The House of Representatives passed repeal of the Affordable Care Act last week in a gesture that House Republicans maintain was part of their mandate as a result of last November’s elections. Let’s take a look at some hard data on that “mandate” shall we?
A recent New York Times / CBS poll clearly illustrates the weak, confused support that repeal has among Americans. Greg Sargent does a great job of dissecting the results of this poll.
Affordable health care for all? Boo hoo!
Some key points that might make John “Mock Turtle” Boehner weep:
- A plurality of those polled don’t want the law changed or repealed at all (48% to 40% who favor some form of repeal)
- Only half of those favoring repeal want the whole law repealed, which is what the House did. 20% support is no mandate.
- As Mother Jones points out, fully 14% can’t even name one component of the law they oppose.
So much for doing work Americans want.
Two Democratic Senators have asked an important question about repeal. If repeal succeeds, will seniors have to repay the $250 donut hole coverage they’ve already received? This begs a bigger question about other aspects of the law that have already gone into effect. In their haste to oppose Obama, those that worship the Great Tea Bag have overlooked the needs of average Americans.
Tragically, Senate Republicans, led by John McCain (Angry – AZ) say they will try to force a Senate repeal vote procedurally, even if it has no chance of passing. I guess job creation is a lower priority than grandstanding.
Social Justice For All 
I guess if they can get us sick and keep us poor we’ll be unable to vote. We have insurance- my husband has leukemia. His medication alone is over three thousand a month…we are lucky. Unless you’re insured, or very wealthy- cancer is a death sentence should you choose western medicine but cannot pay for your treatment. That simple.
Jenny, what a powerful comment. Yes, you are absolutely correct. If we get sick and they keep us poor and without health care, we won’t be able to get to the polls to vote. I’m so grateful that your family is insured.
Have you ever stood in line at some awful chain pharmacy behind some poor senior who can’t get vital meds because of that STUPID donut hole? It’s terrible. Fear, illness, anger, humiliation- all of those things you can see in 45 seconds at some awful pharmacy. It’s heartbreaking. Something that old dried up fruitcake McCain will never know.
Jenny, thank you for helping this audience really feel and see how difficult it is for seniors and the horrible hateful McCain!
So now will the Congrepublicans stop pretending that they’re just doing what the people want? (Only acting under orders, right?) Seems unlikely.
Jenny, you are so right. My mother and her parents have always been self-employed (accountant and farmers, respectively). Watching them deal with the grotesque increases in health costs has been very eye-opening. If it weren’t for Medicare (government health care, anyone?) I don’t know how they’d have dealt with Grandma’s last illness.
On a lighter note: MOCK TURTLE! Hahahaha. Thanks for keeping that alive.
Lex, I think continuous hyprocisy and denial of facts is one thing we can count on from the House leadership. Sadly.
By the way, credit where it’s due: thank YOU for the wonderful Mock Turtle metaphor. I’m only sorry that the orange-faced version didn’t post well and I had to go with this one instead.