Cong. Insiders on Both Sides Like SCOTUS Ruling
On a policy basis, Republicans and Democrats couldn't be further apart when it comes to their thoughts on the Supreme Court's ruling on health care. But what about politically? Both parties believe it was good for them. In a poll of National Journal Congressional Insiders, both Democrats and Republicans think that the decision to uphold President Obama's signature legislation helped their party's electoral prospects in the fall. Eighty-one percent of Democrats and 82 percent of Republicans said that it was good for their party.
Was the Supreme Court's decision on health care good or bad for your party's electoral prospects in the fall? |
||
| Democrats (27 votes) |
Republicans (22 votes) |
|
| Good | 81% | 82% |
| Bad | 0% | 9% |
| No difference | 19% | 5% |
| Other | 0% | 5% |
"Basically, Obama has a noose around his neck with a very unpopular law, and the Supreme Court said, 'Yeah, it's tied right,'" said one Republican about the ruling.
Republicans believe that the ruling will fire up their base with the knowledge that the only way to get rid of the law is with a new president.
"I only answered good because great wasn't an option," said a Republican. "We got a fired-up base and get to talk about Obamataxcare in terms of the economy and taxes."
And while many conservatives expressed their frustration with Chief Justice John Roberts at the time, at least one Republican is willing to give him kudos: "Roberts helps GWB and now Mitt," he said.
And Democrats themselves are calling the decision a victory, and not necessarily a Pyrrhic one.
"Ultimately, it will be good for many people in our country," said one Democrat. "If Democrats figure out how to message consistently and clearly on how the law enables us to achieve better health care outcomes for less money or for the same amount of money, it will be a plus for our party, too."
Of course, Democrats also say it is better than the alternative.
"A negative decision would have cast a pall on the president's priorities and leadership," said one Democrat.
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