We had an election about this
by David Atkins
As Republicans bloviate and threaten to shut down the government in order to stop the Heritage Foundation’s plan to line the pockets of private insurance while expanding access at somewhat lower prices, it’s important to remember that America just had an election relitigating these issues less than a year ago. It was an election in which Republicans tried to tear down the President using Obamacare, deficits, and burdens on “job creators” as attack lines. And Republicans lost that election–badly.
Not only did Mitt Romney lose, House Republicans lost as well. Ted Cruz and his ilk are using their position in the House majority to claim to do the “will of the American people.” But it’s important to remember that House Democrats won 1.4 million more votes nationwide than did House Republicans in November 2012. In an election, I must repeat, in which Obamacare was a top 5 electoral issue.
John Boehner holds his gavel by virtue of gerrymandering shenanigans, not popular will. In a just world where the popular will was fulfilled, Nancy Pelosi would be Speaker and taxes on the ultra-wealthy would be doubled.
There is no sense from any perspective from which House Republicans can legitimately claim to be acting according to the popular will.
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