The Democratic Party is making sure that no matter who emerges as its 2016 presidential nominee, that President Obama’s namesake Obamacare becomes the rallying cry against the Republicans.
In four separate emails sent out since Friday, the Democratic National Committee has called on supporters to rally around the president’s health insurance reform program and condemn the slate of Republicans running for president that have blasted the initiative.
“Commit to protecting Obamacare,” read one celebrating the five-year anniversary of the program.
“Say thanks for Obamacare,” said a second that showed the president signing the Affordable Care Act.
“Stand with Obamacare,” added a third which included quotes of criticism from Republicans.
And a fourth offered a $10 “I (heart) Obamacare” magnet for supporters to show their support with.
It wasn’t long ago that the White House and Democratic Party bristled when reporters referred to the ACA as “Obamacare,” but the president and his party have embraced it, especially as they see millions of Americans — either eager for insurance or forced to get it due to penalties in the act — buy into Obamacare.
While Republicans are offering changes to Obamacare, the likely 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has in the past embraced the health system.
In fact, she told PBS that if she had been a 2014 midterm candidate she would have run on Obamacare.
AP Photo
“If I were a Democrat running for re-election in 2014, I would be posing a very stark choice to the voters of my district, or my state,” Clinton told PBS. “If you want us to go back to the time when your sister with diabetes, or your husband with his heart condition, couldn’t get insurance at an affordable rate, then don’t vote for me, because I think it’s great that your sister and your husband now have insurance,” she said in an interview with PBS NewsHour’s Gwen Ifill.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
