Obamacare: That’s Right, Obama Cares
I am a proud Democrat. I am proud to belong to a party that defends the rights of the everyday man (and woman). I am proud to belong to a party that has given us the most intelligent (and articulate) presidents.
However, I get furious at the utter incompetence of my party when it comes to political messaging. For starters, this is the party that has chosen a jackass, the dumbest animal on earth, as its mascot. Need I say more? Yes, actually.
The Republicans, in turn, chose the elephant as their mascot, an animal known for its intelligence and for its presence (as in “the elephant in the room”).
Besides this, the Republicans are communication spin masters. When Democrats started calling the Republicans “The Party of No,” Sarah Palin responded by saying:
“if … the other side [is] proposing an idea that violates our ideals, our values, violates our conscience, violates our Constitution. What’s wrong with being the party of no? We will oppose it. Party of no? Nah. We’re the party of hell no.”
Believe me, I am in no way, shape or form a Sarah Palin fan, but frankly, I took my hat off to her when I read that statement. She immediately turned a negative label into a positive one, and as a result, she neutralized the Democrats. When was the last time you heard someone say, “The Party of No”? I rest my case.
Now, every time I hear the term “Obamacare,” I wonder why the Democrats were not as adept as the Republicans to turn this term into the positive one that it can be. Why didn’t the Democrats realize early on that “Obamacare” was actually a gift from the Republicans?
Democrats should have owned it and defended all the good that it stands for. Democrats should have taken up the chant “Obamacare because Obama cares.” After all, we are talking about a plan that:
- Prohibits denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions
- Prevents insurance companies from dropping your coverage when you get sick
- Eliminates yearly and lifetime caps on insurance coverage
- Reduces out-of-pocket expenses
- Allows coverage for policyholder’s unemployed children until the age of 26
- Requires insurance companies to provide coverage for preventive care
If instead of running away from Obamacare, Democrats would have known how to communicate about it, we might not have lost the House in the 2010 mid-term elections. But more importantly, the majority of Americans would have supported it, thus neutralizing Republican opposition. In other words, we would not find ourselves, today, holding our breath for a decision from the Supreme Court—an entity that showed just how politically neutral they are with the 2000 Bush vs. Gore decision.
Obamacare may not be perfect, but it is the perfect foundation on which to build an even better healthcare system. A foundation that has the best interest of the individual patients, not that of the insurance companies, at heart. It is a start, a vision drawn by a President who cares more for the American people than do those who have stopped at nothing to make him fail, including turning the words “Obama” and “care” into bad ones.
image: democraticstuff.com
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Amen sister!
Lindsey recently posted..First Summer Camp
I’d like to know who is advising the president on communication. Who are the communication people for the Democrats? It’s all so frustrating.
VERY REAL UR IDEA 4 OBAMACARE. I AGREE! I WANT UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE, & LETS CALL THAT WE THE PEOPLE RISE & STAND UP 4 OURSELVES! LET US STOP ALLOWING 1%ERS 2 DICTAE OUR LIVES DAM!
great post. the spinability (i’ll have to post about that!) of the dems is sooooo frustrating. i heard diane rehm trying to reclaim “affordable care” and rejecting “obama care” a few weeks ago and wondered, “why?” didn’t we learn anything from yankee doodle, or from palin as you point out? appropriate. appropriate. appropriate!
deb recently posted..mishandled mocha ‘inspires’ how?
Thanks, I really wonder who’s in charge of political messaging for the Dems.
But a better question is why are the Dems so wimpy about telling the truth while the Reps are so bold in distorting it? Even outright lying, even “breitbarting” videos? It drives me crazy.
This is odd. I’ve been saying all day how my rights have been violated and you say your party is for rights. Rights don’t come out of any where, you don’t have a right to his pizza, or a right to walk on someone. Rights are inherent in us and the rights the Declaration speak of is right to life and liberty and it says that is why we instituted a government. Liberty means no one can force me to buy something like insurance. I don’t have or want insurance and I don’t like our medical system and haven’t used it in over 7 years. With all due respect people should learn about rights.
Steve recently posted..Is Obamacare a great sign of a free country?
Thank you for your comment. While it’s true that we all have a right to life and liberty as you mention, our liberty must work within a certain framework. For example, is our liberty infringed upon because we are required to have a driver’s license to drive? It is a well-established law, that while we have freedom of speech, we cannot yell “Fire” in a crowded theatre (if there’s no fire).
The ACA’s insurance mandate is designed to lower health costs in our country. Healthcare is one of the main factors for our ballooning deficit. What is so wrong about requiring medical insurance, when we are required to have all sorts of insurance in our daily life: car insurance, rentor’s insurance, property insurance, etc….?
You may not like our medical system, and it’s a good thing you have not had to use it for 7 years, as it means that you’re healthy. I hope that this will be the case for you for the rest of your life. If you do happen to get sick one day, I hope that you will be able to afford the proper care that you will need. But I also hope that you realize that this is not necessarily the case for millions of people, millions of uninsured children in our country. The Affordable Care Act is designed to help them get the proper care that they have a right to receive, by the mere fact that they are human beings and citizens of our great nation.