# How did the ACA get the nickname "ObamaCare"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 19, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512 "2017-01-19T01:32:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/1 "2017-01-19T01:32:43Z")
Even Obama himself doesn’t call it Obamacare. It is the Affordable Care Act. Why does the media and GOP always call it Obamacare? Note: I am asking how it got the nickname, not looking for a debate on its merits or effectiveness. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/2 "2017-01-19T01:41:54Z")
Because it’s Obama’s health insurance system. It’s a take off “Hilarycare” from the 1990s. Both were meant to be derogatory. Obama has said he rather likes the term, because he does care. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/3 "2017-01-19T01:44:57Z")
An attempt by the Republicans to ridicule a health care very close to one they proposed that was in turn, as the one they might enact, proposed by (gasp!) a Black Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/4 "2017-01-19T01:46:28Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > Even Obama himself doesn’t call it Obamacare. It is the Affordable Care Act. Why does the media and GOP always call it Obamacare? > Note: I am asking how it got the nickname, not looking for a debate on its merits or effectiveness. Back when Bill Clinton was President, he had Hillary working on his health care plan (nothing ever came of it). Right-wing talk radio started decrying it as “Hillarycare.” That just sounded like the sort of corporate branding that was becoming the rage at the time. (Sorry, I can’t think of an example.) When Obama became President, they revived the name and just replaced the “Hillary” with “Obama.” Edit: Just like **garygnu** said! ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/5 "2017-01-19T01:48:19Z")
[Article in the _Atlantic_ discussing the origins of the term.](http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/10/who-coined-obamacare/335745/) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/6 "2017-01-19T02:13:09Z")
[There was also “Romneycare”, a term which Romney himself uses.](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/mitt-romney-romneycare-obamacare-boston-globe-215112) > [@](#): > > Without Romneycare, there would be no Obamacare, Mitt Romney claimed in new comments published Friday. > > In a Boston Globe obituary for Staples founder Thomas Stemberg, who died Friday at the age of 66, Romney attributed his focus on health care as governor to a conversation the two had shortly after his election. According to the Globe, the late businessman asked Romney why he ran for governor, to which he replied that he wanted to help people. In turn, Stemberg told Romney that the most effective way to accomplish his goals in that regard would be to ensure health-care access for everyone. > > “\*\*Without Tom pushing it, I don’t think we would have had Romneycare,” said Romney, \*\*who helped Stemberg open the first Staples store in the 1980s with the backing of Bain Capital. “ **Without Romneycare, I don’t think we would have Obamacare. So, without Tom a lot of people wouldn’t have health insurance**.” Of course, Governor Romney would never say anything like that on the campaign trail in 2012. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/7 "2017-01-19T02:20:35Z")
Help people. “Get those tables out of here!” :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/8 "2017-01-19T02:24:45Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > An attempt by the Republicans to ridicule a health care very close to one they proposed that was in turn, as the one they might enact, proposed by (gasp!) a Black Democrat. Is this really the forum to discuss how Republicans are racist? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/9 "2017-01-19T02:31:16Z")
The part I find puzzling about it is that the ACA _isn’t_ the plan that Obama was pushing. Obamacare included the public option, which he pushed as opening up to the entire citizenry the (government-provided) health care plan that he and his family got. Which of course got criticized as “Well, I bet that he isn’t going to be using Obamacare!”, despite the fact that he already was. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/10 "2017-01-19T02:45:28Z")
When you are criticizing something, you hardly want to call it “The Affordable \_\_\_\_\_” Affordable is a good word. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/11 "2017-01-19T03:24:09Z")
It’s part of a series of naming policies, pro and con, after the president who proposed them. Reaganomics is a good example. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/12 "2017-01-19T04:11:49Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Because it’s Obama’s health insurance system. It’s a take off “Hilarycare” from the 1990s. Both were meant to be derogatory. Obama has said he rather likes the term, because he does care. I agree with the others that it was meant to be derogatory, whether to make sure ‘when’ it failed it people knew that it was his failure. However, didn’t Reagan float the idea first and if so, was it called Reagancare then? Having said that, and I know this is damage control/owning the statement, Obama has said he likes it. In one of his address to the country he said [paraphrasing] ‘people call it ‘obamacare’ and they’re right Obama Care’s’. If it falls apart it \*might be remembered as his failure. OTOH, if it succeeds, it should forever have his name attached to it…unless the people who meant to make it derogatory suddenly start calling ACA. @boffking, I’m truly not sure where the confusing comes in. It’s an insurance plan created under Obama’s administration, there for Obamacare. It’s also a play on words based on Medicare. ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/13 "2017-01-19T13:33:49Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > @boffking, I’m truly not sure where the confusing comes in. It’s an insurance plan created under Obama’s administration, there for Obamacare. It’s also a play on words based on Medicare. How many other laws created under Obama’s administration his name on them? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/14 "2017-01-19T13:50:03Z")
He had a [fungus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caloplaca_obamae) named after him, that’s kind of close. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/15 "2017-01-19T14:52:12Z")
Yeah, it was intended as a negative and to avoid try to slam something titled ‘Affordable’. Unfortunately for the right, Obama accepted it with grace, pointing out he didn’t mind because he IS Obama and he DOES care! What’s not to be proud of? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/16 "2017-01-19T15:09:43Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > Even Obama himself doesn’t call it Obamacare. I just saw an interview with him where he did call it that. He doesn’t often call it that, but he does accept it. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/17 "2017-01-19T15:37:00Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > Even Obama himself doesn’t call it Obamacare. It is the Affordable Care Act. Actually he does, from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/18 "2017-01-19T15:46:17Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > An attempt by the Republicans to ridicule a health care very close to one they proposed… “The Republicans” never proposes such a thing. It might have been close to something floated by some very small subset of Republicans, but that’s not the same thing. But, as a party, The Republicans did not put that out as a proposed piece of legislation. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/19 "2017-01-19T18:12:20Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > How many other laws created under Obama’s administration his name on them? That’s hardly a fair question. There’s been a few [name]-care nicknames out there, they’re “reserved” for huge insurance programs, not for random ‘laws’. Besides _he_ didn’t put his name on it, other people did. He just embraced it. In fact, just quickly thinking (and no, I don’t want a wiki link to a page of all of them) I don’t know of any laws with presidential names attached to them. Also, don’t forget, Obamacare, isn’t the name, it’s just what someone else called it to make fun of it. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512/20 "2017-01-19T18:59:44Z")
There was a sad but funny thread copied from Facebook that was going around Twitter, where some fellow said he was glad the Republicans got in, so that they could repeal that abomination Obamacare. Someone asked him what he used for health insurance, and he said no problem, he was covered by the ACA. Then a hilarious back and forth ensues until it becomes apparent that he did not realize Obamacare was the ACA. (He thought ACA was introduced to fix Obamacare’s website problems). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-aca-get-the-nickname-obamacare/777512.md?page=2)