I agree this has been the left's strategy all along, Obama even came right out and said how much he preferred single payer i.e. all out socialized medicine. I hope the loyal opposition has a well thought out alternative for a counter move, but my sense is that the pubbie leadership has been pretty much onboard with obamacare from the start.
***
Yes, the Republicans want Obamacare. It represents power. No politician of either party can resist power. If the Republicans really didn't want Obamacare, they would have found a way to get rid of it by now...like maybe defund it? You know that won't happen.