The Roberts Court
In a historic decision on Thursday the Supreme Court upheld the majority of Obama’s signature Health Care Bill the Affordable Care Act, including the most controversial aspect of the bill the “individual mandate”. Now both political ideologies are either celebrating or condemning the decision, but will this controversial bill hold much weight in the 2012 presidential election?
In recent political polls the issue of health-care isn’t a high priority for many Americans in the election cycle. Gallup polling, found only 6% of Americans name it a “top concern” and in a current poll from The Kaiser Foundation over half 56% of American’s want politicians to focus on “more important” national problems, such as the economy and job creation. Republicans see this as an opportunity for the base to rally around a controversial issue and can maybe per sway independent voters because of their differing views on the Affordable Care Act. But, in a surprising move the Romney camp is actually abstaining from the conservative attacks of the individual mandate being a tax.
Romney’s move now makes it more difficult for conservative trying to criticize Obama for issuing a “tax”, because their candidate for the general election agrees that it isn’t a tax. This line of disconnect from the conservative base stems from Romney’s own health-care initiative in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Health-Care Bill has served as a template of the Federal Health-Care Bill, and Romney continually defended his fee for the uninsured as a “penalty” or more often an “incentive” to acquire health insurance.
The Affordable Care Act remains a hot topic issue today, and many health care polls show Americans split on the issue it may be wise to close the shutters on the issue if you are Romney. Even when individuals view the SCOTUS ruling negatively, they aren’t turning to Romney for the answer. Romney’s favorability ratings in fact are much lower than Obama’s when asked specifically about health-care. In Obama vs. Romney polls Obama’s health-care plans are more popular by almost 12 points according to an ABC and Washington Post poll. Romney has begun to shoo away from the health-care issue and is throwing all of his campaign behind the most important issue at hand the US Economy and letting conservatives vent their anger instead at Justice Roberts.
