Paul Krugman Explains Why Obamacare is a Total Disaster For the Republicans

Paul Krugman of The New York Times pointed out why the increasing ACA numbers are snowballing into a disaster for the Republican Party.

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Krugman wrote on his blog:

The benefits of Obamacare, for all its imperfections, are immense. Millions of people who lived extremely anxious lives now have far more security than before. Compared with those benefits, the complaints of some already insured people that they have less choice of doctors than before, or that they’re no longer allowed to retain minimalist plans, look like whining. (And of course not one of the more serious-sounding stories about soaring premiums and all that has held up under scrutiny.)

And speaking of whining, the GOP response seems to be to make every possible insinuation to the effect that the numbers are somehow fraudulent. I actually don’t think there’s a game plan here; their whole position was premised on the inevitable collapse of health reform, and they have no plan B.

In a couple of paragraphs, Krugman hit on three keys point as to why the GOP’s ACA position is killing them:

1). This law is benefitting millions of people.

2). Republicans can’t mount a rational opposition to the law, so they have been reduced to looking like whiners.

3). The GOP put all of their eggs in the repeal Obamacare basket, and they have no backup plan.

It is amazing that there isn’t a single Republican leader who stopped to ask what do we do if we are wrong and the law works? Republicans had convinced themselves that the law would never ever work despite the fact that the major components of the law were already working in Massachuettes.

There is nothing worse in politics than the perception of being a whiner. The Republican position has weakened to such a degree that they are now arguing against the validity of the sign up numbers. The success of the ACA means that Republicans will find a less receptive electorate willing to hear their message that Obamacare is evil and must be destroyed at all costs.

The infighting within their party has left Republicans unable to agree on an alternative to Obamacare. The reason why House Republicans keep holding votes to repeal the ACA is because getting rid of the law is one of the few things that they all agree on.

The ACA isn’t failing, but the Republican Party is. What looked like a strength heading into November is turning into the anchor that could sink GOP hopes on a Senate takeover in 2014.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association