GOP plan to obliterate Obamacare implodes
The Republicans’ seven-year pledge to dump Obamacare was just a non-core promise.
Cameron Stewart reports on the untimely death of Trumpcare. The Australian website, Saturday:
The withdrawal of the bill to repeal Obamacare is the biggest blow yet to Donald Trump’s presidency ... If he sticks by his threat yesterday to keep Obama’s Affordable Care Act in place if the repeal bill was not passed, then one of his signature campaign pledges will never be realised. That failure will weigh down his presidency.
Trump’s grand vizier, Steve Bannon, didn’t help. Axios, yesterday:
Steve Bannon: Guys, look. This is not a discussion, this is not a debate. You have no choice but to vote for this bill.
One of the members (of congress) replied: You know, the last time someone ordered me to do something, I was 18 years old. And it was my daddy. And I didn’t listen to him either.
But President Trump isn’t too bothered, The White House, Friday:
I never said “repeal and replace Obamacare”.
Wait, what? He never said “repeal and replace”? Trump on Twitter, February 15:
Obamacare continues to fail. Humana (a health insurer) to pull out in 2018. Will repeal, replace & save healthcare for ALL Americans.
Don, mate, you promised to repeal and replace Obamacare all the time. Trump on Twitter, November 3 last year:
ObamaCare is a total disaster. Hillary Clinton wants to save it by making it even more expensive. Doesn’t work, I will REPEAL AND REPLACE!
Trump’s acceptance speech at the GOP national convention, Cleveland, July 21 last year:
We will repeal and replace disastrous Obamacare. You will be able to choose your own doctor again.
Wait ... calm your farm ... he just said he wouldn’t do it right now. Trump in the White House, continued:
I never said “repeal it and replace it within 64 days”.
Trump’s absolutely right ... he promised to do it in one day. The Washington Post, yesterday:
... he pledged to demand a repeal on Day One — even if it took a special session of Congress to make it happen.
Trump’s website, March 3 last year:
On day one of the Trump Administration, we will ask Congress to immediately deliver a full repeal of Obamacare.
Life comes at you fast, Donald. Las Vegas rally, February 22 last year:
Obamacare is going to be repealed and replaced … You’re going to end up with great healthcare for a fraction of the price and that’s gonna take place immediately after we go in. OK? Immediately. Fast. Quick.
Things are bad for Trump but he’s doing a lot better than Paul Ryan. Fox News host and Trump loyalist Judge Jeanine yesterday:
Paul Ryan needs to step down as Speaker of the House.
Trump endorsing the judge’s message? Twitter, yesterday:
Watch @JudgeJeanine on @FoxNews tonight at 9:00 P.M.
Speaker Ryan writing in The Wall Street Journal, March 22:
Repeal of ObamaCare must happen, and urgently ...
A week really is a long time in politics. Speaker Ryan on Capitol Hill, Friday:
Obamacare is the law of the land ... for the foreseeable future.