Soon after the 112th Congress convenes Wednesday, Republicans in the House plan to make good on a campaign promise that helped vault many new members to victory: voting to repeal President Obama’s health care overhaul.The vote, which Republican leaders pledged would occur before the president’s State of the Union address later this month, is intended both to appeal to the Tea Party-influenced factions of the House Republican base and to emphasize the muscle of the new party in power. But it could also produce an unintended consequence: a chance for Democrats once again to try their case in support of the health care overhaul before the American public.
Democrats, who in many cases looked on the law as a rabid beast best avoided in the fall elections, are reversing course, gearing up for a coordinated all-out effort to preserve and defend it. Under the law, they say, consumers are already receiving tangible benefits that Republicans would snatch away.
Yes, heaven forbid the Republicans try to "snatch away" all the glorious benefits Obamacare has already bestowed upon the American people -- not to mention the fun goodies to come. Also, a tip of the hat to the party hack who crafted the risible Democratic talking point parroted in the Times story suggesting that by attempting to undo a wildly unpopular law, Republicans run the risk of reigniting the public debate on Obamacare. Refresher: Republicans won that debate, but Democrats enacted their law anyway. That single act of arrogance, governmental overreach, and fiscal madness is a big reason why the 112th Congress will have 69 more Republicans (net) in it than the 111th Congress.
If Nancy Pelosi is cautioning Speaker Boehner that a repeal attempt might resurrect a political discussion about Obamacare, Boehner should respond with three words: "Bring it on."