Yes, Democrats can play that game. Trouble is, there will be companies that don’t comply with the plan.
http://nypost.com/2013/11/05/the-obamacare-speech-he-never-gave/
From the link - the speech Obama should have given:
Republicans are out there scaring folks, and saying that theyll lose their insurance. [Boos, jeers.] No, no hey, just because they dont care about people doesnt mean they are wrong about everything. [Laughter, applause.]
And theyre right about this. Some folks are going to lose their insurance. Millions of them, in fact.
Let me be clear: Just because you have insurance you like, doesnt mean you can keep it. If it doesnt meet the new federal standards, your plan is going to get canceled. I guarantee it.
Some of my political advisers say, Hey, you cant go out and tell people that, Obama. It doesnt test well. People hate it in the polls.
And you know what I told them? I . . . dont . . . care . . . about . . . the polls. [Applause]
I said: Thats the old politics. Thats whats wrong with Washington, DC, right there. If you think Im going to go out and lie about my plan, youve got the wrong guy. What did you think hope and change were all about? [Laughter, applause.]
So, yeah, some of you are going to lose your insurance. Now, because of the marketplace well set up, youre going to go online and shop for new insurance. Some of you are going to get a better deal. If you dont make much money, youre going to get help from the government. [Cheers.]
But let me be clear again and Axelrod hates this part [Laughter] many of you are going to pay more than you did before. Maybe double. Because all of these new regulations cost money. You dont believe in a free lunch, do you? [Confused murmurs.]
What were proposing is to get young, healthy people onto the exchanges so they can subsidize everyone else, by buying coverage they dont want or need at a price that is higher than before. Why would they do that, you ask? [Faint laughter.] Thats what the individual mandate is all about. Weve got to force them.