I have long thought that one of the best ways to find out the true state of the political landscape is to read analysis from the other side. So when Redstate freaks out about the shift away from outright repeal of Obamacare, I take it seriously. From the article:
Conservative and Republican affiliated groups have started the 2014 assault against Democrats who support Obamacare. At the very same time, it is increasingly clear Republicans are laying the groundwork to abandon their opposition to Obamacare.
The Business Roundtable, which has a great relationship with Republican Leaders, is now listing Obamacare as an entitlement worth preserving.
Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former economic advisor to John McCain and who opposed passage of Obamacare, has started a think tank premised on keeping, but fixing, Obamacare. Holtz-Eakin has the ear of Republican leaders. In 2009, Mitch McConnell appointed him to the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission.
The Chamber of Commerce is declaring it will work to fix, not repeal, Obamacare. In fact, just last week the head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said, “The administration is obviously committed to keeping the law in place, so the chamber has been working pragmatically to fix those parts of Obamacare that can be fixed.”
http://www.redstate.com/...
There are three forces behind this trend I think:
1. The status quo is even more unpopular.
Go back to the 2012 exit poll. While a majority opposed it, it is critical to understand that asking whether you support or oppose Obamacare misses complexity in the public's opinion about Health Care. When you ask the question in a more nuanced way, this is what you find:
Expanded:26%
Kept as is:18%
Repealed in part:24%
Repealed completely:25%
Of all the numbers in the 2012 exit poll, this is the most ignored. The number of people who want the law expanded exceeded the number who want in repealed completely. This is because the status quo is profoundly unpopular
2. Obamacare is a conservative idea.
As most here know, Obamacare is a conservative idea. The idea was hatched by the AEI and was the GOP alternative to the Clinton Health Care Plan. It is not surprising to read the conservatives are now thinking of ways to modify it, it was there idea to begin with.
3. The smarter people on the right may have figured out the real threat of Obamacare is that it enables single payer.
If repeal is not realistic, you want, if you smart, to try and limit the damage.
If Vermont moves forward with single payer in 2017, it may herald a very real change in Health Care in this country. While Obamacare is worth supporting as incremental improvement, its most significant legacy may the path it opens to single payer health care.
A smart Republican would try to kill the Vermont initiative at all costs.