The GOP gamble is premised on Obamacare’s continuing unpopularity. That is very real. But there’s also cause to think time is on Obamacare’s side — exactly as GOP opposition continues to grow ever more radicalized and determined.
A new Washington Post/ABC News poll illustrates this nicely. It finds substantial overlap between public disapproval of the law and self-professed pubic ignorance about it — which could change as people experience it firsthand.
The poll finds 42 percent of Americans support the law, versus 52 percent who don’t. Confusion is widespread: Only 35 percent say they “have the information” they need to understand the law, while 62 percent say they don’t. ...GregSargent,WaPo
There is another element. Much, much more money has been available and for trying to convince people that Obamacare is bad than has been spent to explain to people what Obamacare does. Enormous amounts of private money have been funneled into scaring people about the new Affordable Care Act. The money available for the government to explain the Act is limited. And anyway, who'd sit still to listen to the small print in a 60 second TV ad? We do overlook facts if fiction is excitingly illustrated.
The government -- and those of us who are on the side of Obamacare -- have to wait until the workings of the ACA turn people around. As Sargent goes on to report:
The Post polling team tells me that among those who oppose Obamacare, only 30 percent say they understand it, while 69 percent say they don’t. But among those who support Obamacare, 45 percent understand it while 53 percent don’t. So it’s possible as knowledge of the law grows, so could approval. Meanwhile the poll finds that despite majority opposition, only 27 percent support shutting down major parts of the government to stall implementation. And shutdown sentiment is heavily driven by Republicans. ...GregSargent,WaPo
Surprise, surprise. If Obamacare succeeds, as most believe it will, what it does for the Democrats is what Social Security and Medicare have done for the Democrats. Gee. Maybe that's why Republicans are having trouble with it? This is just politics? Just ego? Ya think?
