Obamacare Timeline Conveniently Coincides with Dems' Election Calendar

Meredith Jessup | March 23, 2010 2:42 PM

We all know the GOP is revving up for a big battle against Democrats in the 2010 midterm elections, hoping to capitalize on public outrage over the government's overreach into the health care system. But will the average voter really have felt the negative effects of Obamacare by the time they head to the polls?

Somewhat, says Politico's Carrie Budoff Brown, but "they won’t have to swallow most of the bitter pills until much later — well after President Barack Obama faces voters again in 2012."

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Dems plan to provide some immediate benefits to "inoculate" themsevles from GOP scrutiny during the midterm elections. In addition, Dems are also banking on the fact once you give the public benefits, they will not want to give them back. The biggest and most costly changes to the health care system--including tax increases--do not come until AFTER Obama's re-election bid in 2012.

It's clear that if the GOP hopes to wage a successful campaign against Democrats this fall, continuing to educate the public on exactly what the new health care law entails will need to be a top priority.