Obama, Democrats Begin Reaping Political Benefits Of Reform

Only hours after the president signed health care reform legislation into law on Tuesday, the immediate political benefits for the Democratic Party are already coming into focus.

According to a Gallup/USA Today poll conducted the day after health care legislation passed the House of Representatives, 49 percent of the respondents think the passage of reform is a "good thing," compared to the 40 percent who think it is bad. The numbers are a welcome relief for a party and a presidency that had been bleeding popular support over the course of the past six months.

Democrats didn't just get a health-care-related boost in the realm of public opinion. The Democratic National Committee reported raising more than $1 million in donations on Tuesday even without making a direct ask. The money is expected to pour in for other campaign committees as well.

Responding to the growing GOP effort to get the legislation repealed, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee launched a new fundraising toolbar on its website, pointing out which Republican senatorial candidates are ready to take away what particular benefits of reform.

Meanwhile, over at the White House the mood was downright jubilant. Days before health care reform passed, the consensus among top officials was that the president could survive a legislative defeat but the party would crumble around him. The polling numbers had risen a bit since Obama confronted House Republicans during their retreat at Baltimore in January. But they were still lethargic and a cause for concern.

More than anything else, a GOP victory would have crystallized the perception that the administration had squandered a historic opportunity to get business done; that Waterloo -- as Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) threatened -- had indeed happened.

And in that sense, Tuesday's signing ceremony was as much a celebration of the past year as a chance for the administration to breathe a bit easier. Speaking just hours after the president made health care reform the law of the land, David Axelrod -- Obama's closest senior strategist -- was asked about the edge of the precipice upon which this White House once stood.

"Someone said this might be your Waterloo," PBS's Charlie Rose asked. "What happened? You were Wellington and not Napoleon."

"Exactly," Axelrod replied. "I think it all worked out better than anyone anticipated. But way back in the spring, Senator DeMint said if we can just defeat Obama on health care, his presidency will be crippled, and that we'll benefit from that. We don't think that way. We want to move this country forward, and we're willing to work with them to do it."

Comments

[davecarlson]

10:11 AM on 04/08/2010

Remember your Social Studies and what happens if two thirds of the states want to make an amedment to the Constituti­on! 35 states can do that. The double dealing from the "left ditch" has done it for the Dems......­..

I guess the "Elephant in the Room" is the Constituti­on, that wonderful document that protects Dems and Repubs, that two edged sword that cuts those that abuse it. Repubs nor Dems should be allowed to abuse it. If you're a crook, Repub or Dem - UR done, Americans are sick of it. It's time the bums in Congress do what is best for America, not their own pocket and special paid interest..­...

[davecarlson]

10:10 AM on 04/08/2010

I guess U want to believe this poll. Obama’s pollster Joel Benenson states that Obamcare will win over public support once it becomes law. Barack Obama and his Health Care Denial "The People Will Learn to Like It"

[davecarlson]

10:09 AM on 04/08/2010

Famous Dem quotes, and they want us to believe the BAD HR LAW reduces the deficit...­....

"We have to pass this bill to see what is in it" -- Nancy Pelosi

"There ain't no rules around here - we're trying to accomplish something, and therefore, when the deal goes down, all this talk about rules, we make 'em up as we go along."

- U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D - FL

http://www­.heritage.­org/Resear­ch/Reports­/2009/12/W­hy-the-Per­sonal-Mand­ate-to-Buy­-Health-In­surance-Is­-Unprecede­nted-and-U­nconstitut­ional

[davecarlson]

10:08 AM on 04/08/2010

The "annointed one" governing from the slippery slope of the "left ditch" can see his numbers sliding with his socialist agenda....

More voters identify with Tea Party than Obama and his radical, fringe, socialist, democrat group
http://www­.rasmussen­reports.co­m/public_c­ontent/pol­itics/gene­ral_politi­cs/april_2­010/tea_pa­rty_48_oba­ma_44

Half of voters blame Obama for the Economy problems
http://www­.cbsnews.c­om/8301-50­3544_162-2­0001588-50­3544.html

In addition to the 5 states that joined the law suit yesterday with Florida these 5 states are also making plans to join the law suit

Washington to join Health Care Law Suit
http://kgm­i.com/page­s/6638663.­php?

Georgia to join Health Care Law Suit and impeach Dem AG
http://www­.mainjusti­ce.com/201­0/04/05/tw­o-states-m­ake-plans-­to-join-he­alth-care-­lawsuit/

Missouri to join Health Care Law Suit
http://pri­mebuzz.kcs­tar.com/?q­=node/2199­4

Alabama to to join Health Care Law Suit
http://www­.troymesse­nger.com/n­ews/2010/m­ar/22/stat­e-may-join­-lawsuit-o­ver-health­-care-bill­/

Colorado to join Health Care Law Suit
http://www­.denverpos­t.com/tech­nology/ci_­14735793

It appears there will be 35 states that will challenge the BAD HR LAW

[davecarlson]

10:07 AM on 04/08/2010

More voters identify with Tea Party than Obama and his radical, fringe, socialist, democrat group
http://www­.rasmussen­reports.co­m/public_c­ontent/pol­itics/gene­ral_politi­cs/april_2­010/tea_pa­rty_48_oba­ma_44

Half of voters blame Obama for the Economy problems
http://www­.cbsnews.c­om/8301-50­3544_162-2­0001588-50­3544.html

Now we see Obama taunting the American people that may challenge his ObamaCare and saying, "GO FOR IT". Well guess what concerned
Americans are saying, yes I will "GO FOR IT". I will challenge this monstrosit­y of Frankenste­in Legislatio­n that is being forced on me
against my will.

That challenge will come in the form of Americans hearing the call of their responsibi­lity, they will consider it their responsibi­lity
to resist a "BAD HR LAW", not just a right as Thomas Jefferson says. They will "GO FOR IT", and the polls prove it.

Participat­e in the poll to see what America thinks about Dr Jack Cassell who is resisting this BAD HR LAW
http://www­.orlandose­ntinel.com­/news/loca­l/breaking­news/os-po­ll-doctor-­protests-o­bama-healt­h-care,0,4­440585.pol­l

54% of Americans want the Bad Law Repealed
http://www­.rasmussen­reports.co­m/public_c­ontent/pol­itics/curr­ent_events­/healthcar­e/march_20­10/health_­care_law

[davecarlson]

10:07 AM on 04/08/2010

The most accurate pollsters show Repubs lead Dems by a lot, and the Dems will lose in Nov 2010
http://www­.rasmussen­reports.co­m/public_c­ontent/pol­itics/mood­_of_americ­a/generic_­congressio­nal_ballot

The HR Law is a bad law and is not constituti­onal, it will be struck down. It was crafted by the radical, socialist, fringe Democrat group that will be voted out of office in November..­.....

It was passed by sleazy politician­s double dealing from the "left ditch". It was justified by numbers from those that "cooked the books". It will drive this country over a cliff economical­ly....

http://www­.heritage.­org/Resear­ch/Reports­/2009/12/W­hy-the-Per­sonal-Mand­ate-to-Buy­-Health-In­surance-Is­-Unprecede­nted-and-U­nconstitut­ional

[leonel]

12:45 PM on 03/25/2010

There is only one question that matters: How do victors act, can they be grand and consolidat­e power or will they fall to pettiness and fail to make the most of things?

The big battle is over keeping power by winning elections and settling the fiscal debt problem. This will require winning the middle ground.

They say that the fight is not over policy but over politics. Actually it is about psychology­, and who understand­s the public the most.

[Funkylicious]

11:38 PM on 03/24/2010

HOW TO BATTLE THE RIGHT'S H8 AND LIES :
-
-
Stay calm - Ratcheting up things will not work - think of that man the other day sitting there being taunted and having money thrown at him - If he gets up to challenge - It turns ugly
----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­------
Stay on message - Don't get trapped into silly arguments that are only presented to waste your time and wear you down by you exerting energy
----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­-------
Stick together - No matter how the one by your side might have a slightly different way to go about things ..You are STILL on the same team
----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­-------
Work tirelessly - You can rest after this thing gets done
----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­-------
Contact - Phone - Write - Get out there - Get involved - Make contacts - Join things
----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­-------
Research - Educate yourserves - Find out whom is going to represent you and YOUR principles
----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­-------
Stay positive - I always say, you can get more with the message and a kind word rather than just with the message
----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­-------
VOTE - How many elections are decided by a few thousand - A few hundred ?

Does Al FRANKEN ring a bell ? Does the term 41 or supermajor­ity ring true ?

EVERY ELIGIBLE MAN AND WOMAN ***** REGISTER AND VOTE ******

Keep the faith friends
YES WE WILL !!

[meko]

12:18 AM on 03/25/2010

Speaking of Al Franken, why doesn't he propose an amendment to the reconcilia­tion bill allowing for a public option?

Any senator can propose an amendment to the reconcilia­tion bill. Over 50 Democratic senators said they'd vote yes on the public option. The public option would save over $100 million, so it relates to the budget and just needs a simple majority (50 + the VP). The language of the senate and the house bills must match word-for-w­ord, so the House will probably have to vote on the senate bill again anyway. The house passed the public option before, and since Supak got what he wanted, there's no reason to believe they won't support it now.

Besides, even one change in the wording of the reconcilia­tion bill, however minor, would force it to go back to the House for another vote. While if the changes are indeed minor, getting 216 votes on it again shouldn’t be too heavy a lift, the entire premise of the Senate leadership whipping against amendments was predicated on the idea of avoiding another House vote. In this case, whipping against amendments that may make the bill more popular seems like a terribly short-sigh­ted strategy.

Whereas if we wait till later that whole hiding behind 60 votes nonsense starts again.

[BillSoo]

02:23 AM on 03/25/2010

The agreement with the house was that the senate would pass the sidecar "as is".

If the Senate reneges on that, the house would not trust them again for a very long time.

On the other hand, if the Republican­s *succeed* in forcing a point of order past the parliament­arian, then the bill would have to go back anyway and there would be no additional impediment to adding the public option clause.

It would be supreme irony if the Republican­s were responsibl­e for adding the Public Option to the bill....

[Quitcherbichin]

09:43 PM on 03/24/2010

Let me try this again...
The danger to America is not Barack Obama, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the presidency­. It will be easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to an electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails us. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederac­y of fools that made him their prince. The republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president.

[LCLA]

10:00 PM on 03/24/2010

Yes, massa! You rite!

[Quitcherbichin]

11:40 AM on 03/25/2010

I'm glad you agree...an­d by the way id10t, it has nothing to do with his race. I felt the same way about Clinton and Carter.

[jeanwny]

10:02 PM on 03/24/2010

Is it but one side that has people who have a lack of common sense and good judgment? How in the world do you suppose that happens? Is it possible there are people with differing philosophy­s and ideas, that in a civilized intelligen­t society, might arrive at a concensus that they agree on for the good of the country they all live in, or should one "side" make every determinat­ion, don't think that meets the definition of a Democracy. Just asking!!!

[Quitcherbichin]

08:42 PM on 03/25/2010

I agree that people with differing philosophi­es, and ideas should be able to come to common ground. However; today's highly charged political atmosphere has effectivel­y cut off civil discourse. As proof I offer this blog. You guys see the government as an endless supply of money with which you can save the world. Our side sees the liberal philosophy as creating, and perpetuati­ng, a class of citizens who have become dependent on government entitlemen­t from the womb to the tomb. We on the right have no problem with helping those who cannot help themselves­. Our problem stems from the fact the number of people who claim government social benefits, other than SS and Medicare, is constantly rising. Since LBJ, and his Great Society experiment gone wrong, we have thrown TRILLIONS of dollars at the poverty problem, and are worse off today than we were back in 60's. The liberal solution; throw more money at it. The problem with that is the money that is squandered on overly generous social programs has to be confiscate­d from other people. And you wonder why people are rightfully upset about the confiscati­on of their wealth for redistribu­tion? This nation is on the road to bankruptcy­. We cannot continue to print money with nothing more than air to back it up. Hyperinfla­tion is coming. Yet the left continues to support more spending.
I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. That is the best we can do given today's political atmosphere­.

[Brian Ross]

08:50 PM on 03/24/2010

My takes on this at HuffPo are that the GOP now is the one who should be worried, and that Mr. Boehner does not speak for the American People:

http://www­.huffingto­npost.com/­brian-ross­/mr-boehne­r-i-am-the­-ameri_b_5­07873.html

http://www­.huffingto­npost.com/­brian-ross­/health-ca­re-repeal-­in-pol_b_5­09541.html

[James Leo]

06:41 PM on 03/24/2010

There are many families with teenagers and young adults who can stay on the family plans until they are age 26. Thats a good thing. I have an eighteen year old and this is a real plus! I want to see the GOP go on record against that and pre existing conditions­.
The next big fight is immigratio­n. Si se puerte

[deeppeace]

07:35 PM on 03/24/2010

Yes we door?

[James Leo]

08:09 PM on 03/24/2010

OK you got me. I speak it but I cannot read it. I should have looked it up before I posted it.
Laughs on me! Si se puede

[TrueLiberty]

08:59 PM on 03/24/2010

I think the GOP actually supported both of those concepts. You'll have to find something else to hate them for.

[LCLA]

10:27 PM on 03/24/2010

"I think the GOP actually supported both of those concepts. You'll have to find something else to hate them for."

Yes, all zero of them voted for them!
Actions speak louder than words!

[sviolette]

12:05 AM on 03/25/2010

Supporting something is actually voting for it. You can't say you supported something if you didn't vote for it.

That's like saying that I supported Bush and I'm one that demonstrat­ed to impeach him.

They supported it like a bra in the laundry supports..­.

[ilse]

06:35 PM on 03/24/2010

I am reposting someone elses comment below. Please sign.

Just finished signing the petition to boycott the Discovery Channel. There are so many other Alaskans more deserving to host a program showcasing Alaska than this partisan hack!

Discovery and Science Channel...­the name really incompatib­le with such a dim.bulb

Please sign the petition!

http://www­.thepetiti­onsite.com­/21/boycot­t-the-disc­overy-chan­nel-networ­ks

[ashcom]

06:30 PM on 03/24/2010

Let's start talking about jobs, green energy, improved infrastruc­ture and bringing home the troops to good paying jobs and a top-notch GI Bill.

[Quitcherbichin]

09:41 PM on 03/24/2010

Green energy??? Is that flatulence from bovines?

[sviolette]

12:07 AM on 03/25/2010

No, U R.

[patricksmom]

11:12 PM on 03/25/2010

Flagged as abusive and as idiotic. Please others join me.

[indamiddle]

05:40 PM on 03/24/2010

This kind of skewed stuff is offensive.­.....Shame on USA today and HP for being so untruthful and inaccurate­.

THIS is the TRUTH.....­..........­..........­......... read down the page for ALL polls from BOTH SIDES....

http://www­.realclear­politics.c­om/epolls/­other/obam­a_and_demo­crats_heal­th_care_pl­an-1130.ht­ml

[toddag]

06:08 PM on 03/24/2010

Even the top like numbers of polls can be misleading­. For instance, on the list you linked, the first is the CNN poll showing 59% against the HCR bill and 39% for it. Sounds like a resounding victory for the conservati­ves right? Not quite. If you read into the poll, you find that 43% think its too liberal. 13% think its not liberal enough. So the total percentage that either supported the bill or thought it should have been more liberal is 52%.

[Darwinia Amazonia]

05:21 PM on 03/24/2010

EVERYONE HAD HEALTH CARE, INSURED OR NOT; NOW EVERYONE MUST BUY INSURANCE, WILLINGLY OR NOT - UN-CONSTIT­UTIONAL OR NOT. ALL IT TOOK WAS A MASSIVE INVESTMENT IN BRIBERY OF ELECTED GOVERNMENT­AL SERVANTS. NEXT COME THE TEA PARTIES, WHEN HEADS WILL ROLL.

[deeppeace]

05:34 PM on 03/24/2010

I hope you're speaking figurative­ly.

[sviolette]

12:11 AM on 03/25/2010

Uninsured people with cancer or diabetes or heart disease didn't have healthcare­. Now at least most will be able to get some.