Cathy McMorris Rodgers & ObamaCare
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash used her GOP clout to fish for ObamaCare horror stories, but came up with success stories instead.
She dismissed the positive comments by telling her fellow Spokanites in The Spokesman-Review of Spokane, Washington, (paraphrasing) “the comments were only referring to the good parts of ObamaCare that there is bipartisan support for like young adults staying on their plan until 26”.
However, this statement is misleading. The GOP has consistently called for a “full repeal” leading the conversation away from the idea of bipartisan support and instead focusing on a negative message (although here in 2016 Cathy, Ryan, and the GOP now have their Better Way Plan).
The problem, as expressed by the comments and Rodgers’ reaction, is that the national GOP-led conversation has come to focus on negative feelings pertaining to costs and mandate, while the actual sentiment felt toward many of the ACA’s provisions is neutral or positive.
For the 1 in 2 Americans who were considered to have a preexisting condition under the law, or the millions who were helped by Medicaid expansion, or many others helped by the law ObamaCare hasn’t been a horror story, it has been a blessing.
Here is the real Cathy McMorris Rodgers.The problem with Cathy’s stance isn’t that she pointed out the good the law has done, or sought to connect with those who are rightfully frustrated by its sticking points, it is that she has stood lock-step with the GOP in repealing 100% of ObamaCare since day one.
The full repeal talking point is easy to repeat, but it fails to properly address the needs of those who are benefiting from the law and overplays the fears and worries of those who frankly have yet to read its 1,000 pages.
In terms of Eastern Washington, this includes real people who depend on the law, but otherwise couldn’t care much about politics in the other Washington.
Suffice to say, Cathy McMorris Rodgers has been calling for a repeal… and that language clearly suggests repealing things like the young adults on their plan until 26 rule along with the rest of the law. But this isn’t just a Cathy thing, this is a GOP thing. All the GOP ObamaCare alternatives in the past of gutted the sub-26 rule, the mandate, subsidies, and all the parts that work to support popular provisions like no more preexisting conditions (and this i still somewhat frustratingly true for the Better Way plan).
Simply, while Cathy and her Republican base are not alone in their frustrations, but they should not assume that the tens of millions helped by the law would share their sentiment. This is especially in Eastern Washington which as an awesome network of hospitals and providers succeeding under the ACA, and where the ACA is helping to cover Washington’s uninsured (the uninsured rate dropped by 8.65% after open enrollment 2014 to less than 9% total in the state and must be considerably lower now).
“While the debate over health care continues, I want you to know one thing: your access to quality and affordable health care matters to me,” she wrote. “So I will continue to advance solutions that improve the quality of your care — no matter where you live, how much money you make, or what challenges you face. Your health care is not political — it is personal. And I will continue to fight to make it better.” – Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a study in BS political rhetoric.
According to VOX on March 26, 2015:
Cathy McMorris Rodgers, chair of the House GOP conference, took to Facebook to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Affordable Care Act by asking to hear real-life horror stories from real people.
This week marks the 5th anniversary of #Obamacare being signed into law. Whether it’s turned your tax filing into a nightmare, you’re facing skyrocketing premiums, or your employer has reduced your work hours, I want to hear about it.
Please share your story with me so that I can better understand the challenges you’re facing: http://mcmorris.house.gov/
your-story/
Instead she got this:
From Seattle PI
Press releases from McMorris Rodgers’ office speak — uniformly — about how each of her actions help the people of Eastern Washington.
Yet, the congresswoman represents a district with higher-than-national average unemployment, a greater percentage of people receiving food stamps and income levels lower than the national average.
She votes and argues the party line, however, and has what pundits describe as a “safe” seat.
On Thursday, however, there was a rare show of defiance from those Eastern Washington constituents.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers debating Joe Pakootas. She has won past elections against him, but do you really think she won this debate? Your call.