's what Health Care Reform, the Jobs Act and #BuffetRule are all about," she tweeted.

Obama is polling more strongly among female voters than presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Bachmann has not endorsed Romney yet, but these recent comments seem to hinder similar beliefs Romney has when it comes to Obama's healthcare agenda.

"I'm very seriously looking at an endorsement for Mitt Romney," Bachmann has said. "I think we're seeing a uniting and a pulling together around our eventual nominee."
 
What's your response to Bachmann's statement?  Is Obama a "healthcare dictator?"  Is a healthcare mandate the same as mandated healthcare?  Comment below and tweet us @GovHIT.