“We will tattoo it to their forehead in 2014.” That’s what RNC Chair Reince Priebus said this weekend about how the GOP would try to use Obamacare to beat Democratic candidates in 2014.
Well, I’ve got a message for Reince — bring it on.
You see, I’m a Democrat who — despite all the glitches — is anxious, eager,
and proud to fight FOR the Affordable Care Act.
If you are too, say you’re in today.
Why am I excited about the Affordable Care Act?
Because it’s working, and people are already getting better, more affordable
health care than before.
Already, 500,000 Americans have been able to sign up for health coverage
through the federal exchange, state exchanges, and Medicaid expansion.
That’s half a million Americans who did not have health insurance, who now
will. And one million more consumers are ready to get the plan that’s right for
them. And that’s just in one month.
Has it been perfect? No. President Obama and Democrats are the first to admit
the website challenges have been unacceptable. Would more people be able to
enroll if the website was working properly — yes, of course. And they will.
But you know what else would help get more people enrolled? If Republicans
would stop their concerted effort to block the law at every turn. If more
Republican governors would set up state exchanges or expand Medicaid. If
Republican lawmakers would stop holding ridiculous hearings to score political
points, and help folks figure out how to fix the problems.
Republicans, though, have never really been interested in that. They don’t want
Obamacare to work. They are actually afraid of it working. Why? Because they
know once people begin to enjoy the benefits that come with a better and more
affordable health care system, they won’t want to give them up.
And that terrifies Republicans to no end. So much so, that they even shut down
the government and risked us defaulting on our national bills in order to stop
it.
Look, we’ve got some work to do to fix the glitches and get more people
enrolled. We did that during the Bush Administration when Medicare Part D had a
rocky rollout, and we can do it again now.
Will that stop the Republicans from trying to kill it? Nope. Ted Cruz has already
signaled that he’s open to another shutdown in January to try to stop
Obamacare. Just as President Obama unveiled some administrative fixes to the
program, Marco Rubio said that, “by no means should we be exploring ways
to fix this law.” John Boehner renewed his commitment to “targeted
strikes” aimed at repealing Obamacare, regardless of its impact on the
American people.
They are going to keep fighting this to the bitter end. That’s why Democrats need
you on their side.
This is what they want to expend their energy on. Nothing else. (Well, except
for restricting women’s health care decisions. They’ll still keep trying that.
Oh, and blocking commonsense immigration reform. That appears to be a priority
as well.)
No wonder a poll this week showed Congressional approval at an all-time low: 9
percent!
So, yeah. I’m eager, anxious and proud to run on this in 2014.
Because under the Affordable Care Act, half a million people have signed up for
health care so far, and that number is only going to grow. The Republican plan
is to try to take that away.
Because under the Affordable Care Act, being a woman is no longer a preexisting
condition. The Republican plan would not only make it one again, but they would
impose even more restrictions on women’s health care access.
Because every single Democratic member of Congress is committed to finding the
solutions to make the Affordable Care Act work even better. The Republican
Party? It shut down the federal government, delivering a $24 billion hit to our
economy.
I’ll take that fight any day of the week.
Republicans tried to “tattoo” Obamacare to our foreheads in 2012. We
won. They tried it in Virginia in 2013. We won.
With your help,
Democrats will win again in 2014. Say you’re in today:
http://my.democrats.org/Obamacare-2014
Thanks,
Mo
Mo Elleithee
Communications Director
Democratic National Committee