A New York Times reporter visited Yellow Dog Republican Bentonville to sample the mood on Obamacare and the possibility of a government shutdown by Republicans who won’t accept the law of the land.
Headline summary: ‘frustration but no panic’
My takeaway from the anecdotal sampling: Misinformation about the Affordable Care Act is epidemic. It IS too complicated to explain in a minute or less and the disingenuous and dishonest talking points break through the clutter where more comprehensive facts don’t. But weariness with partisan warfare is evident, too.
“The Republicans and Democrats just hate each other,” said Debbie Casto, 53, a junior high school teacher and coach who lives near Bentonville in Rogers. “They’ve quit trying to decide what’s best for the people in general. It’s all about power. So I’m not happy with any of them.”
Steve Cook, 46, a conservative who is not necessarily a Republican but not necessarily a Democrat, watches Bill O’Reilly on Fox News but talks, on the issue of a government shutdown, like President Obama.
“You’re holding the country hostage,” Mr. Cook said of the Republican tactic of tying the House spending bill to financing for the health care law. “I mean, Obamacare has passed. I don’t like it personally. A lot of other people don’t like it. But what’s law is law and you abide by the law of the land. I just don’t think that’s a smart political move, to hold the country hostage so you can jab back at Obama.”
Speaking of Obamacare: This is a good overview of the news, mostly good, about insurance premiums in the new exchanges. But, yes, some people will pay more, along with the millions who will either 1) have health insurance at last or 2) pay less.