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The differences between President Obama and Mitt Romney on health care are stark: the former wants to implement the Affordable Care Act; the latter intends to destroy it. Obama wants to protect the benefits already in place; Romney promises to kill those benefits and replace them with an alternative plan he refuses to explain.
And while many Americans may still see the politics of health care as an abstraction, CNN's Elizabeth Cohen highlights a fascinating group of people who generally aren't part of the conversation: Republican voters who don't like Obama, but who've come to appreciate Obamacare.
Jill Thacker was dying for a cup of coffee when she recently ran into a 7-Eleven convenience store. To her pleasant surprise, the coffee was free -- as long as she would commit to drinking it in either a red Mitt Romney cup or a blue Barack Obama cup.
"Which are you going to choose, Mom?" her son asked.
Which, indeed. A gun-owning, big-government-hating Republican, Thacker's every instinct told her to buy a Romney cup. But Thacker, 56, and her daughter have asthma -- a pre-existing condition -- and with Obama as president they'll be guaranteed the ability to buy insurance.
Thacker stood in the 7-Eleven and stared at the red and blue cups, stymied by the choice they represented.
One candidate would move the nation to the right. The other candidate would help her and her family breathe. Decisions, decisions.
In this case, Floridian Jill Thacker doesn't like the president, but she picked up the blue cup anyway. "[F]or me, it's all about health care," she said. "It's my number one thing."
To be sure, the evidence is anecdotal, and it's almost impossible to quantify how many Republicans will end up crossing over and backing the president over health care.
But it certainly adds a wrinkle that hasn't existed before. What will Republicans parents do if they know their kids will lose coverage if the Affordable Care Act is eliminated? What will Republican seniors do if they know they'll pay more for prescription medication if the law is repealed? What will Republicans with pre-existing conditions do if they realize how screwed they are in the future unless Obamacare is left intact?
CNN's report also highlighted Jon Campbell, a 49-year-old Kansan whose wife has diabetes and is in treatment for breast cancer, and whose stepdaughter has coverage because of the Affordable Care Act. He said, "I'm really torn. Because of Obama, I now have a wife who can get covered. But really, at heart, I'm a limited-government kind of guy."
If the election were today, he'd support the president, against his partisan instincts. "It's really an intriguing conundrum," Campbell said.
Yes, actually, it is.
I'm reminded of something we talked about in August, on the question I want to ask these folks who are so eager to turn back the clock on health care: are you sure?
Before we undo the breakthrough law, a century in the making, are you at all concerned that maybe, just maybe, you or someone close to you might actually want the Affordable Care Act to be in place? Do you think it's possible you might wake up one day with regret, thinking, "On second thought, maybe those protections would have been good for me and my family?"
How confident are you that you'll be better off once the reforms are destroyed? Will Americans have a more secure future if the law is repealed or it's fully implemented?
Have you really thought this through, or do you hate Obamacare because you've been told to hate Obamacare?
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Mr. Benen, never, ever, underestimate the number of those on the right who will not hesitate to cut off their noses to spite their faces.
Not only do many of them vote against their best interests, many of them are low information voters that have been misled by faux news and so they think they are voting in their best interests.
I remember seeing the protesters on street corners when the ACA was first being discussed with their signs of "Leave our healthcare alone." How many realize it's only changed for the better? Do any of them admit they were wrong to oppose it? Of course they are still being told that it's government run healthcare and it must be bad, because those evil libruls passed it.
Today is the last day in Florida to register to vote (and possibly elsewhere). Spread the word, we must do all we can to ensure these knuckle-dragging tea-publicans don't get elected/re-elected. Register or encourage registering as a republican so you can vote in their primaries.
How can the Reuublicans be trusted to fix what they have tried for decades to kill?
The lady with the asthmatic kid should be ashamed of herself, raising her daughter to be dependant on the gummint. Tell that kid to pull herself up by her own damn bootstraps.
Now, if the kid were still in utero, it would be red cup all the way.
Romney would just replace Obamacare with Romneycare, same pig, different dress, and everyone will be happy because it was Romney's idea. This crazy political game playing has got to stop.
Nope, Romney will not replace Obamacare with Romneycare. He would never be re-elected for a second term. His base would freak out.
Amazing that you would try to deceive people like that, but it does make sense in the context. Romney lies, so I guess it makes sense for his supporters to also tell whoppers. Of course the insurance companies are frothing at the mouth waiting for the mandate to kick in, so Romneys fantasy about repealing the ACA is on par with your fantasy about Romney accomplishing something.
His base is already freaking out and they can't seem to do a thing about him. One day there is no pre-existing condition clause in his plan, then when the opportunity presents itself for him to convince voters he suddenly changes his, what will stop him from doing whatever the hell he wants in White House?
I truly was sick to my stomach when Bush was reelected and rightfully so, he lived up to every prediction but Romney has me even more terrified, he is like Scrooge, he wants to get rid of the world's surplus population by means of war, starving them to death or denying medical care, I suppose that is one way to make the ultra rich rule world.
Obama 2012!!
No one mentions how much our congress has spent on voting to repeal Obamacare or how much it will cost if Romney repeals it as he say he will..... That is taxpayer money!!
Republicans want to believe they are fiscal hawks but almost all that they have taken time up on voting for or against in the past few years have wasted so much more than they are willing to cut.
Romney says so proudly how he will repeal Obamacare his first day in office....and never mentions the humongous waste of time and money to our government!
@Lebowsky you completely misunderstood my post. I in no way shape or form support Romney.
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Let's think for a minute about what Romney has said. He says he'll repeal Obamacare on day one. The premise is that it's bad, and Romney claims he thinks the states should be allowed to come up with their own plans. So why in the world is anyone - including Romney - talking about what Romney would replace Obamacare with? If he really wants to leave it up to the states, he won't replace it with anything at the federal level, and if he does replace Obamacare at the federal level, then he's not leaving it up to the states.
As usual, nobody knows which Romney to believe.
Yesterday I came across a video explaining how Romney was able to provide healthcare for people in Massachusetts by using Federal Funds! So with Romney's plan there would be no means of other states providing healthcare and Romney's plan would destroy the Massachusetts system. This is an interesting watch.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQdgiap5LBQ&feature=player_embedded
For healthcare access alone, we should all vote for Obama. Every family in this country (except the 1% who can buy anything, even organ transplants) is in jeopardy of losing their life savings, even if they HAVE insurance if they experience a serious health event.
There's no conundrum. Romney and the GOP are not for smaller government. They just want to take away public welfare and give it away as corporate welfare. Billions more on defense--because defense contractors contribute to campaigns and hire your staff as lobbyists. Take the Medicare savings and give it back to the insurance companies (aka Medicare Advantage).
The TEA Party was supposed to stand for "Taxed Enough Already." Taxes have gone down, not up, in the last 4 years. And you can bet the vast majority of those Tea Party demonstrators will continue to pay less in taxes than they did in 2008. But their real agenda has nothing to do with limited government.
Its far less than 1%. The 1%line lies at about $350,000/yr. Heart bypass surgery or Traumatic Brain Injury would sink someone with that little income, especially if it were the breadwinner that got sick. Goodbye Whole Foods, don't stop at Safeway, continue right on to the food bank.
All we need now are more children asking their parents, who are you going to choose Dad, Big Bird or Romney Rat?
From personal experience, many of those who benefit will listen to right-wing radio, buy the books, donate to campaigns, and vote Republican, even though they or a family member benefits from the ACA, or Medicare or Medicaid.
The justification is: "The program is bad, except for how it helps "X"
Great article to make you think about what happens if Obamacare is repealed.
Limited government vs. his wife and daughter staying alive is an "intriguing conundrum" for this guy.
Wow.
Yep, I'm thinking he's not all that crazy in love with his wife & kid if he believes its a "conundrum".....
Zora,
He probably has one of those bumper stickers saying "Take my wife yes, my dog maybe, my gun never."
Ok this is how I look at the debate over health care:
Obama is like nasty medicine, It's expensive and it tastes nasty and it has some side-effects, But it will make you better in the long run.
Romneycare: Is like curing an illness by putting a gun to your head. Your family gets nothing and the only person who benefits is the undertaker
Yes its crass I know, but sometimes you need to be to get the point across
Except there is nothing "nasty-tasting" about Obama or the Affordable Care Act.
It lowers costs rather than raising them. It covers a bunch of people. Expanded Medicaid is practically free to the states.
Oh, and I have a great question for Romney: Given the separation of powers, exactly how are you going to repeal Obamacare on "Day One?" You don't get to veto legislation that's already been passed. You need a majority in both houses to pass a bill to repeal. Good luck with that.
"do you hate Obamacare because you've been told to hate Obamacare?"
80% of dumbass Republicans hate ObamaCare because they've been told to.
The other 20% are stupid rednecks with no insurance who don't think they'll get sick and if they do know that taxpayers will pay the bill.
Correction - according to Republican calculations, only 75% of them hate Obamacare because they've been told to. The rednecks are the other 40%.
And this is why we have Presidential debates; to draw stark contrasts between the positions of the respective candidates. The President missed an opportunity to state the impact of Romney's repeal of 'Obamacare' for those who have 'pre-existing conditions' and explore, in graphic detail, the potential nightmare for those who don't.
The modern Presidential debate is akin to 'speed dating'-you have a small window of time to make an impression on an emotionally vulnerable human being for the sole purpose of building a lasting, strong relationship. Next time Obama sits down with the American public he damn well better open his heart and look interested.
There won't be a third time.
Thank you. That was precisely the point I turned off the tv and quit listening to the debate. Obama did not engage on ACA, did not dispute the lies Romney said about the healthcare program. I knew better because I've read up on it... hell, I could have responded to Romney... but Obama did not, leaving the low information voter with no choice but to think Romney was correct in his assertions.
I understand the president has a day job, while Romney does not. That is no excuse for failure to defend his signature legislation, however. He can do it, he's done it before. Remember when he showed up at the Republican breakfast during the long congressional debate over the ACA, and fielded questions? He stood before a room full of Republicans, without notes or a teleprompter, and he made them all look like fools. What happened to that Obama?
This sort of thing is precisely why the Democrats became disheartened and stayed home for the 2010 election. Unless Obama decides to engage in the next debate, we'll likely see a repeat of that this time around. He doesn't have to attack, just address the topic and speak the truth.
Where is the conundrum? I DO NOT GET THIS. People, vote in your own best interest! Not for a platitude like "smaller government," especially when the other guy has no plan for smaller government and absolutely does NOT want smaller government anyway. Smaller government does not equal absolute control over women's reproductive rights and fighting against marriage equality. Smaller government does not equal quadrupling defense spending. There is no conundrum here!
I fear the Romney plan because, on the surface, it puts to much weight on "competition" to reduce health care costs. Health care costs from "competition" will be reduced the same way car companies have reduced the price of cars through competition.
And that is what we currently have now. And is it working?
Just look at the numbers of the quality and costs of our healh care compared to other countries.
We do not need competition in health care, banking or education. The government has a role in some industries and private enterprise as a role in other industries.
Is Romney Care's "state vouchers" code for "state's rights"?
I don't know but, varments is another name for the 47%. And Big Bird is another word for Muppets whom Wall st. wants to destroy in order to make a profit off of privatizing.
Great questions. Unfortunately, the people who really need to be asked them generally do not follow Rachel's blog. Sigh.
You know what scares the bejebbers out of me. If Romney was to win the election, we would be a heart attack away from having Paul Ryan running this country.
And John Boner as VP.
As a senior the matter of health care is very important to me. Obamacare is a large part of my health care, and has become a very important issue to me as I would think it would most seniors, democrat or republican. Republicans have allowed hatred of our President to cloud their view of everything, but especially on health care. It appears Republicans will vote against their own best interest, not a new concept however, always a surprising one to me. To allow politics, and hatred, dictate your own personal well being is just plain dumb. Obamacare has been a lifesaver for many and when fully implemented will be embraced by those who now denounce it. The President is clearly on the side of the people, the middle class, seniors, students and the poor. Mr. Romney is on the side of the Tea Party and the rich, and corporations who he believes are "people". It is so sad that debates matter so much, no matter who makes the best performance, it is still just a performance. Pundits declare people are not so easily fooled, the electorate is "smart" they say, well that appears not to be the case. The people watched the debate, saw a new Romney and a disengaged President Obama, and decided to just swallow all the showmanship lies they heard from Romney and give him a big boost. These "smart" people had to know everything Romney said was a flip flop or an outright lie, but evidently decided not to hold him accountable. That debate performance will come back to haunt Romney if anyone bothers to hold him accountable. If not, he may well win, which would be a total disaster for America in my opinion. Maybe the V.P. debate will go a great deal differently, and maybe not, who knows how Ryan will go. Will he follow the successful lying showmanship of Romney? Will he attempt to defend his disgusting excuse for a budget or run from it? How much truth will we hear this time, and how many lies will we hear, who knows?? All I know for sure is that I am one of the 47% that disgusts Romney and part of the 30% that Ryan wants to destroy. In their own words they have told the American people what they really think of them, and the American people have allowed these insults made in "quiet rooms" to go unpunished. Who could possibly believe this outlandishly rich man, owned by the tea party obstructionists, who actually told the American people what he really thinks about them as "takers" and "moochers", and "not his problem"? How can nearly half the population give these two tea party darlings the keys to the White House just so they can lock these same people out?
I would love to believe the people are "smart", that they will hold Romney/Ryan to task for their lies and cruel so-called "budget", that will let these two disgraceful men know they cannot hold people in such contempt and have the gall to still ask for their vote. President Obama is not blameless, nor perfect, nor the answer to all things that are detrimental to our country, however, he is an honest man that truly cares about all Americans. The facts make our President the right choice to continue his quest to keep us safe and lend a helping hand to those in need, to save Medicare and Medicaid, to protect Social Security and treat the middle class with respect, not disdain.
My single vote will go to President Obama and Vice President Biden, it is all I can do not only for myself but for my fellow Americans. I truly believe a Romney/Ryan victory will be a terrible mistake and lead us to war, and social changes that will make America a very different, and much less compassionate country. I pray the election is fair, that the Republicans massive efforts to suppress the vote will fail, and the American people will make character count in this very important election.
What an amazing post, thank you for sharing!
Margo - great post. As for whether the American electorate is smart or not...ever since we elected G. W. Bush the first time, I've been convinced we cannot trust the intelligence of the electorate. And 2004 confirmed it.
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If the Right Wing gets what they want,
And their refused health care coverage and they lose everything they have from a medical condition,
It will be Obamas fault.
Count on it.
If there is one thing I've learned about the Righties by watching the Righties is that to the Rightie there is no correlation between actual cause and effect, only a cause that suits them.
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Why is it that the "limited guvmint" types never realize that the smaller the Federal guvmint gets, the LARGER your local guvmint gets? So just how do they calculate the net result of Rupugnicant rule is "smaller guvmint?" Also, the more Repugnicants "lower" Federal taxes, the higher your local taxes become - albeit they're called FEES rather than taxes but it is still money out of your pocket.
I am a health care professional. I do support the President and I am pleased to do so because I can relate real life experience to his words. I posted the following on a yahoo blog and recieved some negative feedback..:
This is an open letter of truth. What Mitt Romney said about Medicare is not the truth. Please, anyone out there who is eligible for Medicare, do not believe any insurance company that tells you that they can improve your healthcare by having them manage your Medicare. First, let us be logical, insurance companies need to make money. They do so by controlling what they spend on your healthcare. So, when Mitt says that the private sector can do better than the government with Medicare he is lying. If you are able, please buy a supplement plan to support your Medicare. I am of the position that if Mitt is willing to lie about Medicare, he will say anything to be elected......On this one point, we need to push back and not allow the GOP, Greed Over People party convince those who do not understand to believe their lies.
Tough choice indeed! Just look at all the anti-gun legislation Obama has pushed. See any? Me neither. Just more evidence of how so many have been sold a lie.
Thank you for drawing attention to this incredibly beneficial program including two specific aspects that are often attacked by Republicans including Romney at the debate. Obamacare’s health board is made up of independent doctors who make public recommendations based on what's best for the patient. Independent doctors identify ways to reduce waste like physician communication so different doctors don't order the same tests or identify ways to increase preventative care which is the single most effective way to reduce health problems and their associated costs. When they make a recommendation we know about it and if the public doesn't agree our elected officials hear about it, so they take our votes into consideration before applying the recommendation. Health insurance companies made up of managers decide privately what they will deny based on patient care and profit. Government healthcare programs like this and Medicare don't consider profit when it comes to determining patient care and cost. When private insurance companies decide what they will and won't cover, only the sick here about it when their doctor recommended treatment is denied coverage, so unless all of the sick take time away from getting better to speak up about it, no one knows and nothing changes.
Because of Obamacare we no longer have to pay for preventative care, including contraception, so those who can’t afford it are now better able to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Reducing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases reduces healthcare costs saving insurance companies money therefore reducing premiums, so those with religious objections to contraception are still free to not use it and don't have to pay for others to use it because of increased premiums.
For a long time now we should've been shouting from the rooftops all of the benefits each of us personally get from healthcare reform. We no longer have to pay for preventive care, healthcare screenings, annual checkups and the Medicare prescription doughnut hole, all of which keeps us healthier, saving us and the system money over the long haul. Stopping insurance companies from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions obviously helps those who are sick and can't get insurance, including children born with a serious illness, but it also helps those who have insurance and a pre-existing condition because now we can shop around for a more affordable and effective policy. There is no coverage for pre-existing conditions without an individual mandate because people would just wait until they got sick to get insurance which would bring down the entire insurance system. We no longer have to be concerned with paying an insurance company over and over only to have them stop paying for care when we reach the limit they set. Young adults struggling to find work don't have to worry about paying the high cost of individual insurance because they can stay on their parents insurance until they're more financially secure. Without the individual mandate all of us would continue to pay higher medical costs to cover those who don't take personal responsibility to get health insurance. Because of health insurance pools that will continue to grow, there are more affordable options every day for those who can't afford private insurance. Health care reform includes tax credits for small businesses so they can provide health insurance for their employees. The totality of all of these policies from Obama care working together reduces the deficit by $100 billion in the first 10 years and $1 trillion in the next 10 years.
Republicans will vote to destroy the ACA. Even those who use it. Parents who have adult children on their plan will vote to remove them rather than simply take them off. People who currently have insurance but have a pre-existing condition will vote to disallow others to have the same benefits. They will do this because right now they see themselves as scamming the system. If it's available, they will use it. Because they can. But that doesn't mean that they agree with it, or that they think it's a good idea.
It boils down to "I've got mine; screw you." Sharing and empathy are not in the neo-Republican tool boxes. It's the greed of the "me" generation taken to the extremes. And they are proud of it.
It took a Great Recession caused by failed Republican policies to make some Reagan Democrats finally pick up the blue cup again to vote for their best economic interests. Republican math and economics just doesn't add up for even middle class conservatives any longer no matter how much Romney tries to fool them.
Coverage for those with pre-existing conditions who have jhad coverage already for three months? Medicare only for those age 55 and older? Unemployment only for those who have never been unemployed after a Great Recession or any recession in the last 40 years?
Where do the Republicans get these warped ideas of how the middle class has been living since 2000?