DEMS Finally DEFEND Obamacare

[Segami]

After ignoring the Affordable Care in 2010, Democrats have begun using it as a political weapon this election....




" The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), the campaign arm of House Democrats, is launching a new set of ads hitting seven Republican lawmakers ahead of the House GOP’s scheduled vote on repealing the Affordable Care Act Wednesday. Today’s DCCC campaign, which comes on the heels of an earlier round of ads targeting 10 Republicans last week, highlights a woman named Carla whose life was saved by a breast cancer screening and warns that Republicans want to repeal popular provisions of the law that could help her, such as free preventative health care screenings for women.



“Democrats continue to be on offense as House Republicans vote this week to protect the profits of their insurance company campaign donors instead of consumer protections for patients and lower prescription drug costs for seniors,” DCCC Chairman Steve Israel, a Democratic Congressman from New York, said in a release.



The aggressive campaign from House Democrats on healthcare stands in stark contrast to their approach just two years ago, when Democrats were often reluctant to highlight Obamacare — many even touted their opposition to it.“ The difference between 2010 and 2012 is the difference between night and day,” a Democratic aide on the Hill told Salon. “In 2010, Democrats were trying to pass the health insurance reform bill but on defense defending it to the American people. In 2012, Democrats are on offense as Republicans do more of the same political games to protect insurance companies instead of creating jobs and protecting consumers.”



So what changed? Herseth Sandlin, Bright and Edwards tell part of the story. All three of them lost. The election results dispatched with the notion that being a Democrat who opposed the law was a recipe for political success — of the 30 Dems who voted against the Affordable Care and then stood for reelection, 17 lost anyway. Their wipeout also means that there are simply fewer Democrats who voted against the law today than there were two years ago, which makes the party more united in its support of the law than ever before. The Supreme Court’s ruling also certainly plays a role, affirming for good that the law is constitutional and providing a potent weapon for Democrats to use against Republicans still intent on repealing it.






cont'

http://www.salon.com/2012/07/09/dems_finally_defend_obamacare/

[lillypaddle]

1. It's about time

kick

[Wounded Bear]

2. Yeah, 'bout time...

and they should be relentlessly pointing out how the Repub Congress, while you're looking for a decent job, is having vote after vote to repeal the law. Add in points about the benefits of the law that Republicans are actively trying to take away from the American people and they should see some movement this November.

Two things they waited for. One, obviously, was the Supreme Court decision. Many people who were arguing the non-Constitutionality of it were simple regurgitating RW talking points and have since changed their view. The other is the critical mass of voters that have seen positive results from the bill. That constituency is growing every day. That's actually the Right's biggest fear. They have to disprove/repeal the act before too many people actually get helped by it or it will start to be treated like Social Security and be virtually untouchable.

They should be pushing back all summer and fall. This is a big one, IMHO, and should be a game winner ( I actually hate that analogy, but oh well) for Dems.

[Segami]

3. Dems should be pushing teabag-rethugs right over the cliff

with that single fact ( of course there is more ) that Republicans " are actively trying to take away HEALTHCARE BENEFITS from the American people"....

Repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat......the layman strategy might not be overly complex but its sure to hit home with independent working families in the long run concerned with republicans continued vote after vote attempt to repeal the HealthCare law.

[napkinz]

4. a reminder ...