Mary Thompson with her daughter Emily, 11, who had not been covered by her parents' insurance because of pre-existing conditions.
The NYT notes (with some articles): "On Thursday, the six-month anniversary of the signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a number of its most central consumer protections take effect, just in time for the midterm elections." C-SPAN had coverage of an event involving President Obama making mention of this fact (calling it the "Affordable Care Act," though some find it so hard to think of a name other than "Obamacare"*).
It's amazing really. Don't the Democrats have nothing to run on, other than fear of Republicans? Glenn Greenwald? He annoyed me recently via a neat trick: both finding a way to criticize Obama in the midst of comments promoting Democratic accomplishments (he ended with a dig at critics who are upset the Dems don't do enough, which GG targeted) and scorning their fear mongering of Republicans. As I noted in comments, Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand sent out her first campaign commercial, which focuses on her attempts at transparency. I doubt she is alone here. The fact Democrats aren't doing enough is not reason to stereotype like this.
One article notes that insurance companies have a long road to travel in handling the new law. The fact that some fear the extended benefits will not be profitable is a telling point. The fact that certain things, such as medical care for children, is not profitable in dollars and cents is not necessarily reason to deny it. Many leading Western countries realize this fact in their health care policies. One day, maybe we will in a more complete way. As of now, the law seriously expanded protections for those in need. Republicans want to repeal this:
Under the new law, insurers that offer child-only policies must start covering all children, even the seriously ill, beginning on Thursday. Insurers must also begin offering free preventive services, and for the first time, their premiums must start passing muster with federal and state regulators by the end of the year.
Obama also referenced the ability of parents to keep their children on their plans into their twenties, a reflection of modern realities regarding post-graduate children often not leaving home. Obama and hopefully other Democrats (except for a few blue dogs -- who were shown on a striking special report on Keith last night on the true nature of "small business" to be hypocrites on tax policy, claiming to be fiscal hawks but supporting tax breaks for the rich which will add to the deficit -- who campaigning on their opposition) are reminding people about these things. Republicans didn't seriously work with Democrats to protect the good and challenge the bad. They just said "no."
[Update: Republicans -- as Rachel Maddow noted earlier tonight -- actually put various aspects of the health plan in their platform. So, apparently, they don't just want to repeal the whole thing.]
Both for that and the (flawed) good offered by the Democrats, the choice in November is obvious. Like Bill Maher told Larry King, sure Obama has his problems, but he was given a mess, and the fact it wasn't clean after two years shouldn't mean we should give power to the group with a bigger part in making it. Some find this "negative" reasoning unsatisfying. I find that a bit curious, as if not getting hurt is a bad reason to cite for avoiding touching hot stoves. But, fine. The Democrats also did good things. If you want to pressure them to do more, go right ahead.
Good luck if you vote in their opposition. BTW, I love how people who think Democrats threaten their "liberty" want to vote for people who will only do so more. Of course, often that is but a line they used. It is certain policy issues that really concern them.
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* Some over at Volokh Conspiracy like to use "Obamacare," though some have called them on it. The basic complaint is that it is a cheap political laden label that isn't even that accurate. It is more a baby of the U.S. Senate.
"Reaganomics" is a rough expression of an economic scheme truly associated with the Reagan Administration. This legislation is not similarly basic to the Obama Administration, nor did it have primary control over its basic terms, though yes, as with other legislation, it had some influence.