"Thank Goodness for Obamacare," Part II

By Baxter

Once again, thanks to the incompetence of the Obama Administration, we cats are forced to remind people of the benefits of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Sheesh. Of course, even if our side had mounted a far-reaching, effective communications campaign the moment the President signed the law, the Republicans would still be running disgusting ads like this. (They've sunk too low for any more surprises.) But there's no excuse for polls showing that people don't understand the good stuff healthcare reform is giving them. A "D-minus" grade to you, Organizing for Action!

Congressional Republicans, however, understand exactly what the ACA will do: Millions of Americans are about to get health coverage and have their lives change for the better. In the GOP playbook, that cannot be allowed to happen. So the clown car is careening out of control.

Unfortunately, though, all the chaos also means that anti-Obamacare Republicans aren't getting the tough questions that they should.

For example, Ken "I Hate Obamacare But I Also Want Government to Dictate Healthcare Decisions to Women and their Doctors" Cuccinelli, running for Governor in Virginia, was the first state attorney general to try to sue to stop healthcare reform. (He lost in the Supreme Court.) Cootchy did, however, just win a tainted endorsement from the Northern Virginia Technology Council's PAC. We cats are wondering why he's not getting questions like this:

• Mr. Cucinnelli, do you know what percentage of Northern Virginia technology workers are under the age of 26?
• Do you know how many of those under-26 workers are now covered under their parents' health insurance — thanks to Obamacare?
• Do you know what percentage of Northern Virginia technology workers have pre-existing medical conditions? Why do you think they should be denied the health insurance that Obamacare provides them?
• Do you know what percentage of Northern Virginia technology workers are women of childbearing age? Why do you think it should be the policy of state and federal governments to interfere in their private healthcare decisions?
• Why should tech companies move their businesses to Northern Virginia if they can't promise their employees unfettered access to the full range of health services and healthcare coverage?

Sigh. In a world infested with teabaggery, it's often easy for issues to get lost in the noise. Just remember this: On October 1, no matter what the clowns on Capitol Hill do, Americans without health insurance will be able to sign up for it. We cats PURR.