WASHINGTON (AP) – As Republicans gather to anoint their presidential ticket in Cleveland, uncompromising opposition to “Obamacare” is getting politically riskier.
Few people were covered under President Barack Obama’s health care law when the GOP held its last convention in 2012. Now, Donald Trump’s plan to replace the program would make 18 million people uninsured, according to a recent nonpartisan analysis.
Reviled as it may be, Obama’s law has changed the nation in ways that many may not want reversed. It means people don’t have to worry about being denied coverage due to medical problems, or fear policies that max out while a patient is undergoing chemotherapy. Millions who couldn’t afford health insurance now have financial help.
Capturing the White House would finally let Republicans make good on their vow “repeal and replace” the health care law. But ripping apart the social safety net would be politically self-defeating, a new dilemma for the GOP.
“I don’t think they can credibly do ‘repeal’ until they have a solid legislative proposal to replace it,” said Lanhee Chen, policy director for the 2012 Mitt Romney presidential campaign. “Politically, you can’t really do ‘repeal’ without the ‘replace’ coming in right behind it.”