JONATHAN CHAIT FEBRUARY 9, 2011
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Jonathan Cohn argues why he likes the term "Obamacare":
As you may have noticed, opponents of law love to use it and supporters don't. And it's safe to assume those opponents don't mean it as a compliment.
It's not just that they want to tie the law, which they hate, to President Obama. It's that they want to reinforce the idea that it's something Obama, and the Democrats, crammed down the throats of the American people....
I like the term. I think this bill will be popular someday and, in the meantime, I think it's a reminder that this administration did something that will help millions of Americans while starting to put our health care system in order. Maybe I'm wrong--I've certainly been wrong about this before--but I think that within a few years, and maybe even by 2012, association with the health care plan will be a net plus.
In fact, my only objection to the term is that it's not entirely accurate.
Well, accuracy is the hang-up -- and, being a journalist, I want to use the most accurate term. We don't call Medicare "Johnsoncare," though it would have been to the Democrats' long-term advantage to do so. I think "Obamacare" works to help Republicans define the Affordable Care Act as a partisan hate object. I suspect they also thought, or still think, that it would bring down the measure's popularity. But of course, they're identifying it with a president who's fairly popular and more popular than either the Republicans in Congress or the Republicans who plan to run against him in 2012:
Poll
Obama Favor.
GOP Favor.
Obama Unfavor.
GOP Unfavor.
CBS/NYT
49
40
39
49
NBC/WSJ
52
51
32
40
Gallup
49
47
42
43
So calling it "Obamacare" is pretty good branding. Still, I think accuracy argues for using the law's real name.
6 comments
I am with you, Jonathan. I loathe this term.
- liberalref
February 9, 2011 at 1:25pm
On a different tack: why no blogging about the Patriot Act renewal vote yesterday?
- tnmats
February 9, 2011 at 1:35pm
I call it "Obamacare" from time to time, trying to divorce the term from its anti-Obama roots and point out the good aspects of the bill. For one thing, there's no reason to fight about what you call it, when what's GOOD about it is teenagers getting health-care and no more denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions.
- AllanL5
February 9, 2011 at 2:02pm
- The durability of the the term as a pejorative for the opposition will hinge on the SCOTUS decision. If it is upheld, and as popular provisions are embraced Republicans won't be reminding future voters how and why they were on the wrong side of history. Sure, a small fringe still chokes to say The Civil War or speak of The New Deal as a success. But there is a good chance the GOP will regret their decision to brand the legislation so the other guy from the other party gets credit. From the Edsel to Apple, the public is the only jury that matters and Republicans may be foot shooting and not know it.
- michaelg
February 9, 2011 at 3:43pm
Don't worry Michael, the Republicans have revisionism and epistemic closure on their side; there's nothing that can say or do today that they can't say they never said or did tomorrow, regardless of the amount of evidence to the contrary. Throw is some creative writing assignments regarding why it was Obama's fault that they had to vote against the bill which will get lobbed over the epistemic closure fence into the MSM narrative, and everything will be back to normal before it ever gets out of control.
- GSpinks
February 9, 2011 at 5:02pm
Well the Affordable Care Act, isn't. So the official name isn't exactly a winner as our premiums and copays increase every year and corporate America walks away from health care. Obama now owns health care for better or worse. I can't see the States paying for this program and doubt the courts will uphold it. A year or two from now the SCOTUS knocks down the individual mandate and the states Health Exchanges. Bouncing Obamacare back to the House & Senate for clarification on the taxes and benefits now that the law has been carved up. The President will be trying to run and defend Obamacare at the same time. Just a little piece of advice, If Jon Cohn thinks it's a great idea, it's not.
- CRS9TNR
February 9, 2011 at 9:24pm