According to Joan Vennochi, the House vote to repeal ObamaCare is nothing more than political theatre. She considers it a tragedy, in fact.
On health care reform, here’s how it’s likely to play out: Republicans in the House vote for repeal. It doesn’t happen. Republicans then continue to use the issue as a cynical weapon against Democrats.
The Republican vote to repeal is the first step in the GOP’s self-proclaimed mission to undermine the law, piece by piece.
That’s the mindset that motivates freshman Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota when she stands with a band of House Tea Party members in front of the Capitol and vows to unravel and defund the health reform law. “We’re staying full square behind the repeal of ObamaCare,’’ she said on Tuesday, citing the “arrogance’’ and “close-mindedness’’ of the president and his fellow Democrats.
For more adult conversation, listen for a Republican voice no longer in Congress. Former Senate majority leader Bill Frist of Tennessee told his fellow Republicans they should forget about repealing health care reform and move on to make bipartisan tweaks.
I hope Ms. Vennochi is right -- that ObamaCare becomes a weapon with which Republican bludgeon Democrats. If Democrats don't like being bludgeoned they shouldn't have passed it.
Karl Rove agrees. With some degree of delight, I think. Republicans have their weapon, and they'd better use it.
Republicans said during the election campaign that they would take this vote. Seasoned Democratic observers like pollster Pat Caddell believe that opposition to ObamaCare helped drive turnout and draw independents into the Republican column. The GOP would have deeply damaged its credibility if it failed to follow through on its pledge.
Moreover, the fight against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, of which this week's vote is but the opening round, once again focuses public attention on the law's flaws. Virtually every claim the Obama administration has made on its behalf is turning out to be untrue. (Recall "If you like your current [health-care] plan, you will be able to keep it.") Or it wasn't credible to start with, such as the claim by the Office of Management and Budget that the bill will cut the deficit. A new ABC News/Washington Post poll this week showed that 62% see it as increasing the deficit, 54% think it'll hurt the economy, and 46% think the law will cost jobs. When Republicans have winning arguments, they should keep pressing them.
At one time Democrats were much more trusted than Republicans on health care issues. In 1991 opinion polls showed them 34 points ahead of Republicans on it, but by 2005 the Democrats' advantage dropped to 25 points. Enter ObamaCare, and it's gone. Press on, I say.
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