Why are the Rethugs going ballistic about Obamacare?

[pnwmom]

Other than because they hate Obama and anything he ever does?

Because some of their handlers (the Koch brothers, etc.) know something too many progressives haven't figured out. When this works, with it's mandate, it's a huge blow against all their Libertarian ideals.

And it opens an easy path for a future Congress to add a public option; and when that succeeds in pulling customers from the for-profits, we could see most of the private health insurance system dropping away.

And I almost forgot -- many states are already experimenting with health insurance co-ops and single payer, thanks to funding from the ACA.

Progressives should be fighting just as passionately FOR Obamacare as the other side is fighting against it. Yes, it's only a foot in the door, but we've never come this close. Anything less than all-out support could get the door slammed in our faces, and locked for decades.

[sharp_stick]

1. They're afraid it might work

They worry that people may find that mandated health insurance can bring down costs and improve care. Not only does that piss off the libertarian faction of nutjobs it gives Obama and the Democrats a huge win.

And we all know that the key reason for the existence of the modern Republican party is to deny any win to Obama and the Democrats.

[jwirr]

2. They remember what happened after FDR created Social Security among other safety net programs

and what happened after LBJ created Medicaid/Medicare. When the nation saw how well they worked the supported Democrats in the following elections. Between the ACA and the immigration bill we stand to win the people over for a long time. Given of course that nothing drastic happens to discredit us.

[leftstreet]

4. The ACA is not a 'safety net' - it's private for-profit insurance

You can only hope it's enough of a clusterfuck that public outrage will force Congress to add a PUBLIC option

[jwirr]

5. I have worked for the single payer system from the beginning but I want this to work - I think it

will lead to single payer. And if I had NO medical insurance, etc. I would be thankful for what I can get. In the meantime I will continue to work for single payer and understand that voting rethug will only take me backward not forward.

[Old and In the Way]

3. Agree!

They've been arguing for 20 years that any reforms to our present system of health insurance will be an economic disaster. What the American people are about to find out is - the Republicans have been telling us a BIG LIE for 20 years...and this has cost the middle class trillions of dollars in overcharged premiums that's paid for 3rd or 4th homes for the CEO's and undeserved, windfall profits for stockholders.

[Blaukraut]

6. Because those who sign up for ACA can also register to vote

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/white-house-americans-can-register-to-vote-when-signing-up-for-obamacare

Americans will be able to register to vote when applying for insurance through Obamacare, a White House official told TPM Tuesday, despite reports to the contrary and outcry from congressional Republicans.

Mother Jones reported earlier Tuesday on a report from progressive groups, which asserted that the Obama administration was planning to back down from its plan to offer voter registration on the federal marketplace, which will cover 36 states. The source of the claim is unclear, which the Mother Jones article acknowledged, but it sparked some panic among liberal activists.

Not to worry, a senior administration official told TPM: Voter registration through the health insurance marketplaces will continue as planned. The official said any reports to the contrary were "inaccurate."
Insurance applications filed under the health care reform law are required by law to have a section for voter registration. The 1993 National Voter Registration Act mandates that any government agencies providing government services must also provide people with access to voter registration.

snip

[Puzzledtraveller]

9. It's already that way. SNAP, Medicaid.

I'm required to ask if you are registered to vote and assist you in registering if you are not. We even have a statement that must be signed by the client to prove we asked.

[stevenleser]

7. 2 reasons

#1 - They know it will work

#2 - Once it works, people will be open to single payer and/or its variants.

[Autumn Colors]

8. There's going to be at least one healthcare co-op in CT

Not much on their website now, but it looks like they're going to put the details/plans up on October 1st.

http://www.healthyct.org/

I've got it bookmarked. I've been without health insurance for a few years now. According to the calculator on the State of CT site, it looks like with the subsidy, the premium could cost me less than $50 a month (and I'm over 50!!). Granted, that's just a premium and no actual healthcare, but that's better than I've had for a while.

http://www.ct.gov/hix/site/default.asp

[pnwmom]

10. I'm jealous of Oregon because they'll have two co-ops. n/t

[DGeorge]

11. Well, if it works he'll be remembered as is FDR. Then again, he is a Democrat and isn't white.

I'm not sure which is of bigger concern to the GOP. They hate anything Democratic and can't stand anyone who isn't white. Perhaps it is a mixture.

[Populist_Prole]

12. It'll completely knock the legs out from under their platform and their ability to push their vision

Which is as you know: Government ( except for the military ) is BAD, and it's badder yet if it interferes in any way with a businesses right to do whatever it wants. Thus far they have far too many of the populace bamboozled into believing this. Once many find out this is NOT the case, rethugs will lose a lot of popular ( voter ) support, if not financial support. It may also serve as a watershed in that it may cause former center-right types to question the GOP's claims on other issues and I'm sure rethug operatives know this.

I guess that's just a long way of saying what many already have "They're afraid it will work" but I wanted to be more concise.

[pnwmom]

13. Yup. n/t

[MyshkinCommaPrince]

14. I begin to wonder...

I have begun to wonder if all of their loud shouting about the ACA is merely a distraction from something else. Surely they know they can't win this battle. What if they don't actually hate the program as much as they claim? What else is going on right now that they could be hoping to hide? So I wonder.

But I wonder a lot of things. Others have frequently noted many very good reasons that the RW may honestly oppose the ACA as much as they seem to. Their exaggerated opposition may be nothing more than it seems to be.

[pnwmom]

15. The demographics aren't on their side. Even their gerrymandering

won't help them forever.

They're looking at the long term and they're afraid.