The most important thing about today's Supreme Court health care decision is the victory for the millions of Americans who will live longer, happier, healthier lives because of the new health care law.
It is also an historic day for the thousands of health care warriors who have fought to make health care a right in America for decades and have finally seen their struggle rewarded with success.
But the Supreme Court's decision has massive political implications as well:
First, this victory will send another bolt of electricity through Obama's base. Nothing succeeds better than a hard-fought victory at pumping people up -- and firing them up for the next great battle. The victory will send thousands of volunteers streaming into Obama campaign offices -- and millions of dollars into its coffers. It will invigorate Obama's army of volunteers.
It is particularly important when coupled with the president's decision two weeks ago, protecting Dream Students from deportation. That decision already had a major impact on enthusiasm among Obama supporters -- and particularly Latinos.
Their Supreme Court defeat will also dispirit the right-wing -- particularly because they were abandoned by their own iconic, conservative Chief Justice who wrote the opinion finding the law constitutional.
Enthusiasm is a huge factor in electoral politics.
Second, the Romney campaign -- and Republican candidates across the board -- have now been forced to double down on repealing the entire bill. They will argue that now, the only way to get rid of the bill is to elect a new president and a Republican House and Senate.
Opponents of health care for all can no longer rely on arguing that the bill is an "unconstitutional usurpation" of government authority. No less a conservative icon than Chief Justice John Roberts found the law constitutional.
Since Obama Care is now a reality, Democrats can now move from defense to offense on health care.
By supporting repeal of the entire law, Republicans also support taking away the law's protections against discrimination because of pre-existing conditions.
They support taking away access to free preventive health care for seniors.
They support taking away health care from millions of young people who can now stay on their parent's insurance policies until they are 26 years old.
They support taking away access to contraception for women.
They support taking away enhanced prescription drug coverage for seniors.
They support taking away provisions that no longer allow discrimination against women.
They support taking away provisions that prevent people from being just one serious illness away from bankruptcy.
The support ending provisions that require that insurance companies can must spend 80 percent of their premium dollars on medical care -- not on administrative costs and profits.
People may be afraid of things they don't know much about. That helps explain some of the past opposition to the health care law by people who would benefit from it. But people are furious when you try to take something away from them. Romney will lose that argument over the months ahead.
Third, ironically, the past unpopularity of the law now positions the president as a strong, resolute leader, who does things because they are right -- not because they are politically popular.
Passing health care reform was incredibly difficult and politically risky. Barack Obama is a leader that is a committed to principle -- the mirror opposite to Mitt Romney, who has no core values whatsoever. Most voters want leaders who stand up for what they believe. That is a huge advantage for Barack Obama's candidacy for re-election.
Finally, the Supreme Court victory creates political momentum. In politics as in sports, momentum -- the bandwagon -- is absolutely critical to the outcome. People like winners -- they like to be with winners. Today Barack Obama -- and the people of the United States -- were winners.
That fact will give the president a major boost -- a long-term boost -- among swing voters over the months ahead.
This is a very, very big day for the lives of ordinary Americans.
It is also a very, very big day for the critical November battle that will chart our nation's future.
Robert Creamer is a long-time political organizer and strategist, and author of the book: Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win, available on Amazon.com. He is a partner in Democracy Partners and a Senior Strategist for Americans United for Change. Follow him on Twitter @rbcreamer.
Follow Robert Creamer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/rbcreamer
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Yup statistics.I wonder,statistically speaking of course,what the absentee numbers will be tomorrow for right-wingers calling out of work because of alcohol related circumstances.....
In other-words,how many righties went out to forget today's ruling and overindulged in forgetfulness.......
Come on folks,you just know a bunch of them could only drown this dis-contempt with some serious drinking....
Take that Billionaires.
The millions of us get some wins, too.
The well-off already have insurance. ACA is a tax on the rest of us: the self-employed, retired like me.
Who knows,maybe the folks of Ohio will appreciate the concept that after paying insurance premiums for thirty years,they cannot be denied coverage when they might actually have a need to use it? That is kinda a big deal..
Anyways,we all appreciate you being a good soldier and all for the right-wing,but I rather suspect that folks will be more concerned with their own personal well-being and less concerned with your spin and mis-information.....
Nice effort...but the price of effort as a commodity,has fallen to new lows....
He is such a caricature of a candidate. Are we on candid camera?
Coupled with the recent lead Obama has taken in the swing states this decision catapults him into a 2nd term. He will have the requisite no. of electoral votes to win it when he takes PA, WI, IL, OH & maybe MI when the polls are still open here on the blue state majority West Coast & in his CA stronghold. Best hope would then be banking & finance reform & new jobs stimulus Federal spending with emphasis on rebuilding the national infrastructure, all requiring a Dem majority in both House & Senate to prevent the continuous economic extortion & obstruction at the expense of progress we've seen in the last 4 yrs. from the GOP They're sweating bullets now & until November, they realize their number is up.
I don't know if the DNC was listening, but I for one thought your bumpersticker was a brilliant idea:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-weigant/friday-talking-points_b_1639193.html
:-)
-CW
In short,it would have put the GOP in an untenable position,a position they have no intention of addressing....
In short,the GOP owes Roberts a debt of gratitude....
You mean the millions of healthy people without insurance that will now have to decide whether to pay the fine (and still not have health insurance) or pay even more for health insurance? I don't think they're happier.
Maybe you mean the millions who don't qualify for Medicaid but can't afford insurance? They won't have to pay the fine, but they still won't have insurance; so I don't think they'll be happier or healthier.
You must mean the millions of current and future seniors who won't be eligible for surgery because the HHS Secretary decided that the combination of their age and condition didn't warrent the expense. No, they won't live longer.
Are you talking about the millions whose employers will drop their coverage and force them to get their own because it is way cheaper (for now) to pay the fine?
Oh, I know. You're referring to the millions of jobless who will remain jobless because employers who don't drop their coverage will have their health care costs go up too much to be able to expand and hire.
The only people who will live "longer, happier, healthier lives" will be the people who own insurance companies and the politicians who receive their lobbying funds. Let's celebrate!