Republicans Prepare To Exploit ‘Obamacare’ Stumbles In 2014
GOP leaders are framing a narrative about the health law they believe will position their party for victories in the 2014 midterm elections. Democrats say that voters will have a real program to judge by then and will see Republicans as obstructionist.
The Washington Post: GOP Stoking Fire Of IRS Scandal With Eye Toward 2014
Republicans have been trying to take advantage of the Internal Revenue Service’s politically toxic targeting scandal to better position their party for the 2014 midterm elections. And one big area of focus is President Obama’s new health-care law. ... The House GOP’s campaign committee this week launched ads against a handful of House Democrats seen as most vulnerable in 2014. The National Republican Campaign Committee on Tuesday sent mobile billboards cruising through the districts of House Democrats Ann Kirkpatrick (Ariz.), Ron Barber (Ariz.), John Barrow (Ga.) and Collin C. Peterson (Minn.). The ads, scheduled to appear for just one day, claim that the Democrats in question plan to: “Put the IRS in charge of your healthcare” (Hicks, 5/28).
The Associated Press: Republicans See 'Obamacare' Debacle As Key To 2014
If Republicans were writing a movie script for next year's congressional elections, the working title might be "2014: Apocalypse of Obamacare." The plot: The rollout of President Barack Obama's health care law turns into such a disaster that enraged voters rebuke him by rewarding the GOP with undisputed control of Congress. But there's a risk for Republicans if they're wrong and the Affordable Care Act works reasonably well, particularly in states that have embraced it. Republicans might be seen as obstinately standing in the way of progress (Alonso-Zaldivar, 5/28).