Democrats Want to Use Obamacare Repeal Attempts Against GOP in 2018
Desperation? After all, repeal has not happened…
The Democrats have decided to use the GOP’s attempts to repeal Obamacare to their advantage in 2018. From The Hill:
“I think the message is really simple here: As long as Republicans control Congress, your health care is on the chopping block,” said Tyler Law, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), House Democrats’ campaign arm.
One problem: The GOP has shown that despite having control of Congress, they have not been able to repeal Obamacare.
The Plan
Despite the fact that the GOP cannot repeal Obamacare, the Democrat Party really thinks that they can at least use the agenda:
“The Republicans’ toxic health care agenda that spikes costs, strips coverage for pre-existing conditions, and imposes an age tax on older Americans will be the defining issue of the midterms,” said David Bergstein, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).
“It will drag down Republican Senate candidates in every state,” Bergstein added.
The Democrats have forgotten one major point: The GOP has control of Congress because people want Obamacare to go away. The GOP isn’t all that concerned about this approach from the Democrats. From Politico:
“House Democrats have made bold claims about their electoral prospects before only to fail miserably — this is no different,” Jesse Hunt, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement. “Their embrace of single-payer health care has ensured that their unabashed loyalty to the progressive base, at the expense of working class families, will be the defining issue of this cycle.”
Waiting until next year, Republicans wager, will give them more time to shape a more successful “replace” element for their Obamacare repeal-and-replace plan.
“Democrats have been able to use the issue, mostly because the messaging on our side hasn’t been great, but the fact is that health care in the U.S. — everyone, Democrats, Republicans, recognize something needs to change. Obamacare isn’t working,” one GOP strategist said. “With more time, Republicans are going to be able to craft a plan that more folks can agree on within the caucus, and it will give them more time to sell it to the general public.”
Law claims that the Democrats’ targets in the midterms have voters that know “their health care is less safe if that person is re-elected.” Except for the fact that the GOP has shown it cannot repeal Obamacare.
Also, Obamacare isn’t going away. Once the government gets its grubby hands on something it will never let go.
Attack Ads
But none of this will stop the Democrats who has already launched the attack ads. From The Hill:
For instance, the DSCC launched Google full-screen takeover ads in June against Sens. Dean Heller (Nev.), Jeff Flake (Ariz.) and Ted Cruz (Texas), as well as Pandora radio ads against Heller and Flake in July. Another recent effort includes a digital campaign in 12 states attacking Republicans on the “Jimmy Kimmel test,” a phrase coined by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) to mean any health care bill would protect those with pre-existing conditions.
Bergstein said:
“Republicans can try and ram through their health care bill in secret, but voters will know exactly who to blame when their costs spike and their coverage is cut,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Spokesman David Bergstein. “This week the stakes for middle class families could not be higher — and if Senators Heller, Flake and Cruz along with Governor Scott get their way, hardworking Americans will pay the price while insurance companies and the rich get a tax break. We’re standing with voters across the country in opposing a plan that is unpopular in every single state and will hold Republican Senators and Senate candidates accountable for their actions.”
Oh, you mean like how the Democrats did? I remember a certain Speaker of the House saying that we need to pass the bill in order to know what’s in it. But that’s none of my business.
Desperation?
Probably! The GOP controls the Senate by two seats, but the party may be able to pick up more seats in 2018 since 10 Democrats up for reelection come from states that Trump won in November.
Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) announced his retirement, but the deep red state will more than likely vote in another Republican. Trump won West Virginia by 42 points, a state that has moderate Sen. Joe Manchin (D) up for reelection. While he has shown his willingness to work with Trump and the GOP, the huge win for Trump in the state has the party thinking they could gain another seat:
But Trump’s popularity in West Virginia has drawn interest from strong Republican candidates, and the winner will pose a serious threat to Manchin’s political future. And Democrats can’t be encouraged by Gov. Jim Justice’s decision to ditch them and become a Republican last month, a decision he announced with Trump at his side.
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Comments
This attempt will not work for those un-healthy DC Congress Swamp Critters.
I can see the ads now.
“Are you angry that the congress has not repealed Obamacare? Vote for the Dems, and we can make *sure* it never gets repealed.”
See Patty Murray to the left of Upchuck? They are going after the bovine vote also. Probably with an emphasis on Angus.
As far as I am concerned, the biggest argument against the GOP is that they have not repealed Obamacare.
Is this some kind of backwards psychology?
I don’t know, I think the Democrats can make a pretty good case for themselves: Look how incompetent the Republicans are, they cannot even repeal what has been their Bete Noire for the past 7 years when they have the votes.
Do nothing government is not the same as small government.
This is actually very clever. They don’t need to convince anyone to vote Dem, just to keep Rep voters home. How hard is that when the Reps you are voting for are as worthless as our current crop?
The Republicans can be attacked for threatening to repeal DisasterCare, and they can be attacked for failing to do it.
They’ve cleverly positioned themselves so that they’re vulnerable on both sides.
And it serves them right.
Hey, why not. The GOPe is garbage of the second-worst order: not even recyclable. The left takes the prize for the worst.
Nonetheless, the GOPe is a great target. The democrats might even pick up some protest votes.
Only because their senate majority is so thin. With two or three more senators repeal would have passed. If nothing changes, it seems likely that in 2019 they will have the numbers to pass a repeal, so the Dems are right to use that prospect to motivate those against repeal to vote for them. Only problem is it’s also likely to motivate those for repeal to vote against them.
Why shouldn’t they? I’m going to support a conservative in the Primary who uses the failed attempts against my republican electeds. I initially type “conservative electeds”, but realized that was not correct.
Democrats – We are going to ensure Obama care is NEVER repealed.
GOPe – We are going to ensure Obama care is NEVER repealed.
Tea Party Conservatives – We are going to ensure Obama care IS repealed.