Looks like running for office on rolling back consumer protections in favor or insurance executives isn’t as popular as lobbyists would like Republicans to believe.
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“Though most Americans still do not favor the law, they tend to be leaning toward candidates who would give it a chance and make some changes, rather than those who would repeal it and start over again,” said Robert Blendon, a Harvard public health school professor who follows opinion trends on health care.
The law seeks to expand access to coverage by setting up competitive insurance markets and providing tax credits for many who can’t afford premiums now. Most Americans will have to carry health insurance, and insurers will be barred from turning away people in poor health.
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Americans’ nuanced outlook is reflected in some recent polls. For example, an NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey found the public tilting against the law 44-38, with 36 percent saying the quality of their health care would get worse, and only 17 percent believing it would improve. Not exactly a vote of confidence.
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And one based on “belief” i.e. news analysis, and since 20% of the country thinks the legislations *still* has death panels in it, this is unsurprising.
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But when asked if they would be more likely to vote for a congressional candidate willing to give the law a chance to work and make changes as needed, or one who would repeal it entirely and start over, respondents picked the one who would give it a chance by 55-42.
Political independents favored giving the law a chance 57-40 in the poll, taken in early May.
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Mark Critz, a former Murtha aide who ran as the Democratic candidate, said he would have voted against the health care bill, but also opposed its repeal.
“The health care bill is the law,” Critz said during the campaign. “Let’s look at it. Let’s fix the things that we can. Let’s improve it where we can.” Critz’s comments were incorporated into a hard-hitting ad by his Republican opponent. But Critz won the May 18 special election.
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So what to do when you actually lose an election running on the “Let’s Roll it Back” playform? Go back to the fear card…
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Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor, the No. 2 House Republican, disagreed, saying “the health care issuewas not determinative” in the Pennsylvania race, and “repeal and replace” remains an effective message for his party.
“When we go out into the district I represent, this health care bill is very unpopular,” Cantor said. “It will raise costs. Businesses are scared they won’t be able to provide benefits anymore. Moms are scared they won’t be able to find a doctor for their children.”
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Unfortunately for Cantor (the one who was threatened by random gunfire in his district he claimed was a threat to his life) he is describing the reasons *why* the legislation got passed. He did leave out “people are sick of paying insurance companes for decades and then being dropped when an algorithm decides they might soon get breast cancer.” because that’s what he wants to allow again. Can’t imagine why that message doesn’t resonate.
Robot Pirate Ninja 