Why doesn't Obama enlist Bill Clinton to explain the Affordable Health Care Act?

[skip fox]

I'm afraid the out-come of the last Republican attack on Health care will not be as easily handled as many predict, especially its great unpopularity at the polls.

Now is the time, it seems, for Obama to bring out Clinton and turn the polls around.

Why doesn't he?

[Cali_Democrat]

1. Why do you think Obama needs Bill Clinton to explain it?

He's already explained it just fine.

The problem is that the GOP has lied about it and the media fails to correct them time and time again. Chuck Todd even said it apparently wasn't the media's job to point out lies. The media propagates the lies.

We even got some so-called liberals echoing GOP talking points against the ACA.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. you just proved yourself wrong.

He HASN'T explained it just fine at all. If he had, UpChuck would have been forced to handle the issue differently, and 60% of America would not be misinformed about the ACA.

Yes, the bill needs PR help, but I doubt that Obama is a big enough person to ask Bill to do it. Obama is fine on some things, but, the way he stays within that White House bubble is troubling.

[ProSense]

10. "Yes, the bill needs PR help, but I doubt that Obama is a big enough person to ask Bill to do it."

Seems you just exposed yourself.

The bill has been explained for three years, by numerous people with varying degrees of authority, including Krugman, by editorials in the NYT, by laypeople and professional orgnizations. There is a level of willful ignorance at play here, and some people just simply don't want to understand.

The fact is that the bill's provisions are well-received, but the polling mostly focuses on the binary "approve/disapprove."

A recent poll showed that Republicans approval of the bill jumped when it was referred to as the Affordable Care Act, not Obamacare. A this point, screw em.

The majority of Americans support the law's existence. There are some who disapprove because the bill doesn't go far enough. No amount of explaining it will change that.

[ProSense]

7. Because...Obama! n/t

[AgingAmerican]

13. Wow

You love shooting yourself in the foot, don't you?

[Cali_Democrat]

14. I understand the ACA just fine

It's people like you who don't pay attention and listen to GOP propaganda that are the problem.

[AgingAmerican]

16. What you just said

Makes absolutely no sense whatsoever and has nothing to do with what I said. I listen to GOP propaganda? Really? Do you have a shred of evidence to back this up?

You obviously have no clue what I was getting at, do you? Perhaps you should think before you react, then people might start taking what you say seriously.

[Cali_Democrat]

17. Do you think I care if you and your ilk take me seriously?

I haven't taken you seriously since you joined DU.

[AgingAmerican]

19. You mad bro?

nt

[AgingAmerican]

20. He should welcome Bill Clinton explaining it because

Most people do not know what is in the law. Bill Clinton has always had a way with connecting with common people. That is why he was so successful as a president. Even while they were trying to impeach him, his approval rating was over 70%.

Obama should go full on explaining this to the masses by any and every means necessary.

[tridim]

28. He does and he has.

Just because you don't listen doesn't mean it's not happening.

[JustAnotherGen]

30. +1

[AgingAmerican]

35. You cant even agree with someone

...without trying to insult them. U mad bro?

[tularetom]

2. Nah the last thing he needs is Clinton to explain it

What he needs to do is act like he gives a shit about his own act. If Obama was half as animated in defending the ACA as he was about wanting to bomb the shit out of Syria or snooping on American citizens, he would convince everybody of its merits. Since he seems so reluctant to explain the act, his enemies have taken advantage of the information vacuum to define it themselves, and not necessarily to his benefit.

[AgingAmerican]

18. Yeah, right

The "last thing he needs" is for people to understand it better. Sure, uhuh, if you say so. Gotcha.

[Dawgs]

3. I like it. Good idea. n/t

[Little Star]

4. It couldn't hurt. Maybe it could help.

[leftstreet]

5. LOL after Obama slammed Hillary over the mandate?

LOL

That would be epically rich for sure

[Skittles]

26. ?

he's already ENACTED it after slamming her - what's the harm in more hypocrisy?

[onehandle]

8. He has been. 'President Obama is deploying explainer-in-chief Bill Clinton to lift Obamacare'

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/08/29/why-president-obama-is-deploying-explainer-in-chief-bill-clinton-to-lift-obamacare

[skip fox]

11. What has Clinton done recently?

Now is the time. After it is in effect, then people will see its benefits and the poll sshould turn around. But the next two weeks are critical.

[onehandle]

12. President Clinton would answer the call.

Maybe there is something in the works?

[tridim]

9. Over lunch MSNBC said Clinton will do just that this week.

As will the President and the First Lady.

The ACA has been "sold" by this Admin in every way possible, web, television, radio, public speeches, etc. The only hurdle is the media, who apparently doesn't do "fair and balanced", they faithfully report whatever lie the Republicans are telling that day, it's just "not their problem".

Also the majority of the public already supports the ACA, no need to turn the polls around.

[former9thward]

22. Why does nobody link to polls showing the public supports the ACA?

Every poll I have seen says the opposite. No one wants to be ordered to buy insurance.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/obama_and_democrats_health_care_plan-1130.html

[kenny blankenship]

15. Get ready for "that depends on what the meaning of "covered" is"

"That depends on what the meaning of the word 'Affordable' is."

"That depends on how much you care about the meaning of what 'Care' is."

"Insured? Well, you feel insured. and isn't that the important thing, assurance and confidence?"

[AgingAmerican]

21. Ken Starr?

Is that you?

[Beacool]

23. What's your problem?

Clinton is a master at explaining things in a way that are understandable to most people.

[tridim]

25. The ACA requires insurers to cover much more than before...

Including free wellness programs and routine screenings. Shocking!!!1

The ACA makes insurance affordable for millions who can't afford insurance without it. Just awful!1!1

The important thing is that millions more will be able to get healthy for the first time in their life. Horrors!1111



I care about this stuff, why don't you?

[Demoiselle]

24. There's an old saw in the Advertising business.

1. Tell them.
2. Tell them what you told them.
3. Tell them again.

The more explaining...from everybody....the better.

[tridim]

27. Just don't tell them via the media.

Because we now know via Chuck Todd that they won't report it. Republican lies take precedence.

[Blue Idaho]

29. A little honest reporting would be helpful too.

When the M$M (Fuck Toad et al) talk about the percent opposed to ACA - they do not differentiate between the right wing knuckle dragger that would like your grandma and all sick little kids to just die and get it over with those who are in favor of a national health service or single payer options. If you split those numbers out you have a very different view of the popularity of the ACA.

Its journalistic malpractice and its just plain lazy - but that's the news business for ya.

[snacker]

31. He's going to be on Late Night with David Letterman tonight...

I'm not sure if it's a rerun or a new show though.

[BKH70041]

32. What is there to be gained?

First and foremost, politicians are politicians. As it stands, if the ACA turns out to be good, he can claim he knew it would and that he supported it all along. If it turns out bad, he's distanced himself by not being a front person for it.

I saw the WP article, and it doesn't sound like a strong endorsement, though to others they will view it that way.

I'd say good move on his part politically.

[ecstatic]

33. Clinton was excellent at the DNC

I think it's a great idea, but maybe they're waiting for the mandate to take effect?

[Arkansas Granny]

34. It sounds like a good idea to me. Clinton has high approval ratings and he has a way of

explaining things that makes them easy to understand. What could it hurt?