# So the term "Obamacare" is okay now?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-term-obamacare-is-okay-now/641444>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [November 18, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-term-obamacare-is-okay-now/641444 "2012-11-18T21:53:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 6

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-term-obamacare-is-okay-now/641444/6 "2012-11-18T22:10:59Z")

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> [@Procrustus](#):
>
> yep. A lame, but intentional, insult. I clear indication that you’re listening to an idiot.

It’s also true that Democrats should be better at ignoring that one because it’s the rhetorical equivalent of “I’m not touching you.” But that’s how these things go. Two of the earliest uses of “Obamacare” on this board:

> [@Predict how you will die](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-how-you-will-die/503876/28):
>
> I’ll develop some kind of treatable disease, but due to the lunatic Obamacare I wont get help in time and die languishing in my bed while my children watch in horror.

> [@IYHO: How's Obama doing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-hows-obama-doing/504453/37):
>
> I think he’s doing great, since he’s failing miserably to get Obamacare and cap’n’fap passed.

Although not every usage was derogatory and gradually it caught on in more neutral contexts for lack of an alternative. Initially the term made for comparisons to the unpopular and unsuccessful “Hillarycare” proposal of the early '90s. PPACA isn’t catchy or pronounceable, and I didn’t see ACA used regularly until more recently. Eventually I think Obamacare will probably fade away as a term. The law is here to stay and opinions of it have become more positive, and eventually Republicans probably won’t want Obama and the Democrats to get all the credit for it.

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