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This Election Just Became About Obamacare
The Weekly Standard ^ | June 28, 2012 | Jeffrey H. Anderson

Posted on 06/28/2012 11:26:57 AM PDT by Tarantulas

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the constitutionality of Obamacare, the principal choice now facing Americans on November 6 will be whether to keep Obamacare or to repeal it. The question is a binary one, and the answer — expressed almost entirely through their presidential vote — will go a long way toward determining the future course of this great nation.

Yes, the economy is extremely important; and, yes, Obamacare is hurting the economy. But the reason why this election is the most important since the Civil War is not because Mitt Romney would make a far better steward of the economy than President Obama (though he would). Rather, it’s because we are about to decide whether to put what will soon be one-fifth of our economy under the control of the federal government; whether to funnel previously unthinkable amounts of power and money to Washington; and whether this nation conceived in liberty will continue to prioritize liberty.

It is understandable why President Obama has no interest in framing this election as a referendum on Obamacare. His party already suffered perhaps its worst defeat since the 19th century thanks to his centerpiece legislation. With the Supreme Court’s ruling now behind him, he will have even less incentive to remind voters about Obamacare going forward. As far as he’s concerned, the less the American people think about it, the better.

This means, of course, that the more they think about it, the better it will be for Mitt Romney. It also means (of course) that Romney should encourage them to think about it, reminding them at every turn that this election isn’t merely — or even principally — about the economy; that it’s about something bigger; that we need to repeal Obamacare and replace it with real reform. And he should convey to them what real reform would look like, thereby bringing into the fold those independents who don’t want to go back to the pre-Obamacare status quo. He should start playing to win people’s votes, instead of merely trying not to lose them.

Yes, the fate of Obamacare will be the most important outcome of this election. On some level, the American people know this. There’s a reason why Romney gets standing ovations simply for mentioning repeal.

The question is whether either candidate will convey that he knows what this election is really about. Obama can’t say it’s about Obamacare — even though that’s what he considers it to be about — because he’ll lose if he does. Romney so far hasn’t said it’s about Obamacare — perhaps because that’s not what he considers it to be about — even though he’ll likely win if he does.

Regardless, the Court has cleared the field. The stakes are historic. The citizenry will decide.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: election; obama; obamacare; scotus
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To: newzjunkey
Like the RINO he is he has no credibility as you said - he sees the bill as salvageable, and likely will NOT repeal it.
61 posted on 06/28/2012 4:25:06 PM PDT by Sam Gamgee (May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. - Patton)
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To: rogue yam
We have good reason to hate TARP loving faux conservatives.
62 posted on 06/28/2012 4:26:42 PM PDT by Sam Gamgee (May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. - Patton)
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To: Sam Gamgee

You have no good reason for supporting Obama and Obamacare.


63 posted on 06/28/2012 4:56:58 PM PDT by rogue yam
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To: Tarantulas

I can’t say I will vote for mitt now, There is no point, with a dead constitution and no prospect of revial there is no point.

We are screwed and either we plug ourselves into revolution or we and our children will be slaves to a lawless “federal government”!

Anyone foolish enough to think the left cares what John Roberts calls Obamacares individual mandate is living in lala land.


64 posted on 06/28/2012 5:11:21 PM PDT by Monorprise
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To: Tublecane

““John Roberts just won the election for Romney.”

At what price?”

John Roberts did not win anything, he lost us the Constitution. We are now in his judgement subject to a despotically boundless federal governed!

The left Loves this fact, and will not give a RATS ASS what John Roberts says about their beloved Obama’s individual mandate being a tax. How could they? Hes a “conservative”, and we conservative don’t even believe him!

There is no election issues except the desperate scram to win a mere battle in a war that is as of today lost!


65 posted on 06/28/2012 5:17:59 PM PDT by Monorprise
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To: Tarantulas; Lurking Libertarian; JDW11235; Clairity; TheOldLady; Spacetrucker; Art in Idaho; ...

FReepmail me to subscribe to or unsubscribe from the SCOTUS ping list.

66 posted on 06/29/2012 10:48:02 AM PDT by BuckeyeTexan (Man is not free unless government is limited. ~Ronald Reagan)
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