As the image above shows, there are millions of Americans now covered with health insurance that could not afford it in the past -- and the health exchanges have opened again to help even more Americans get covered. Which makes me think the right-wing Republicans, in their zeal to play to their teabagger base and try to hurt the president, may be in the process of committing political suicide.
All the races in this year's election weren't even decided before they once again started talking about trying to repeal Obamacare -- either in its entirety, or a piece at a time. Either way, what are are really talking about is taking health insurance away from millions of Americans (people who could not afford to buy health insurance without the subsidy provided by Obamacare).
And these are not just Democrats. Many are Independents, and even Republicans -- but if they lose the insurance because of the Republicans, they could easily be Democratic voters in 2016. The Republicans are already in enough trouble for the next presidential election -- and they certainly don't need millions of angry voters when it comes around.
Some right-wingers are putting their hope for destroying Obamacare on the Supreme Court -- which has accepted a case on whether it is legal for the federal exchange to give subsidies to consumers that need it. That is a foolish notion though -- because if the court did decide in their favor, it would just put pressure on the Republican Congress to fix Obamacare (so the subsidies can be given), or it would put pressure on Republican state governments to create an exchange (or declare the federal exchange as their "state exchange").
Whether the Republicans realize it right now or not, this is a dilemma for them. Those millions of Americans who need subsidies are not going to be happy if they lose them (and must give up their insurance) -- and the giant insurance companies aren't going to be happy either (because they are making a mint from Obamacare). If the Republicans can't figure out a way to get their teabagger base to accept Obamacare, and quietly let it exist, they are going to be in a lot of trouble. And that will just get worse, since the exchanges are open again and even more people are getting insurance.
If they thought most of the people who now are covered are unhappy with their coverage, then they'd better take a look at this new Gallup Poll (done between October 22nd and November 12th of a random national sample of 10,647 adults, with a margin of error of 1 point). The results are shown in the charts below. Note that those who got their insurance through Obamacare are just as happy with the quality, coverage, and cost of their policies as those who already had insurance -- and most are ready to sign up again for 2015.
