Eugene Robinson: The GOP's rude awakening on health-care repeal

[cal04]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/20/AR2011012003890.html

This whole health-care thing isn't quite working out the way Republicans planned. My guess is that they'll soon try to change the subject - but I'm afraid they're already in too deep.

Wednesday's vote to repeal President Obama's health insurance reform law was supposed to be a crowning triumph. We heard confident GOP predictions that cowed Democrats would defect in droves, generating unstoppable momentum that forced the Senate to obey "the will of the people" and follow suit. The Democrats' biggest domestic accomplishment would be in ruins and Obama's political standing would be damaged, perhaps irreparably.

What actually happened, though, is that the Republican majority managed to win the votes of just three Democrats - all of them Blue Dogs who have been consistent opponents of the reform package anyway. In terms of actual defectors, meaning Democrats who changed sides on the issue, there were none. This is momentum?

(snip)
It turns out that voters look forward to the day when no one can be denied insurance coverage because of preexisting conditions. They like the fact that young adults, until they are 26, can be kept on their parents' policies. They like not having yearly or lifetime limits on benefits. The GOP is going to have to design something that looks a lot like Obamacare.

[tridim]

1. I guarantee the Insurance Lobby didn't want just a "symbolic vote"

Have fun explaining that to your real bosses, Boner.

[MisterP]

2. thing is, most people DON'T like the current plan--because it doesn't go far enough!

only ~20% are satisfied with the bones the bill throws us: nearly a majority polled want actual, substantial reform
an extra year on parents' insurance or getting "coverage" does no good if increasing shares of your income go to a vampiric corporation that still legally, at the end of the day, can screw you over. the blatherocracy, here and on TV, absolutely cannot bring this up when saying how popular and beneficent "Obamacare" is: they can't even bring themselves to mention that it has next to nothing to do with healthCARE.
don't let democracy (and the poor, and the sick, and Constitutionality) die because of all the thunderous applause

[Arkana]

8. Nearly 60% want the bill to be either expanded or left the hell alone.

They are fighting a losing battle and the fact that they don't know it means that the DCCC and DSCC are writing campaign ads for 2012 detailing how Republicans voted to reopen the Medicare donut hole, kick kids off their parents' insurance plans, deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions...if Democrats did nothing else, they made those points of the bill well-known enough that even Fox News couldn't snow them.

[WingDinger]

3. Then, lets move to single payer. Using their inertia against them sumo style.

As Dean said, this will lead to that. If they dont watch it real close. They are about to need an alternative plan to absolutely everything.

[opihimoimoi]

4. They GOPer Party is in deep turmoil.....unable to deliver their Bagger Goodies as promised, they

dither with excuses and finger pointing...neither is working...

[CTyankee]

6. They are a house of cards and always have been, IMO...

[opihimoimoi]

7. Hollow and Shallow....they focus on mynah matters....band aid bandits..never a cure...always 1st aid

only....

They are so lacking its pathetic.That enough peeps sucked for they tripe is evidence a pathogen is out there....GOPitis....

[Johonny]

10. I think their in trouble

because to many of them buy their own crap. The party use to understand what was political theater and what was real policy. Now too many that grew up watching the show are in elected office.

[jberryhill]

5. Eugene Robinson is an outstanding columnist

I really admire that guy.

[old mark]

9. They waited too long- it is just starting to be effective...Med costs are down,

and pre-existing conditions are covered...people notice these things, even republicans.

I really want medicare for everyone, but this at least helps to ease the burden on us all-My wife's monthly meds cost her under $140 today-last year they were almost $250, about 3 times more in the "donut hole"...


mark