DOUBLING DOWN ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT…. There are more than a few issues dominating the public discourse right now, but with an eye on the midterm elections, a new push is getting underway today to promote the merit of Democrats’ new health care reform law.
And as part of the effort, this 60-second ad will begin running this week on cable television, touting not only the new law, but blasting Republican efforts to repeal popular provisions. (Also note, the DNC’s ad refers to the new law as the “Affordable Care Act.” I credit Yglesias.)
Democratic officials have been saying for months that they see no reason to be embarrassed about delivering this historic victory, and the party now appears to taking concerted steps to boost the popularity of their success.
Dems even seem to be approaching this with some swagger. “Oh how the worm has turned,” said DNC communications director Brad Woodhouse. “A majority of Americans want to give the law a chance, benefits are rolling to young people, seniors and small businesses and in the only race general election style race so far where the Republican ran on repeal, the special in PA12, he lost … overwhelmingly.”
This push also coincides with new rebate checks that will be sent to about 4 million American seniors who fall into the Medicare prescription drug “donut hole” coverage gap. The $250 checks start going out today — slightly ahead of schedule, no less.
What’s more, Christina Bellantoni reports that the DNC’s Organizing for America is hosting a series of events to help promote the new health care benefits that are already kicking in.
The timing may not be ideal — the national focus seems to be far more on energy and environmental policy right now — but the push may help give a boost to the law’s popularity, which would in turn improve Democratic candidates’ standing in advance of the miterms.
