Barack Obama is vindicated
It is a great day for President Barack Obama.
He enjoys vindication as a colossal embarrassment has been sustained by President Trump and U. S. House Republicans, both forced to share blame for the collapse of the much-heralded “American Health Care Act.”
Congressional Republicans demonstrated rank hypocrisy as they voted dozens of times to repeal the flawed Affordable Care Act during the Obama presidency, knowing that they would not need to offer a replacement because repeal would be vetoed and a veto would be sustained with all Democrats on board with Mr. Obama. A critical plank in the Trump platform, the non-specific plan which enabled him to convince millions to vote for him, was his consistent promise that he would enact legislation to provide great care for all at a fraction of the cost of the ACA. It has proven to be easier said than done, and the American Health Care Act certainly did not achieve that goal. It was enormously unpopular with Americans of all political persuasions.
Trump attempted to govern like a president with a mandate if not as a dictator. He exerted brute force in an effort to secure votes for the Republican replacement plan and he got nowhere.
Republican House members recognized that their primary allegiance is not to their president, but to the constituents before whom they will appear on the ballot next year. Conservatives found the Republican bill to be too generous, too government-centric, while moderates concluded that it was cruel, that it would serve to yank insurance away from those whom they represent and that it would deny them the health care services upon which they have come to depend.
Changes should be made to the ACA to make it sustainable and if the Republicans want to make those changes, they will have to eat crow, to work with Democrats who will insist on maintaining the framework of the Obama legislation.
Could this stunning defeat cause President Trump to finally demonstrate some humility? He may have to swallow his gargantuan pride if he wishes to avoid being a fatally flawed president just two months into a long four years.
Oren M. Spiegler
Upper Saint Clair