I've been struggling with a very simple, very neat and very clean way to explain ACA and the Republican fit throwing and shutdown-ing to a general audience that doesn't much follow politics but who might be inclined to listen to a logical, yet easy argument. I'm convinced that the reason the left loses many of its fights is not because we are wrong or that the facts aren't on our side, but because we don't market as effectively. Something I heard on the radio this morning stuck with me. I can't remember who it was, but a Democratic representative, either from MD or VA was on WTOP (Wash DC news and traffic) this morning and gave me a very simple way of explaining what is going on.
1. Congress, democratically elected, passed ACA - March 2010.
2. The conservative majority Supreme Court, appointed by democratically elected president and confirmed by democratically elected Senate, upheld ACA - June 2012.
3. The president, democratically re-elected, bases said re-election in part on ACA - Nov 2012.
So to summarize:
Republicans lost legislatively.
Republicans lost judicially.
Republicans lost electorally.
So now, they are taking hostages.
Simple enough?