GET READY FOR THE OBAMACARE AD BLITZ: National Journal’s Sam Baker makes a critical point: Opponents of the law are not the only ones who will be on the airwaves in coming months.
For the most part, these campaigns will encourage people to enroll, rather than trying to sell the law politically. Although Obamacare still polls poorly, supporters firmly believe the answer is to show that it’s working — and that means getting people in the door. The Health and Human Services Department has reportedly reserved at least $12 million worth of TV ad time for spots promoting the health care law and encouraging people to enroll. Outside groups will spend even more.
And, of course, the insurance companies are expected to spend hundreds of millions to entice people to shop on the exchanges.
WILL GOP EVER ACCEPT OBAMACARE? Eugene Robinson, in the course of arguing that the health law is here to stay, makes a good point here:
If Republicans in Congress would work with the administration to make technical corrections to the Affordable Care Act, they could claim a victory of sorts: Obama gave you this mess and we cleaned it up. But after demonizing the program — and the president — for so long, the party has painted itself into a corner.Note to the GOP: “We refuse, under any circumstances, to make the law work better for the citizens we represent” is perhaps not the ideal campaign slogan for the midterm election.
There are in fact scenarios under which Republicans and Democrats enter into real negotiations over the future of the health law and health system, if Republicans can find their way through the Three Stages of Obamacare Acceptance.