I’ve been running this question through my head since this was plan was first announced, and I just can’t think of an answer.
At first glance, it appears that almost everyone hates it. Democrats hate it for obvious reasons. Some Republicans hate it for being “Obamacare-lite”. Constituents have voiced their opposition to ACA repeal at town halls.The AMA, AARP, and AHA have all come out against it, and I’m sure there are many more groups I’m forgetting. I’m sure many Republican donors like it, but I don’t think there are enough of them to protect the GOP from a voter revolt.
Worst of all for them, the Republicans basically have complete power and can blame no one for the potential fallout of this bill but themselves. So why push it with such vigor? I welcome all answers.
Town halls are not representative. If people were substantially opposed to ACA repeal they wouldn’t have elected a Republican controlled House and Senate and Trump.
Most people didn’t. Most people of voting age voted Clinton, or not at all. Or possibly these are Trump supporters who want to keep their insurance but voted R for other reasons, such as a desire to see prisoners tortured and their families murdered or some other family value.
Their endgame was to continue passing fake repeals against Hillary and hoping people forgot about it after 8 more years of that. This is their “oh shit we actually have to do something now” game.
I think it’s crystal clear that their endgame is for the rich to get as rich as they possibly can, and for old, sick, poor, and disabled people to stop being so much trouble and die already. Preferably BEFORE they have any expensive medical procedures or nursing home care. This goes for sick babies, too. Unwanted babies who are born because of no affordable birth control or abortions-- well, they’re no problem, as long as they die AFTER they’re born. Dying before they’re born-- BIG no-no. That must be prevented no matter what!
My guess is that their endgame is show they did everything they could, blame Democrats and big money on their failure to pass anything, then either 1) blame Obama and Democrats if the ACA goes tits-up, or 2) hope people forget about where the good stuff in the ACA came from and eventually take credit for it.
The worst thing that could happen for them right now is if this abomination actually gets passed.
I didn’t say they wouldn’t try to blame Dems, I just saying that wouldn’t work because dems don’t have the votes to block this if the Republicans want it. Therefore they can’t be logically blamed.
**What is the GOP’s endgame with the American Healthcare Act? **
Make changes. Any changes - it does not really matter what, so long as there is no interruption to the sweet, sweet profits that private companies currently peel off of the top of health spending.
Convince everyone that things are so much better now. Ignore actual statistics or figures. Call them “fake”. Call anyone who suffers under the new plan a “hater”.
If worse comes to worse, and the people realize that they’ve been screwed, blame the whole clusterfuck on Obama. Accuse him of wrecking healthcare. Attack anyone who says otherwise.
Because they are reasonably confident that they can bullshit their way through, and blame all of the fuckups on someone else. Their voters will eat it up with a spoon - they have been conditioned to blame others for everything bad in their lives. If they don’t blame Obama, they’ll blame immigrants for making their healthcare suck.
I’m not sure the R SOP will work all that well when it comes to the senior vote. AARP has come out pretty strongly in opposition to the act, and they are a pretty powerful lobby that is well trusted by members.