Republicans losing it over new Obamacare data: Why their position is collapsing

[DonViejo]

Obamacare enrollment could hit 7 million before the midterms; meanwhile, GOP still has no answer for beneficiaries

BRIAN BEUTLER

It’s a complete accident of legislative and administrative history that the fourth anniversary of the Affordable Care Act should fall the week before the end of the law’s first ever, six-month-long open-enrollment period. But it’s a great coincidence for those of us in the business of cutting through all the hyperbole that accompanies each ACA anniversary, because, for the first time since the law passed, there are real data, and real beneficiaries, to hold the spin up against.

And as I’ve been arguing for months now, the GOP’s position on the law can’t actually withstand on-the-ground realities.

Case in point: Terri Lynn Land — Michigan’s one-time Republican secretary of state, turned Senate candidate — held a first-ever conference call with reporters to trash the ACA on its fourth birthday. But confronted with the question of what happens to people with preexisting medical conditions if the GOP repeals the law (and thus eliminates the individual mandate) — Land’s press aide, Heather Swift, commandeered the call, and tried to take the whole thing off the record.

I wasn’t on the line, but Michigan Information and Research Service posted the audio here. (The call starts at 19:20 and the preexisting conditions question at 39:15.) I think the biggest tell of all is that Land doesn’t seem remotely prepared to address the real human consequences of repealing the law in any meaningful or substantive way. But almost as big is that her staff can’t either. The aide who leapt to Land’s defense made a glaring error after attempting to take the call off the record.

“I can follow up with you more on this with a little bit more policy research, but just off the record the characterization of this question is incorrect,” she said. “It’s not the individual mandate but it’s the guaranteed provision that prohibits the denial of coverage from preexisting conditions. The problem with Obamacare is that it allows people to wait until they’re very sick to purchase insurance, which creates significant and unknown risks to insurers and then the insurance companies would pass that cost on to consumers. So the way that Terri’s plan, and then this can be on the record, the way that Terri’s plan addresses preexisting conditions is continuous coverage and portability.”

more
http://www.salon.com/2014/03/25/republicans_losing_it_over_new_obamacare_data_why_their_position_is_collapsing/

[JNelson6563]

1. lolz What a putz!

So this is the aryan youth outreach, eh? Nate Silver should see this.

Julie

[Eleanors38]

2. Aggressively pursued, the ACA can be a great campaign aid.

The important term is "aggressive." In campaigns, in positive publicity, in pushback against MSM.

[a kennedy]

3. and all Dems should embrace Obamacare like Nancy says.....

Nancy Pelosi Defends Obamacare, Calls It 'A Winner' For Democrats In 2014

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) sunnily cast aside concerns that the Affordable Care Act would be a liability for Democratic candidates in this year's midterm elections, saying Thursday that the law would instead help her party.

"I believe that it's a winner," Pelosi said at a news conference, arguing that Democrats will run on the law in their campaigns.

The top Democrat in the House criticized Republicans for repeatedly attempting to repeal the law.

"Fifty-one times the Republicans have voted to repeal this freedom and opportunity for the American people," Pelosi said. "These ceaseless Republican votes are not only a waste of time, they have a real and heavy opportunity cost, time wasted on partisan antics that should have been spent instead of the top -- our top priority, and a top priority of the American people, creating jobs."

When a reporter asked why congressional candidates in competitive races seem to be either touting their attempts to fix the law or avoiding discussing it altogether, Pelosi shot back.

"You have to ask them -- the member, but I believe that it's a winner," she said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/20/nancy-pelosi-obamacare-_n_5002062.html

[LuvNewcastle]

4. It's only a winner in states that have accepted the ACA.

It isn't so much in other states. That's one reason why GOP-controlled states have rejected it. It isn't only about the expansion of Medicaid, which is the main reason, but they also want to continue feeding their citizens lies about the act.

Most people in my state believe all that bullshit, so they're dead-set against it. Therefore, any Democrat who runs is already at a disadvantage because they have to run against Obamacare. As long as the state continues to hold out, Republicans will be able to run on scare stories about Obamacare, and there won't be anyone in the state who can tell their neighbors any different.

They won't hear anything good about it because they believe the media is liberal and lies for Obama, and Fox News certainly isn't going to say anything nice about it. I think it's going to be a long time before my state accepts it; in fact, they might not accept it unless they're forced to. Mississippi doesn't change unless the federal government either forces them to or the federal government offers them money to change.

[Ed Suspicious]

5. What happens when one only sees the world through green shaded glasses?

What does an argument look like when profit is the goal of healthcare rather than making people more healthy? How does one reply when averting human suffering is a lower priority than extracting money from customers?

[EC]

6. BUT that's not true.

That is why there is a cut off date.

[calimary]

7. Say WHAT????

"The problem with Obamacare is that it allows people to wait until they’re very sick to purchase insurance" - Say WHAT??????

Where are they getting that? This claim is made while people are being urged to purchase insurance NOW? Regardless of the state of their health at the moment?

[Rex]

8. I hate republicans.

Their lack of empathy really makes me wonder if their reptilian brains are less evolved then most reptiles. SO it is okay for people to risk their money for a LIFETIME and hopefully never need it, BUT heaven forbid the insurance company has to deal with unknown risks...walking out your front door every morning is an unknown risk!

FUCK REPUBLICANS! I HATE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!

[Cha]

9. LiE much?