“We’re Not Repealing It” – The President Holds A Pep Rally

“We’re Not Repealing It” – The President Holds A Pep Rally

After the events of the last two months, and the smackdown that President Obama got the last time that he held a press conference on Obamacare, it was notable that after declaring “victory” on fixing the website’s problems (despite the fact that they continually redefined what “victory” would look like when it came to the website), the president decided to have a pep rally for Obamacare today.  This was no press conference, these were “prepared remarks.”  Even MSNBC, who covered the whole of the president’s talk live, tagged it as a “Presidential PR Pitch.”

Everyone seems to acknowledge that this is the administration’s new PR run at selling Obamacare to the American public.  The president even addressed that directly when he said, “We’re just getting started… if we have to fight for another 3 years” to get Obamacare accepted and working, “we will.”

“Do not let the initial problems with the website discourage you,” the president told the handpicked assembly of true believers who were applauding.  He encouraged people to “get the word out” – tell their family members, friends, co-workers, anyone who they think needs to be sold on Obamacare and signed up for health insurance.  He lauded several examples and anecdotes from “average Americans,” which I’m sure, now that they have been mentioned by name by the president, we will be hearing more about from other media outlets in upcoming days.

A couple of takeaways from the pep rally:

First, the president has decided that this really is his “signature legislation” and he is going to fight tooth and nail to keep it.  He said as much when he proclaimed, “We’re not repealing it (Obamacare) as long as I am president.”  Despite his claims that he is willing to work “with anyone” to make it better (even as he scorns his critics and demands specifics on how to make things better – a website that could handle peak traffic would help, Mr. President), he is planting himself and his legacy squarely on Obamacare.  Since he is not running for office ever again, he can do this.  The GOP leadership should take note, and make Democrats live with his decisions.

Second, the president said (and his Twitter account tweeted it out as well), that “100 million insured Americans have gained access to preventative care to help them stay healthy at no out of pocket cost.”  This is an interesting sleight of hand.  Under Obamacare, all yearly physicals and well-child visits are exempt from copays and are automatically covered by insurance.  However, that does not apply to doctor visits when you are sick.  The magic words in the president’s statement are “preventative care.”  That’s your ten to fifteen minutes with a nurse, and maybe five to ten minutes with a doctor, just to check in and run the annual tests.  And that’s if your doctor decides to even take whatever insurance plan you now have, or continues to practice medicine altogether.  When you are actually sick, or you need a specialist, bring the checkbook.  Those are the visits that are going to cost you in copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and fees.  And that 100 million number does not even address the ever expanding Medicaid rolls.

And this is apparently the first pep rally of many planned in this new PR offensive to sell the new-and-improved Obamacare to the public.  We won’t hear about the massive security problems with the website, or the news just breaking that 1/3 of the applications submitted to health insurers are so riddled with errors that those who thought they were going to be insured really aren’t.

No hating allowed at the presidential pep rallies.  No hard questions.  In fact, don’t ask him any questions at all.  In the manner of Yul Brynner’s Rameses, he has proclaimed, “so let it be written, so let it be done,” and walked off the stage.

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11 Comments
  • Jodi Giddings says:

    We’ve sunk to an all-new low in this country: We’re being “lead” to our demise by the ShamWow guy.

    • GWB says:

      I’m not being led anywhere, Jodi! I’m planning a move to “off the grid” in many ways in the near future. You ladies are welcome in my bunker any time.

      (Ummm, the bunker might be small – what some would call “intimate”. Hope you don’t mind. *cough*)

  • GWB says:

    One important thing to know about those “wellness visits”: If you ask a doctor “I’ve noticed this growth in my armpit; do you think I should be concerned?” it is no longer a wellness visit. Or, if you are allowed to ask the question, if you want to do blood work or whatnot, you either need to schedule a new appointment or walk back out front and pay your copay – it just un-became a “wellness visit”. They won’t even split it – a “wellness visit” followed by a lab charge for bloodwork.

    How in the world is it preventative care if you can’t actually discuss/investigate possible problems?

    • Jodi says:

      “Preventative” in the sense that it prevents you from using your healthcare benefits for fear of punitive co-pays. There. Excessive healthcare spending solved. *liberal logic*

      Semantics.

    • Dess says:

      Yes! This is the exact reason why this perpetual lurker came out of the woodwork to finally post a comment.

      I don’t know about anyone else, but back in the good old days (and, seriously, I’m 31…that phrase really shouldn’t be appropriate yet) when a “yearly physical” was just a doctor visit, I would prepare. I’d think about what had been going on with me and compile my little list of questions and concerns for the doctor. Nothing major mind you. Nothing that necessitated an additional or immediate appointment. Just a few minor things to discuss when I knew I’d be going in anyway. For example, medications. Possible changes…the need for additional meds…whatever. It’s a wellness visit. My medications keep me well. Makes sense, right? Apparently not to the geniuses who drafted this fustercluck.

      Personal anecdote: Last year I went in for my physical. The front desk girls told me there was no copay (Woo!), since it was a wellness visit and all, and the nurse called me back. I (being the totally Type A freak that I am) pulled my list out and reviewed what I wanted to talk to the doctor about. Nurse got all my vitals, reviewed my meds and supplements…you know the deal. Then my doctor came in to give me a brief physical exam after which he asked if I had any questions. I pulled out my list, discussed a few concerns and asked about medications. We talked for a few more minutes, he grabbed me some samples and I left. No big deal.

      A couple weeks later I get a bill in the mail. For my copay amount. For the date of my “wellness” physical. Whaaaa? I’m obviously and understandably confused. It’s a no copay appointment right? It was the same as every physical I’ve ever had before. What’s up with this? So I call the office. The front desk girls forward me to the office manager who pulls my file and informs me that they had to bill my insurance for two separate appointments…because we discussed possible issues. At the point that I brought up a concern, any concern, it ceased being a wellness visit and became a chargeable visit. Grrrr. Fortunately, my copay’s not too bad so it didn’t hurt to write the check, but it’s the principle of the matter. What good is a wellness visit that doesn’t allow you to get any clarification?

  • Penny says:

    Meh!! He made the same kind of proclamation about Detroit & bankruptcy…”I will not allow Detroit to go bankrupt!”, but Detroit DID go bankrupt. This Bolshevik can rant all he wants…but, when the Puppet Masters say, “Give it up…it’s a lost cause!”, he will. And, the part that will gall him the most?! His name is on it…..

  • Wfjag says:

    ObamaCare is so good that, not only are the Prez, Vice Prez and their families exempted from it, but Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D. Nev.), has now exempted his staff from having to buy insurance thru the exchanges. It’s good for everyone except those responsible for it.

  • F.D.R. in Hell says:

    “…as long as I am president.”

    Be careful with those promises, boy. 👿

  • Eleanor in Hell says:

    Gee whiz, Franklin, do you realize you were President for life?

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