Ten GOP Strategies Using Obamacare for Target Practice

Be sure you positively identify your target before you pull the trigger.

Tom Flynn, American author (born 1955), Editor of Free Inquiry magazine

The main target for the next years should be growth and job creation.

Mariano Rajoy (born 1955), Prime Minister of Spain

How can Republicans block, delay, or repeal Obamacare?   That is the burning question of the day.  No one, to my knowledge, has a single answer, other than dramatic defunding and shutdown of the government.  But this is a risky political strategy, for the GOP is likely to be blamed.

Here are ten strategies suggested by Sarah Kliff, who writes a regular column for the Washington Post on health reform issues and GOP House Speaker, John Boehner, who yesterday used the term “targeted strategies” in a closed door meeting with Republican leaders.

From Sarah Kliff comes these 5 ideas (“How Republicans Could Actually Derail Obamacare,” Washington Post, July 31, 2013

1.       Lobby hard against Medicaid expansion.

2.      Convince young healthy people not to sign up for the law's subsidies, and do a drive with the old and sick.

3.      Chip away law piece by piece.

4.      Elect a new president in 2016, preferably one who opposes Obamacare

5.      Set expectations high for Obamacare’s rollout.  Like really, really high

From John Boehner (“Boehner Lays Out ‘Targeted Strikes’ Strategy on Obamacare,” Roll Call, July 31, 2013)

1.       Get IRS ourtof Obamacare.

2.      Protect taxpayers, require verification of subsidies

3.      Stop IPAB, Obamacare’s rationing board

4.      Get rid of Obamacare slush funds.

5.      Continue to have targeted, regular votes through fall.

 

The main strategy, it strikes  me, would be to emphasize Obamacare as an impediment to economic growth and job creation. Full-time jobs are what Americans want and where Obama is most vulnerable.  Reality -lack of jobs and economic growth - tends to be immune to rhetoric.

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