By Mark Esposito, Weekend Contributor
Even as the GOP struggles to hold onto to its wacky Tea Party base and appease the country clubbers who finance the show, it finds it can unite on one thing: It Loves the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). That’s right, the party who issued dire warnings over death panels and runaway costs, and rationing, and lost jobs just heard from its grass-roots and … they LOVE it. According to the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that “aims to promote a high performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society’s most vulnerable,” polling shows 74% of persons who had the guts to identify themselves as Republicans “said that they were very or somewhat satisfied with their new insurance plan.” And even more remarkably for that “sky-is-always-falling” crowd, they’re optimistic .. yes, optimistic, that “new health coverage will improve their ability to get the care they need.” What ? No waiting lines, no rationing of health care ? No shadowy board saying Grandma must die because she needs hormone replacement therapy?
What is this our conservative brethren cry? Well, it’s reality and everything Republican leaders hoped — for purely political reasons — it wouldn’t be. Like the number of uninsured dropping from 15.6% to 13.4% in just one quarter. This is “the lowest quarterly average recorded since Gallup and Healthways began tracking the percentage of uninsured Americans in 2008. ” Oh, then there’s the actual people who now can get the healthcare they need (and that most civilized nations regard as a civil right). Over fifteen million Americans have signed up for coverage by the end of the last enrollment period and about 8 million went through the exchange. A Kaiser Survey found that nearly 6 out of 10 of the 8 million who enrolled in the marketplace were previously uninsured. Maybe that will reduce the 25,000 American per year who, pre-ACA, were dying from little or no healthcare.
And what about the demographics of those recently insured? Those cut across all age groups except those 65+ due to their eligibility to Medicare.
Not seeing the doctor of their choice, I bet. Nope that canard has gone the way of the buggy whip too, according to the Washington Post. “Just about one in five of those with new coverage, though, said they tried to find a primary care doctor — but of those, 75 percent said their search was somewhat easy or very easy.” So 80% kept their doctor, and 75% said getting a new one –if they had to — was easy. That lying Obama saying that everyone will get to keep their doctor and plan. Throw him in jail for that whopper!
And lastly, what about that great Republican bugaboo. You know the one where we’ll all wait years for surgeries or even just to see a specialist under Obamacare? Well, the Commonwealth Fund says that 58% of those newly insured who needed to see specialists did so in two weeks. Two weeks? That’s how long it tales me to get a plumber out to my house!
So, with the dire predictions of the demise of healthcare system via the ACA effectively debunked what does it mean for the GOP’s singular wedge issue? Plan B: The President’s travel schedule? ( He won’t “visit the border,” you know) Well, maybe, but the bigger problem is the disconnect between GOP leadership and its apparently healthy and satisfied membership. Taking away the things that people like by their own government has never really been a winning political strategy. See, Prohibition, i.e. disaster.
Even more politically challenging is that independents love Obamacare more than Republicans. By a 85% to 15% gap, independent voters can’t get enough of quality affordable health care that, for the first time in a long time, actually costs less per month than their mortgage. Try that on for size GOP. Who’s left to vote? Undocumented workers? Oh, sorry, they can’t and well, a lot are Hispanic and … you know … you’re not doing so great on immigration reform. Next subject, please.
Already facing a demographic nightmare in 2016 when even more young people and minorities are expected to vote, the GOP presidential chances stand at a crossroads. Give up the best issue you thought you had: government “takeover” of the healthcare system or change? What would a savvy political party do? Well, change of course. For the GOP? Well, they do love a good collision course with reality sometimes.
Ok, all you political operatives in the making, what do you think:
Source: Commonwealth Fund and throughout.
~Mark Esposito, Weekend Contributor
By the way and for better or worse, the views expressed in this posting are the author’s alone and not necessarily those of the blog, the host, or other weekend bloggers. As an open forum, weekend bloggers post independently without pre-approval or review. Content and any displays of art are solely the author’s decision and responsibility. No infringement of intellectual property rights is intended and will be remedied upon notice from the owner. Fair use is however asserted for such inclusions of quotes, excerpts, photos, art, and the like.
Squeeky, I detect some Erich Fromm (Escape from Freedom) in your blood.
Samantha,
is that toilet comment necessary?
One thing the Republicans were right about, Obamacare will open the door to Single Payer.
No my dear Samantha. I don’t defend the ACA, I defend the ‘attempt’ at health care reform. Much more work to be done. My toilet habits are none of your concern, but I appreciate the thought. I will try to eat less protein.
Sid, well articulated. I’m waiting for Karen S to weigh in, watch her put on gloves, use a fence-post driver on mespo’s argument, burry it six feet under, and say, “There!.”
Annie, in one breath you defend ACA, but in another you hate insurance companies involvement. You talk from both sides of your mouth because you are a disciple. Do you do this on the toilet?
YAY DEMOCRATS FOR NIXON !
You Spin Me Round
by Dead or Alive
If I, I get to know your name
Well if I, could trace your private number, baby
All I know is that to me
You look like you’re lots of fun
Open up your lovin’ arms
I want some, want some
I set my sights on you (and no one else will do)
And I, I’ve got to have my way now, baby
All I know is that to me
You look like you’re having fun
Open up your lovin’ arms
Watch out here I come
You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round round round
You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round round round
I got to be your friend now, baby
And I would like to move in just a little bit closer
All I know is that to me
You look like you’re lots of fun
Open up your lovin’ arms
Watch out, here I come
You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round round round
You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round round round
I want your love
I want your love
All I know is that to me
You look like you’re lots of fun
Open up your lovin’ arms
Watch out, here I come
You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round round round
You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round round round
You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round round round
You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round round round
You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round round round
You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round round round
—
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
written by Gallagher, Julian / Breen, Richard(Abs) / Burns, Peter / Coy, Stephen / Lever, Tim / Percy, Michael / Stannard, Richard
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Royalty Network
Leej:
“Denial only works for so long and then you have to either withdraw completely or accept the truth of what you have been working so hard to deny.”
******************
You ain’t just whistling Dixie with that one.
Squeeky:
Girl reporter and psychologist, too! What a country!!!
Leejcarroll:
For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.
~H. L. Mencken
Religious folks like it clear and simple.
Take the capitalism out of the health care system. Med schools attract folks who want to get rich. We need a Canadian Health Care system. Obamacare just props up the get rich schemes.
Annie. I “like” Huckabee on FB to see what he says and his followers comment. The blindness is astounding. They tow the party line no matter what. If you post the proof of the lies, distortions, etc, with links to mainstream media and other sources with which it is hard to argue they just stay quiet. Don’t know if they don’t have ythe energy to muster a reply or just don’t know how to respond when truth is put in front of them. It is a hard thing psychologically. Denial only works for so long and then you have to either withdraw completely or accept the truth of what you have been working so hard to deny
Sid: No sale. The ACA is not going anywhere until single payer gets here. The old system is never, ever coming back. Healthcare is only partisan when you make it so.
@Messpo
I just knew it!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
@Annie
That was a very good poem! You should do that more often.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Leej, makes me wonder why they are always against something they were originally for until Obama agrees with them. It does seem schizophrenic, or just hateful. Don’t they think that those on the right will question the shift and that those on the left wount point out the hypocrisy? Do they depend on their base to have amnesia?
Squeeky:
I think in a Freudian way, you’re right. I think my choice of stories means that when the GOP finally gets free from the religious cultists who shackle it and force it to pay homage at their temples, it will cry in relief and rise to be a healthy political party again. Good amateur psychoanalysis.
mespo727272
swathmoremom:
I find it curious that the Repubs wanted to delay the mandate legislatively but when they didn’t have the votes complained that it was an unfair burden on small business. Now they complain that Obama’s delaying of the mandate was still unfair. Do they know what unfair means? Have they been tested for schizophrenia?
They liked the ACA when it was called Romneycare.
And notice,( this is not my original take on this), Boehner says the president does nothing and then wants to sue hm for doing too much.
It is amazing to me that the repubs keep proving Jindel’s nickname for them to be correct: The Stupid party. Sadly too many GOP. tea party etc take any of the lies distortions, exaggerations, flipping as true gospel.
OK, here’s one from me. Consider it your weekend fix of Hillary bashing. A public service.
Hillary, Hillary.
The object of my pillory.
Said she was po’
That lying ho’.
Curtsying and smiling with dimples, to the applause.