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Enough With the Bipartisanship
May 24, 2013 | 43 comments
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Damage Control for Dummies
May 22, 2013 | 85 comments
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Assessing a Week of Scandal
May 17, 2013 | 135 comments
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After Obamacare
May 16, 2013 | 24 comments
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The New Paternalism
May 3, 2013 | 39 comments
The Right Prescription
The Obamacare Gift Basket
It’s bountiful for Republicans. So start running on it.
Something remarkable happened at the Democratic National Convention earlier this month. After three years of reeling from the political damage wrought by Obamacare, which stroked even Massachusetts with a red brush, Democrats stood up and defended their law. Patients with pre-existing conditions took to the podium. Health secretary Kathleen Sebelius had a prime speaking slot. The delegates wore “Obamacare as [a] badge of honor,” as Greg Sargent gushed.
But then something even more remarkable happened. Despite the Democrats’ collective bear hug, the polls didn’t budge. And they still haven’t. According to a Rasmussen survey taken last week, likely voters favor repealing Obamacare by 11 points. The numbers have been fairly static for two years.
Ronald Reagan was called the Teflon president because liberal attacks didn’t stick and his popularity remained high. Obamacare has achieved the opposite immunity: defenses of it bounce away and the public goes on loathing. The American people have made up their minds. The Tea Party won the argument.
And that’s what makes the Republican strategy towards Obamacare perplexing. The message is muddled and occasionally nonexistent. The Romney for President website lists several sensible health reforms and Romney himself says he supports the full repeal of Obamacare. Then he suddenly defends a couple of its provisions, then clarifies his position again, while discordant aides chime in from all directions. Full-throated, expository attacks on the law are rarely made.
Every Republican claims to be against “Obamacare.” But “Obamacare” isn’t a single issue. It’s a gift basket to a Republican campaign stuffed with everything Americans hate about big government. Look, here’s a punitive mandate. And here’s a consolidation of power in the bureaucracy. And this greasy-palms crony capitalism should be helpful. Not to mention a trampling of religious liberty, a technocratic advisory board with authority over Medicare cuts, a heinous new tax on medical devices that starts next year, and more than 1,200 waivers issued to lucky (and mostly unionized) businesses.
The gigantic, shambling abomination that is Obamacare contains so much ammunition for conservatives that the NRA should be scoring it.
Let’s take a look at some of the recent developments:
- More than six million Americans will get slapped with the individual mandate tax. That’s according to the Congressional Budget Office and it’s a 50% increase over their 2010 projection. With Obamacare lumping everyone, including those with pre-existing conditions, into a giant pool, removing six million people could further drive up premiums.
- Risk pools for those with pre-existing conditions are languishing. These were a temporary measure so patients could obtain insurance before the full Obamacare law went into effect. But as Scott Gottlieb points out, “The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the $5 billion allocated to these pools could enroll 200,000 consumers. They envisioned enrollment growing to more than 400,000. But only 77,877 have signed up as of July, yet the program is way over its budget.” It’s classic government economics: underestimate the cost, overestimate the demand.
- The AARP colluded with the White House to pass Obamacare. The House Energy and Commerce Committee found e-mails showing that the AARP collaborated extensively with the administration back in 2009, despite the fact that their membership opposed the bill. Why? It was a classic scheme between lobbyists and politicians. Obamacare cuts Medicare Advantage, which will move more seniors onto “medigap” insurance plans…which just happen to be sold by the AARP.
- The bill’s funding is falling apart. The left claimed Obamacare would be deficit-neutral and forced the CBO to choke out the same conclusion. Now, piece by piece, the math is coming unraveled. The 1099 reporting requirement on small businesses, which would have raised $17 billion, is gone. The CLASS Act, a publicly-financed insurance option expected to save $86 billion, was abandoned. And $500 billion of funding is dependent on cuts to Medicare that are unlikely to happen.
New taxes, shady accounting, crony capitalism…this is why people mumble bitterly about Washington. There are certain provisions in Obamacare — coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, for example — that are popular. But they’re mightily outweighed by just about everything else. Attention focused on the waivers or the medical devices tax, with digestible explanations by Republican candidates, would damage Obamacare’s popularity even further.
This sort of meddling and rearranging is what Democrats do when they’re in power. It’s what they tried to do to the energy market with cap and trade, and it’s what they’ve already done to the student loan market. Americans overwhelmingly think government is doing too much. Loud opposition to these bureaucratic Tetris games must be the centerpiece of any Republican strategy.
For the last month of the campaign, Romney should pivot hard in this direction. It will put him in a sticky position thanks to his own health care scheme in Massachusetts. But Romney’s been wrangling with flip-flopping allegations for years. His campaign needs an energy boost and time is running out.
He should grab the Obamacare gift basket and run with it. The political benefits will outweigh the MSNBC snipes. It’s how 2010 was won and it’s what the public wants to hear now.
About the Author
Matt Purple is The American Spectator’s assistant managing editor.
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Pecos Pete| 9.26.12 @ 7:07AM
ObamaCare = rationing = no health care. Emergency room treatment for all.
Why would anyone vote for Obama? Criminals and stuck on stupid people will vote for four more years. Romney should shout about ObamaCare but Obama's voters will never hear about it if the MSM ignores the shout.
Von Mises Jr| 9.26.12 @ 8:46AM
Pete, I went to Quebec a few summers ago and sick people can't get into the Emergency Room. It is filled with loafers who want a sick note to take the week off from work. You need to be bleeding profusely or having a heart attack or a trip to the ER could take 8 hours to two days.
Sick people start with applications such as WebMD. Wealthy people such as a gentleman I met in the Outer Banks this summer pay a private doctor for the year's coverage.
Appleby| 9.26.12 @ 7:16AM
Americans are taking on the same mantra that Canadians (and I suspect the majority of sensible people remaining in Europe) mumble every day. "What can you dooooooooooo?" Most people believe that nothing they do will make the slightest bit of difference in "Washington" or whatever hotbed of Apparatchiks and Nomeklatura is destroying their particularly country, city, state or province. The best they can do for themselves is stay afloat and keep their families, and perhaps their neighbours, afloat for now. Have you ever heard any individual not related by blood to Romney express any enthusiasm for him? Or Romney express any enthusiasm for wanting to be President? Nobody is enthusiastic about anything nowadays. People are just hanging on, and they don't think it matters at all who is allegedly in charge in Washington, because in the end it matters not. Things will not get better.
merlin| 9.26.12 @ 7:46AM
Appleby, I thank you for your comments, and the boasting about Menza and your mechanical ability is forgiven, for what it is worth comming from me, a complete idiot. (but with a better connection to reality than any liberal) I don't care what TLP says about you.
Appleby| 9.26.12 @ 9:27AM
Thank you. I don't "boast" about belonging to Mensa; I took the tests because my communist brother in law dared me to, and after I got in, he refused to take the tests because they were, he said "bourgeois." As my Daddy used to say, "I won't stop until I'm too smart for my own good!"
TLP| 9.26.12 @ 2:57PM
Evidently, Canada has a different set of Mensa Quallifications than the one down here.
TLP| 9.26.12 @ 2:58PM
Plus, you still owe me a pair of Underpants.
JoeS| 9.26.12 @ 8:32AM
I was in danger of losing my insurance this spring and at 57 and with preexisting conditions, I could not get approval for any new insurance. I checked the state pool and it was about $2000/month each for my wife and I. Yes, $48,000 per year for the high risk pool. Transference of preexisting condition coverage is a very serious and difficult issue. It does not make me be for ACA, but darn, $48,000?
Jack London| 9.26.12 @ 9:25AM
Don't worry Joe - all you need to do is wait until you're so ill you get taken in an ambulance to ER. Romney says you'll be just fine.
Jacob McCandles| 9.26.12 @ 10:54AM
If he owned his insurance, instead of having it tied to employment (a republican policy) he wouldn't be "in danger" to begin with. If HSAs were expanded, instead of limited (like BHO wants) he could put away a good chunk of change tax free. If insurance companies were freed from state and federal mandates (he probably doesn't need birth control or chemical dependency coverage) the bill would be reduced significantly. IF he could purchase the policy that best fits his needs, it would be more affordable. Chances are, he would find this policy if he could buy it in 49 other states. If the GD democrats were not the trial lawyer's associations's bitches, maybe overall costs of care would not be so high, huh?
Jack London| 9.26.12 @ 11:16AM
OK - so how do you buy health insurance with preexisting conditions?
Parker| 9.26.12 @ 11:55AM
I see the 'pro-govt' tool misses the whole point. "HAD he owned his insurance, as opposed to having it tied to his employment..." he wouldn't be in the mess he is now facing. The FED's have for DECADES interfered in the insurance and the health care market. This is the CAUSE of the high price of health care and insurance. The solution is for the government to drop their fascist regulations and deregulate the insurance market. Yes, there are going to be situations wherein, someone will lose on the 'pre-existing' condition situation, but that is because people like you have craved more and more government interference and meddling. It's the government's fault!. Who regulates the markets? Who dictates policies? Who subsidizes one market while refusing to subsidize another? Who presses for more handouts to non-working people? Who taxes and spends money that doesn't exist? There wouldn't be uninsured people if the government wasn't promising the moon to anyone anywhere that isn't responsible for their own health care. There wouldn't be a bunch of whining, sniveling sloths, expecting something for nothing if they hadn't been brainwashed by government propagandists in the govt run schools; The government is the cause of all the problems in this country and more government 'solutions' will solve nothing. If you want pre-existing conditions covered, start your own insurance company and see how long you stay in business. There is not a never-ending supply of other people's money.
Nick| 9.26.12 @ 1:33PM
"OK - so how do you buy health insurance with preexisting conditions?"
You don't, Jack'o.
For the same reason that if you buy a car with a huge dent in it, you can't get your new auto insurance policy to pay to fix the dent, Einstein.
Is this a business model that works in LiberaLand?
Is it any wonder why the O'Bama regime is spending us into bankruptcy?
Jack London| 9.26.12 @ 2:51PM
That's right Nazi Nick. So you end up in Romney's ER when you collapse. Funny that he didn't want this to happen when he was in charge of MA.
Nick| 9.26.12 @ 3:26PM
I didn't know Romney owned a hospital, Jack'o.
Boy, he's really rich, huh?
Now, would you like to address what I wrote?
p.s. You keep calling me a "Nazi." It does not mean what you think it means.
Thus, making you look as stupid as Vizzini, in The Princess Bride.
TLP| 9.26.12 @ 3:01PM
Actually, it would be the same as if you bought Collision Insurance AFTER you totaled your Car, and expected them to Pay for a New Car.
JD| 9.26.12 @ 12:15PM
Parker is right. Jack requires us to believe the lie that the status quo of so-called "private" insurance is solely a Republican invention and reflects Republican ideals. Then he requires us to believe the Left's latest gross distortion of a Romney quote. In all things, he's desperate to hide the truth.
The present health insurance system is plagued with left-wing problems, which ObamaCare will make worse. Using "insurance" to cover everything is insane. Tying it to employers is worse. Litigation and regulation pile on costs. The model is horribly broken, but Obama has decided that we will double-down on it.
And Jack has decided that it's our fault. Typical.
Parker| 9.26.12 @ 12:28PM
Republicans were, "responsible" for the idea of employer provided benefits. However, it was in response to the Democrat idea of 'freezing wages,' during the FDR reign of terror. Both were bad ideas, but they are both glaring examples of government solutions, government meddling, interfering and sticking their idiotic ideas into a free-market, resulting in making a bad situation worse. They had/have no legal/constitutional authority and look at the results. Happy? The time has long passed that the people of the united States of America must admit that, The Emperor is naked and is on a fools errand. Government cannot 'solve' the problems it has created. Government will only make things worse and they will do it by restricting everyone as much as they can. The time has come to say, "Enough."
Al Adab| 9.26.12 @ 12:35PM
Does it never occur to anyone that health care is a commodity like any other? Some can afford anything while others cannot afford much. There are many ways for individuals to provide for their own needs. Insurance and savings are just two of them.
If I cannot afford a Mercedes, I buy a Chevy or Dodge. Why is a Dr. visit any different? If I need a heart transplant, either I have catastrophic insurance or savings to afford it or I say goodbye. No one gets out alive ultimately in any event. It is simply a matter of how and when.
Jack London| 9.26.12 @ 1:01PM
Aw Al - and I thought you were full of the milk of human kindness.
Al Adab| 9.26.12 @ 1:45PM
Jack my arctic friend,
Charity under compulsion is no charity at all.
Jack London| 9.26.12 @ 1:52PM
If you work a low wage job you'll never be able to afford good health insurance under the system before Obamacare. But without low wage workers we won't have an economy where Romney can put $100 million into an offshore pension pot. I think we owe them at least a decent health service according to their ability to pay - this is not charity.
Al Adab| 9.26.12 @ 1:59PM
Again Jack you demonstrate the falacy of "social justice" thinking. People in any given quintile only remain in that grouping for an average of about three years. Heck I've been in three differnet quintiles myself over the years. The permanent poor are a myth (except for those that government policies have created through well meaning but misguided programs) and government policy should be to encourage upward mobility not maintain a permanent underclass.
Jack London| 9.26.12 @ 2:28PM
But our policies have led to the widest inequality since the Great Depression and we have about the lowest social mobility of any developed nation. If you're born poor you are most likely to stay poor here. So you're wrong.
Al Adab| 9.26.12 @ 2:32PM
Policies do matter and household income is down 8.2% under this administration.
Al Adab| 9.26.12 @ 2:37PM
Oh and BTW, the debasement of the currency began under LBJ to finance the Great Society.
Parker| 9.26.12 @ 1:48PM
The milk of human kindness say's Do Not Steal and Do Not covet. See Jack, if you are so concerned about the needs of others, you should work harder, make more and give what you don't need to the poor. Your problem is, you just want someone else to be charitable for you. Of course, you want the government to use a gun to get the 'donations' from the other people and then you and the politicians want to take credit for stealing the money , creating a government union job for someone with most of the money and then while throwing the leftover crumbs at the 'poor' you care so much about, you make grandiose claims of how benevolent you are. You really just want to enslave people and then claim you are caring, concerned and helping others. Such hypocrisy. Tell you what Jack, let Me steal from you and everyone you care about. I'd bet you wouldn't like that at all. Phony.
Parker| 9.26.12 @ 1:41PM
No, Al, in the liberal world, it's fine to have government hijack the labor of the medical industry and the insurance industry. It is all about 'what's fair.' The only time 'fair' doesn't matter is when a liberal wants to keep what he has. Then it's not fair. See how it works? If you have something a liberal 'decides' you don't need then it's okay for government to take it. They call that, 'democracy.' If they have something they have decided they 'need' or want, then you can't have it. Like, oh say, somebody else's money. Like 'public' employee unions and politicians. They always want more and can never do with less.
Al Adab| 9.26.12 @ 2:02PM
Parher:
I think it was Walter Williams who used the analogy of me taking a gun and robbing you to provide for a third party for which I go to jail and the government using force to take my property (my money) from me to give to those it selects as worthy. Both are theft and equally immoral.
John Navratil| 9.26.12 @ 10:35PM
Parker,
Absolutely on point - the arrogance of liberalism!
Al Adab,
It was Walter Williams!
Denver Todd| 9.26.12 @ 9:58AM
There should be a fix for this, but it doesn't need to be from government. But please forgive me for being a little snarky, but you could work for Starbucks or move to MA. By the way, you are not old enough to be retired, so you could be working for a company that offers insurance, yes?
TLP| 9.26.12 @ 9:07AM
Thank you for the nice picture of Frau Sebelious. The Angel of Death to anyone in the Womb.
Obamacare. What's up with that? I don't like Obama, and I don't care. (Rimshot)
FICA hasn't been Collected for almost a year. FICA is the Only Means by which Social Security is Funded.
FICA hasn't been Collected for almost a year.
So, if Soc. Sec. was "This many" Billion$ or Trillion$ in Red Ink BEFORE President National Suicide stopped collecting money? How is it even Concievable that this Program is anything but DOA, once and for all?
Do the Math.
Let's say that $1,000,000,000,000 is paid out each year. Now, factor in the fact that $0 has been Collected this year.
We've been told that Taxes for Dear Leader's Magical Medical Tour, are being Collected now, put in a Secret Place, until 2014, when Unicorns will sh*t Baby Ruths, everyone will have a good paying, Shovel Ready Job, and when we go to the Secret Place, and open up Obama's Lock Box?
All of the Money will be there, he won't Raise Taxes on anyone making less than $250,000, the World will Love and Respect us, once more, and everything that we'll ever need will be provided for us Free Of Charge.
Right?
John Navratil| 9.26.12 @ 9:26AM
TLP,
Oh, he's raising taxes all right. Anyone holding cash is taxed. Anyone holding a middle class job is getting hammered at the pump and the grocery. What does a COLA mean when the government manipulates the market basket to understate inflation and keep the presses running? The seniors are being sold a bill of goods. The good news seems to be that quite a few seniors see how the game is being played.
Unfortunately, we've seen this coming for the last thirty years and all the politicians have done is kicked the can down the road. At least Ryan and Cantor and a few more seem ready to do the heavy lifting.
TLP| 9.26.12 @ 3:04PM
Tits.
John Navratil| 9.26.12 @ 4:17PM
Lange, schlanke Beine!
John Navratil| 9.26.12 @ 4:25PM
Gerade als die schöne Frau Valerie Perrine. Stimmst du nicht zu ?
TLP| 9.26.12 @ 6:15PM
Okay. I get it.
I don't understand it, but I get it.
Contest on Friday.
I'm getting a lot of requests to keep it going.
And, I must say: You were sorely missed, last week.
I hope we can count on you, this week.
I got a good feeling about you, Friday.
Seriously.
Valerie Perrine?
My Mom had to clean a lot of sheets, because of her.
TinaB| 9.28.12 @ 4:09PM
See, Timmy, it's your magnificent use of metaphors that intimidates me so I can't compete.
Mike G| 9.26.12 @ 9:14AM
Obama is offering Romney ammunition of all sorts of issues (Obamacare, foreign policy, jobs, economy...), but Romney can't seem to find his gun. The play-it-safe campaign he's running isn't going to work. I hope he comes out swinging in the debates.
Dave Williams| 9.26.12 @ 12:17PM
I agree that he's been holding his fire, but I don't see that as a problem. Look at the way he went after Gingrich and Santorum in the primaries. I think he's being strategic about this campaign, and in the debates, I expect him to come out with all guns blazing. And talk about a target-rich environment!....Yeah, this is going to be a very interesting October....
Mars the Avenger| 9.26.12 @ 1:40PM
Dave, I hope you're right. My biggest fear about Romney was a play it safe, hide under the bed campaign. After Dole and McCain, we just can't afford that.
oldeham| 9.26.12 @ 6:41PM
In a previous life I had the opportunity to work with Ms. Sebelius. She is cut from the same cloth as Obama - a not very knowledgeable, arrogant, bully with a hidden agenda.
She, and anything she is associated with, cannot be trusted.
Gary B| 9.26.12 @ 10:35PM
Didn't Romney look us right in the eye and say he'd cancel out Obamacare? I'm voting for him, but I don't trust him. I hope he surprises me, but the only thing I've ever felt following Republican victories was disappointment. Reagan was the exception. Goldwater would have been another.
Marvin E. Fox | 9.27.12 @ 10:27PM
Obamacare is filled with things Romney could use against Obama. Obama's entire administration is filled with things Romney could use against Obama. Most of Obama's actions have been failures by ordinary American standards.
But, Romney must go negative just to mention those negatives. If he does, the Liberals will scream like mashed cats, and the conservatives will talk of negative campaigning.
Romney needs, as a minimum, cooperation from his own side of the Media.
Marvin Fox