Health Insurance Industry to GOP: “Nevermind”

“Obamacare.” “Government Takeover of our health care!” “Shoved down the throats of The American People!” “Repeal and Replace!”

There’s just one tiny problem with all these hysterical rightwing soundbites: the health insurance industry doesn’t want Obamacare “repealed and replaced.”

Obama will veto every attempt to repeal health care reform. But more importantly, the HMOs will clamp onto Obamacare like a pit bull if the GOP tries to repeal it. The individual mandate is the most unpopular part of Obamacare and the basis for most of the lawsuits against it. It’s also a multi-billion-dollar gold mine for HMOs. Good luck trying to take that away from them.

Congressional Republicans can still keep the teabaggers riled up over “Socialized Medicine!” and “Death Panels!” They’ll probably add a “Repeal Obamacare!” amendment to every bill. But at least now we all know that the GOP’s puppetmasters don’t actually want them to succeed with “Repeal and Replace.”

Don’t worry, Republicans will probably continue with their “Repeal and Replace” fanfare and Astroturf “demonstrators” waving mis-spelled signs. What else are they gonna do?