For many Democrats, it’s been an article of faith: the Affordable Care Act may not be popular now, but in time, the hysteria will fade, the benefits will be appreciated, and the demand for repeal will slowly go away.
The latest health care tracking poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation suggests these expectations are finally coming to fruition.
Not only are Americans opinions on the law improving — unfavorability is down to 39 percent — but the number of Americans who want to see the entirety of the law repealed is down to just 33 percent, the lowest since “Obamacare” became law in March 2010.
In the bigger picture, the fate of health care reform has long been dependent on clearing three very challenging hurdles: (1) getting the legislation through Congress; (2) overcoming a Supreme Court test; and (3) re-electing President Obama.
As of last week, all three hurdles have been cleared. Last week, even House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) signaled his intention to end the repeal effort, telling Diane Sawyer the election “changes” his party’s plans. “It’s pretty clear that the president was re-elected,” Boehner said. “Obamacare is the law of the land.” The Affordable Care Act is here to stay.
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