Saw a Republican congressman on tv yesterday, saying why he didn't support the GOP HC bill.

[Honeycombe8]

Forget this guy's name, but he was on tv stating why he didn't support the GOP healthcare bill. To my surprise, he sounded SORT OF like a Democrat! He's not on board with the ACA, but he didn't want to pass a bill that didn't protect those with pre-existing conditions, or one that didn't protect states who had expanded Medicaid. He was concerned that too many people would be left without health care at all, if their income hits a certain range and/or if they have a pre-existing condition. He mentioned that the bill's tax credits weren't enough to allow those with low incomes to buy the now-high insurance premiums.

Hell has frozen over.

[FakeNoose]

1. This is how they weasel out of it

Honeycombe all the Republicans had to do was WORK WITH Obama and we would have gotten an equal and fair ACA that is worthy of the American people. But no - they steadfastly refused to lift a finger to help, and they obstructed every chance they got.

Now they're trying to figure out the best way to not get blamed for ruining our healthcare. They can't repeal/abolish Obamacare until they have something as good or better. But you see, they do't want to do that, because they are weasels. They're going to use every opportunity to pass a healthcare law that will benefit the insurance companies and the pharmaceuticals because those are the big donors to the GOP. Get it? It's another boondoggle.

They're trying to take away our healthcare but they want to keep it for themselves. WHAT!!?!?

What a bunch of weaselly assholes. Whatever this guy said was just a soundbite to play for his constituents back home. When it's time to vote, he'll stick with the party because they always do. (Even John McCain.)

[Honeycombe8]

4. I suppose you're right. I imagine he's gotten an earful from his constituents. nt

[gratuitous]

6. That's the question I'm itching to ask

If all these various features of the Affordable Care Act are so good and desirable, why are you wasting all this time reinventing the wheel? We all know you promised your knucklehead followers that you were going to repeal Obamacare, and you'd hate to welch on your promise. The fact of the matter, though, is that your followers have finally figured out that there are some things about Obamacare that they actually like and want to retain. Why not just fix the shortcomings and leave the good stuff in place? You know, like what happens for every major piece of legislation that gets passed? Or are you so wrapped up in your hatred of President Obama (who has to be looking pretty good after 100 days of Donald Dumbass) that you'll kill some of your own constituents just so you can show him?

[FakeNoose]

7. Trump's campaign was all smoke and mirrors

We all know that "Obamacare" and "Affordable Care Act health insurance" are the same thing.

But Trump's supporters were so stupid, they didn't know. They thought Obamacare was for black people, or I guess I should say non-white people. So Trump spent his entire campaign telling them that Obamacare is a disaster, Obamacare is imploding, I'm going to cancel Obamacare. Those people all cheered even though they and their families (many of them) were receiving Obamacare ACA benefits.

Once Trump was elected it became painfully clear that the voters would be screwed if they lost their health insurance. The problems with Obamacare were - and still are - fixable but it takes both parties working together to make it happen. Trump never wasted one moment trying to save it, so now the Republican politicians are getting scared.

They know if they don't come up with something to replace Obamacare, or else save the original plan, they can't go home to their own states. People are just way too mad about it and they're giving their senators and representatives hell over it.

[gratuitous]

10. Yeah, these dumbasses didn't know

But I attribute the confusion between Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act to about 70% Republican bad-mouthing, aided and abetted by Fox (of course), 30% to typical Democratic message failure. We've finally broken through on that, and it's been a while since I heard some dumbass express confusion over Obamacare and the ACA. I've said it before, but Democrats have to get over their reticence about repeating themselves, and drive home the point that Americans don't have to worry about having coverage denied because of a pre-existing condition. It's true, people understand it, and Republicans can't gainsay it.

I'm ready to turn the message on the Republicans in Congress: You can't dismantle Obamacare, figure out a way to make it better. There are a lot of places available for improvement. When they don't do it, we use it against them in 2018. Republicans clearly don't care about the American people, let's restore the power to the Democrats and let them finish the good work they started with the Affordable Care Act.

[FakeNoose]

13. Sure - probably Trump didn't know either ;-)

And yes - message failure on the Dems too.

I totally agree on your post.

[jberryhill]

2. I hate ice

I like the fact that it is cold... and that it melts into water... and I like that it is hard and looks like crystal... I also think its good to have something slippery to play hockey on and so forth...

But don't get me wrong - I HATE ICE.

[Orsino]

3. It's a measure of how good the ACA was...

...and of how bad the Republican "replacement" bills have been in comparison.

Your Republican hasn't developed courage; he's just backed into a corner and fears for 2018.

[Honeycombe8]

5. I also think they're not afraid of Trump or Ryan. I also think...

he's had a lot of calls and emails from his constituents, so he can't vote for it and get re-elected.

But the result is the same. Too many of his constituents would be left without health care, if this GOP bill were passed. He is taking a stand, though, and not just saying words. He knows the votes aren't there, so every vote matters. Also, he could just not be there for the vote, as they sometimes do.

I give him credit for stating his reasons, which actually bolsters the argument for keeping the ACA, which he no doubt knows.

[NewRedDawn]

8. Dan Donavan of NY

He also dropped the bombshell that The meager tax credits that are shit to begin with, can not be used in states like Ny that have in their Insurance essentials abortion.

[Honeycombe8]

12. Thanks. I didn't recall his name. He did speak of the meager tax credits.

I give credit where credit is due. Not many Republicans, who also have constituents who would lose their insurance, aren't going on national tv talking about how bad the GOP HC bill is, and go into detail like that.

Sure, he is worried about his election. But they all are. Democrats, too.

[Caliman73]

9. He's not on board with the ACA

He just wants all of the good parts of the ACA without the policies that funded those "good parts". Otherwise known as the Unicorns and Rainbows Healthcare Act.

Even though he kind of gets that his party is going to screw things up, he is still an idiot.

There are costs and benefits to healthcare policy. You cannot have the good without the bad. Either we shore up the "market based" system with subsidies, risk corridors, and mandates. With taxes on certain equipment providers and pharmaceuticals, or we go to a single payer system and raise taxes necessary to maintain the quality of care individually making it worth the while of doctors, hospitals, and other health providers so that we do not have a drain in healthcare.

That is it. We have to make grown up decisions. We have to eat our spinach and broccoli. It can't all be cake and ice cream.

[Honeycombe8]

11. LOL. "Unicorns and Rainbows Healthcare Act." The URHA.

I think single payer is the way to go.