Hating Obama, loving Obamacare

[cpwm17]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/09/17/morning-plum-hating-obama-loving-obamacare/

When the political history of the Affordable Care Act is written, Kentucky will occupy a special place in the tale. The implementation of the ACA there has helped produce the second steepest drop in the uninsured rate of any state. Yet even though that’s occurring in one of the most unhealthy regions in the country, the general idea of “Obamacare” remains deeply unpopular.

The New York Times has a great piece this morning looking at this disconnect. Reporter Abby Goodnough talks to Robin Evans, a Republican warehouse packer who signed up for Medicaid under the ACA. She loves her new coverage, but really dislikes the guy who signed the law creating it:

“I’m tickled to death with it,” Ms. Evans, 49, said of her new coverage as she walked around the Kentucky State Fair recently with her daughter, who also qualified for Medicaid under the law. “It’s helped me out a bunch.”

But Ms. Evans scowled at the mention of President Obama — “Nobody don’t care for nobody no more, and I think he’s got a lot to do with that,” she explained — and said she would vote for Senator Mitch McConnell…who is fond of saying the health care law should be “pulled out root and branch.”

Different people have their own reasons for voting Republican despite their benefiting from the ACA, such as: they've always voted Republican, there's not much difference between the parties, they have a fetish for rich people, etc. But it still doesn't look like the ACA is ever going away, (unless it's improved or it is replaced by a better system) because people generally prefer Democratic policies put into practice.

[Cali_Democrat]

1. In other words, a lot of Americans are dumber than a box of rocks. nt

[SheilaT]

2. This is why Democrats

everywhere should be making it crystal clear which party is responsible for this healthcare coverage.

Same thing with Medicare, which is now my health care plan. If it weren't for that, I'd still be working as I did have excellent coverage at my last job.

[Cali_Democrat]

3. I think it should be pretty bleeding obvious by now which party is responsible for those policies

From Obamacare to Medicare to Social Security....

Yet Americans still vote for the party that wants to gut those programs in favor of tax cuts for the wealthy.

At some point one has to just acknowledge the stupidity of the American people.

[SheilaT]

8. I want to politely disagree.

I think many people do not have a clue which party is largely responsible for these policies. Signs saying "Keep your government hands of my Medicare" are all too typical. It is, in my opinion, precisely this complete ignorance about which party supports which policies is why so many vote against their own real self-interest.

Stupidity only adds to the problem.

[napkinz]

4. ...

[Arugula Latte]

5. "Nobody don’t care for nobody no more" and that's Obama's fault. Got it, you idiot.

I'd like to see how this effing moron would feel if McConnell got elected and took her health care away. There's a tiny part of me that wishes this on her, but then other innocents would suffer.

[CatWoman]

6. sounds like "I don't know nothing bout birthing no babies"

[taught_me_patience]

7. Reap what you sow

that's how it goes. I honestly wouldn't feel all that bad if Ms. Evans lost her newfound health coverage.