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Celebrating the passage of the Affordable Care Act on March 23, 2010.
Today marks the second anniversary of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, President Obama's sweeping overhaul of the nation's health care system that just three years ago sparked divisiveness and outrage throughout the country.
The White House has been pretty quiet on the "Obamacare" benchmark – unusually quiet considering that overhauling the health care system was supposed to be one of the president's signature pieces of legislation.
The president even held a primetime address on the issue before Congress in the fall of 2009. As the Supreme Court prepares to take up the issue of health care early next week, it seems that this controversial, hot button issue is about to come front and center once again in the middle of a presidential election.
Obama's health care plan has been divisive since it was first brought up for debate at the beginning of the Obama presidency. During the summer of 2009, several members of Congress returned to their districts to hold town hall meetings on the legislation only to find angry constituents shouting at them during the open forums. Longtime Senators Claire McCaskill and Arlen Specter were caught in shouting matches with the people they represented, often involving personal attacks with one person shouting "we don't trust you" at McCaskill. Some believe that this outrage stemmed primarily from the Obama administration's failure to properly sell health care reform to the American people.
Despite this level of public outrage, the Democratic-controlled House and Democratic controlled Senate were able to pass the health care bill, but the issue itself never died. As we entered the GOP presidential primary season almost every candidate has had something negative to say about "Obamacare." The current frontrunner (and probable GOP nominee) Mitt Romney has openly criticized the president's health care bill and has vowed to repeal it, if elected.
The only problem for Mitt Romney is that while he was Governor of Massachusetts he passed his own state-wide healthcare law that some have seen as the model for the president's bill. Not only that, but the former governor of Massachusetts has repeatedly flip-flopped his position on the federal mandate, a key provision to the affordable care act.
Despite the White House being quiet on the issue, Twitter has seen the bill’s anniversary trending throughout the day. The #ILikeObamacare topic has seen a range of comments from those for, against and indifferent to the law — with tweets ranging from sincere support for the legislation to sarcastic anger against it.
All of this just days before the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments against the law in a three day, six hour debate — the longest in decades. The sessions begin this Monday and close on Wednesday, focusing primarily on whether or not Congress has the constitutional authority to mandate people to purchase insurance.
The Affordable Health Care for America Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010. Surrounded by Democratic senators and representatives, President Obama remarked at the time, "I'm signing this reform bill into law on behalf of my mother, who argued with insurance companies even as she battled cancer in her final days." The ceremony was a momentous occasion which brought him standing ovations from members of his party. Today, two years later, the White House Press Secretary Jay Carney had to defend and duck questions regarding health care. After a member of the White House press corps asked Carney if health care had become a political liability Carney simply said, "no."





Incredible how a bill designed to help people in desperate situations is rejected by those bigoted republicans who prefer keeping 50 million Americans without health care. It's ridiculous because at the end when one of these people without health care ends up in a hospital, we have to pay for him/her anyway. So, we might as well let them buy affordable health insurance and let them pay for it themselves. QUICO!
If you put and s at the end of Obamacare, it beocmes Obamacares! He does care.
Obama does care. OBAMACARES!
I voted for Obama because he said he would reform heath care in our country. He kept his promise. Now we will see if the SCOTUS will rule the the mandate feature will stand.
All citizens need afordable heathcare. I would have preferred a single payer system but there is not the political will for it yet.
i hope the supreme court throws out obamacare as totally unconstitutional - the govt has no place being in the health care business. trash the whole thing! private health care without govt intervention and regulation is the key. personally, i don't want, or need it and i have done my best to let my elected officials know it! it's up to the court now.
How convenient; YOU are satisfied and don't want it or need it. I bet you have coverage through your employer and haven't seen costs going up 10% every year. I know you are not an individual shopping for a new policy (and I suggest you just try to get a quote).
Totally unconstitutional? There is a lot there... what is it you object to? The Affordable Health Care for America Act allowed me to purchase a policy with a $2,000 deductible.
Many who know what they speak of are aware the Government has been involved for a while with few complaints. The military and many municipal employees have a government insurance plan. Most all retirees depend Medicare. Do you want to shop around for coverage when you are retired.... and/or disabled?
Unless you are one of those "Let-em Die" Republicans, you have to realize we are all paying for the uninsured, only rather than preventative care they go to the emergency room.
I am praying that the Supreme Court DOES NOT overturn the Affordable Health Care!! I get upset up when I hear Paul Ryan praise Ayn Rand. The American people need to be informed about the views of Ayn Rand. Has Clarence Thomas recused himself from voting as Justice Kagan has?
Obamacare is needed in this country. For those without insurance it is a Godsend. They can see a physician rather than make a trip to the emergency room for their medical problems (which usually happens for those without medical insurance). A trip to the E.R. can cost in the thousands, but a trip to the Dr. is in the hundreds. Who pays for this trip to the E.R.??? You and I, which includes Republicans, Democrats, Independents and anyone who pays taxes. It is much cheaper to pay for a Dr. visit than it is to pay for a visit to an emergency room.