Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Norm Coleman – the former senator from Minnesota and a prominent advisor for Mitt Romney – suggested over the weekend in an interview that no matter who the Republican nominee is, they are unlikely to fully repeal Obamacare.
"We’re not going to do repeal. You’re not going to repeal Obamacare… It’s not a total repeal... You will not repeal the act in its entirety, but you will see major changes, particularly if there is a Republican president... You can't whole-cloth throw it out. But you can substantially change what's been done."
He goes on to say: "The Supreme Court first of all will have to deal with it. If you get rid of the individual mandate, then this whole thing may collapse." Asked by the moderator whether this means other provisions will go away as well, Coleman says: "I don’t think they will go away, because I don’t think the Act works financially, it simply doesn’t work, if you have severability." Coleman maintains that Republicans still "need to do health care reform" and suggests that he supports the approach put forward by Paul Ryan and Ron Wyden.
Coleman's remarks are remarkable because every Republican candidate — including Romney — has vowed to make repealing the law a priority. Coleman is also the chairman of the American Action Network, which has urged the courts to strike down the law's individual mandate and its Medicaid expansion.
There are a number of takeaways from this, but this is a meaningful takeaway in large part because Coleman remains on the short list for a cabinet position in the next administration, and he’s almost assured a position there if he wants it (perhaps even at HHS).
In other words, he’s not your average political pundit.
If Coleman is correct—and I think it’s possible he is—the next Republican president is likely to go through an experience along these lines: an attempt to repeal the whole bill will be made, passing the House but being filibustered in the Senate. Reconciliation can only go so far, and in the wake of a Supreme Court decision knocking down the individual mandate, the right’s political push to repeal the whole of Obamacare is likely to become less pressing (ironically, the Court’s getting rid of the worst part of the law from the public’s perspective may undercut these efforts). The Senate is likely to force instead a compromise position, in which Obamacare is “fixed,” not repealed – made “more market friendly”, as Coleman suggests.
This may be a good end result for many of the stakeholders and the politicians involved. As for the American people, well, that’s a different story.
(Edited because originally that second blockquote didn't take.)
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Aug '11
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Ben Domenech:
This may be a good end result for many of the stakeholders and the politicians involved. As for the American people, well, that’s a different story.
I've come to the sad conclusion that the "Establishment" (both parties) doesn't care who wins the election, and Republicans may actually want Obama to continue in office, because the graft will be so much greater without the citizens demanding crazy stuff from a potential Republican administration -- like a smaller government with less to skim off the top.
May '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Well then, if that's the case, what is the point of the Republican Party, anyway?
Edited on January 24, 2012 at 8:03pmAug '11
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
I agree. Time, perhaps, to let them merge with their natural allies, the Democrats, while conservatives go off and form something new?
Dec '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Even if the law is reformed into exactly what the nation needs (which I doubt), it will still be called Obamacare. We can utterly undo the effects of his ideology, but we may give credence to it in the process. To even talk this way does so already.
Apr '11
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Ben Domenech: "You will not repeal the act in its entirety, but you will see major changes, particularly if there is a Republican president... You can't wholecloth throw it out. But you can substantially change what's been done."
Coleman [....] suggests that he supports the approach put forward by Paul Ryan and Ron Wyden.
Coleman's remarks are remarkable because every Republican candidate — including Romney — has vowed to make repealing the law a priority.
I do not believe that every republican running for the nomination has vowed to repeal the law in a sense that would contradict Coleman. See this NBC interview video, for instance, from May 2011. This ABC quote from last month suggests the form that the desired "variation on" Obamacare would take. Specifically, the claim is a system whereby your taxes are higher if you don't have health insurance is big government, but a system where your taxes are lower if you do have health insurance is responsible. In other words, the thing which is wrong with Obamacare is that it didn't come packaged with a tax cut.
Moving from Obamacare to Ryan-Wyden is worth fighting for, although less good than pure Ryan.
Mar '11
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Mitt, do you want to shore up your shaky provenance as a conservative? Prove your bona fides?
Fire Norm. Now. Publicly. Remorselessly. Extra credit if you appear to enjoy it.
Of all the boneheaded things for anyone associated with a campaign to say...
[The rest of this comment has been deleted. I'm having 3rd Commandment issues, never mind the CoC.]
Dec '11
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Typical defeatist, accommodating wimp Republican.
Apr '11
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
DrewInWisconsin
I agree. Time, perhaps, to let them merge with their natural allies, the Democrats, while conservatives go off and form something new? · 6 minutes ago
We libertarian-conservatives have been telling you for a long time. The Republican establishment is committed to the progressive state. Has the wake-up alarm sounded?
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
So, the best we can hope for is a repeat of the old managerial progressive story. Three steps to the left, one baby step back. If this is what happens, the Tea Party Movement will either dissolve or give rise to a third party.
Even if this is true, Norman Coleman should have kept his mouth shut. Defeatism in the pursuit of liberty is no virtue.
Nov '11
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
1) Getting Obamacare shoved through required an extraordinary level of Democratic control of the government and extraordinary ruthlessness. Full repeal would require the same on the Republican side. It's their moral duty to fight, at all costs, for full repeal. But it might come down to the Senate. Preparing for that eventuality and having back-up plans to limit the damage as much as possible is the right thing to do, and the conservative thing to do.
2) Saying publicly that you don't think your party's platform is doable -- on one of the top issues of the election -- is unbelievable.
Edited on January 24, 2012 at 8:17pmApr '11
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Paul A. Rahe: So, the best we can hope for is a repeat of the old managerial progressive story. Three steps to the left, one baby step back. If this is what happens, the Tea Party Movement will either dissolve or give rise to a third party.
Even if this is true, Norman Coleman should have kept his mouth shut. Defeatism in the pursuit of liberty is no virtue. · 1 minute ago
That is exactly where we are headed - a party split. Coleman isn't telling us anything new. Everyone knows that Romney won't repeal Obamacare.
Sep '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Paul A. Rahe: So, the best we can hope for is a repeat of the old managerial progressive story. Three steps to the left, one baby step back. If this is what happens, the Tea Party Movement will either dissolve or give rise to a third party.
Even if this is true, Norman Coleman should have kept his mouth shut. Defeatism in the pursuit of liberty is no virtue. · 10 minutes ago
Forget it, Paul. Its Chinatown.
Edited on January 24, 2012 at 8:06pmAug '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
DrewInWisconsin
I agree. Time, perhaps, to let them merge with their natural allies, the Democrats, while conservatives go off and form something new? · 23 minutes ago
Huh, how does that follow? He's saying he'll do as much as he can but realistically the filibuster makes it impossible to repeal. This doesn't say anything about the lack of will by Republicans on Obamacare but the power the Senate gives the minority to block legislation (including repeals). Moreover, let's remember that the Republicans showed impressive party discipline in fighting Obamacare and very nearly succeeded in defeating it.
Hard as it is to believe, demands for greater testicular fortitude will not solve every problem.
Aug '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
[double post deleted]
Edited on January 24, 2012 at 8:11pmRe: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Leigh: 1) Getting Obamacare shoved through required an extraordinary level of Democratic control of the government and extraordinary ruthlessness. Full repeal would require the same on the Republican side. It's their moral duty to fight, at all costs, for full repeal. But it might come down to the Senate. Preparing for that eventuality and having back-up plans to limit the damage as much as possible is the right thing to do, and the conservative thing to do.
2) Saying publicly that you don't think your party's platform is doable -- on one of the top issues of the election -- is unbelievable, · 16 minutes ago
Agreed on both counts. But on 1), it's important that it only remain a backup plan - by which I mean, saying it out front before the election even happens? That means that's your starting point for negotiation.
Dec '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Can anyone name a single bad idea from Congress that was passed into law and later reformed into something that isn't driving the nation over the cliff? We can say we'll fix it all we want, but that just ain't gonna happen. It's either repealed or it takes us down.
Apr '11
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
This has long been my concern, and clearly why the Democrats wanted to push Obamacare to be passed as eagerly as they did: They know that repeals never happen, and once it was passed the Federal government will spend all of its resources trying to "fix" things so it does work rather than actually remove as a poor solution.
I'm not surprised of this coming from Coleman, having lived in the Twin Cities a few years while he was Mayor of St. Paul. He's long been a big government Republican. If anything, it more or less confirms my concerns about Romney: that if he is elected, repeal of Obamacare will never be a priority.
Nov '11
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Ben Domenech
Leigh: 1) Getting Obamacare shoved through required an extraordinary level of Democratic control of the government and extraordinary ruthlessness. Full repeal would require the same on the Republican side. It's their moral duty to fight, at all costs, for full repeal. But it might come down to the Senate. Preparing for that eventuality and having back-up plans to limit the damage as much as possible is the right thing to do, and the conservative thing to do.
2) Saying publicly that you don't think your party's platform is doable -- on one of the top issues of the election -- is unbelievable, · 16 minutes ago
Agreed on both counts. But on 1), it's important that it only remain a backup plan - by which I mean, saying it out front before the election even happens? That means that's your starting point for negotiation. · 3 minutes ago
Exactly. Although I think it's appropriate for candidates to emphasize that repeal depends on taking over the Senate.
Dec '11
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Congresswoman Maxine Waters to Tea Partiers: "You can go straight to Hell!"
Norm Coleman and Mitt Romney to Tea Partiers: "It's more complicated than you're capable of understanding - and by the way, you can go straight to Hell."
Jun '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
So another Republican wants to "fix" an unsustainable entitlement? "Fixing" the entitlement legitimizes the entitlement, and validates the motives that put it in place. As far as political courage, sounds to me like the whole lot of them have already been fixed.