Wonkbook: This quote shows why Obamacare is here to stay (Wisconsin's Ron Johnson surrenders)

The Washington Post's Wonkblog ^ | December 27, 2013 | Ezra Klein and Evan Soltas

[2ndDivisionVet]

Sen. Ron Johnson, a tea party Republican from Wisconsin, knows that the politics of Obamacare are changing.

“It’s no longer just a piece of paper that you can repeal and it goes away,” he told the New York Times. “There’s something there. We have to recognize that reality. We have to deal with the people that are currently covered under Obamacare.”

Jan. 1 isn't likely to be a glitch-free day for Obamacare. There will be people who try to use their insurance and find they can't, or it's not the plan they meant to buy, or it's not a plan that covers their doctor. But those problems will, eventually, be solved. And their wake will be a game-changing reality: At least 2 million people will have health insurance through Obamacare's exchanges, and more than 4 million people will have health insurance through the law's Medicaid expansion.

The GOP's campaign against Obamacare has been most effective when Republicans could claim, reasonably or not, that the law was taking something away from people: Canceling their plans, or penalizing them for going without insurance, or changing their doctor. But by the end of March, it's likely that at least 8 million to 10 million people will be getting insurance through Obamacare.....

[GeronL]

The whole GOPe has surrendered on this

[marron]

Sen. Ron Johnson says “I don’t plan to repeal Obamacare”.

Thanks for the information.

[IbJensen]

Johnson is yet another problem with this screwed up central socialist government!

[Secret Agent Man]

Ron was a tea party guy.

WAS.

Dead to me, now.

[KarlInOhio]

With leaders like this we would have signed the surrender to the Japanese in the smoking ruins of Pearl Harbor on December 8, 1941.

We've lost one battle. Now it is time for the Republicans to put on their big boy pants and really start fighting... or else put one their plaid onesies so we know who to primary out at the first chance.

[Doogle]

Johnson is a mumbling Rino....McWuss lite

[plangent]

Dear Senator: You ain’t covered until you have that insurance card in your hot little hands.

Just showing up at the doctor’s office or the hospital with a smile on your face and a screenshot of your application won’t cut it.

And until the insurance company has your money in hand, you ain’t getting an insurance card. Strange that the insurance companies aren’t putting out numbers on cards sent out.

My bet is that it will take months to sort out this mess. In the meantime, consider repeal as a viable option.

[marron]

I’ve been saying, go sign up for Obamacare and then go to the polls and vote. You’ll know what to do.

If you love it, you’ll elect Obama for his third term with a landslide; if you don’t, you’ll elect someone who is going to get rid of it.

But that’s only true if the GOP actually campaigns against it. But so far the GOP is running scared and refusing to actually oppose this thing even though almost everyone hates it. Its one thing to be afraid to oppose something on principle that people favor; its inexplicable to fear to oppose something people hate in line with your supposed principles.

[Pox]

He is unfortunately correct, whether Freepers wish to admit it or stay in denial. The ballot box won't suffice to repeal this monstrosity. There are perhaps two different ways to rid ourselves of this filth, and really only likely one, but as I've already put my belief out there on how to get rid of it now that it's here, I won't bother to repeat myself.

[Black Agnes]

Wonder how connected his statement and the NSA ruling today really are.

Hmmm...

[2ndDivisionVet]

A “divorce” would get rid of it, at least in our new country.

[silverleaf]

“We have to deal with the people that are currently covered under Obamacare.”

Ron, you mean...like, the people who are on MEDICAID?

Funny, I thought we were dealing with them. I don’t remember the poor being turned away from hospitals, fine medical care and dying in the streets or quietly at home. Guess that’s now for the uninsured or newly impoverished middle classes

[Pox]

I doubt the parasites will let go of their hosts so easily, but it's a longshot that may be inevitable.

[2ndDivisionVet]

We have the guns.

[smokingfrog]

Looks like somebody exchanged their Gadsten flag for a white flag.

Screw you! Is all I have to say.

Expansion of Medicade was probably going to happen anyway, to some extent, but now it’s becoming just another entitlement program.

[Paladin2]

Johnson has turned into a ‘RatLite weenie.

[Pox]

We may have more, but many on the left also are armed and put into the right situation will use them. If it comes to that, it will be a bloodbath that will make the first civil war look like a minor spat, IMO.

[Cboldt]

It’s just another form of welfare, and NO welfare program can be repealed.

[entropy12]

As more and more people become dependent on government handouts, the socialists will keep winning elections. If that is what Senator Johnson is saying, then it makes sense.

That is why next two elections are extremely critical. If both are lost to socialists, then this country is done, finito. It will not recover for 40 more years at the earliest.