Let's talk politics

This will be his main weapon.  All he has to do is quote the SCOTUS as saying that the ACA is a tax.

Are you referencing the supreme courts opinion that the mandate is not allowed, but treating this as a tax is?

with what?

As details continue to be unvieled, the opportunities to oppose Obamacare become greater and greater IMHO.   First, we have this small issue of how to pay for increased # of folks who will roll over to Medicaid.  States are not mandated to be on the hook so who then pays?  The "This is not a tax" quote of Obama's will be repeated endless times in commercials, debates etc and will showcase the pitch he made for better part of 2 years as a blatent lie.  This part was interesting to me though. 

He knew well in advance that to pass the bill he had to avoid tax debate.   Then he quickly realized that was only loop-hole that would work to help win pass Supreme Court test.   So he basically sacrificed integrity and honesty for hope that greater good of it passing would trump the aftermath.   Who knows, I am starting to be right more than not when underestimating the intelegence of our citizens so maybe this was the right choice to make.  

I think the Romney Care issue is dead and has been beated to a dead pulp during the GOP primaries.   This is no longer news and quickly gets old.   That defense from liberals will not be enough on it's own.   Doesn't mean that the point doesnt have merit to some degree, but it is not NEWS.  Romney has the edge when it comes to speaking points and what I feel is the (slim) majority of the Country behind him in regards to this issue.  We saw what happened in 2010 elections as the Health Care debate played center stage.  Majority of Dem,s who supported it were sent packing.  while the arguments will have to change for the candidates running against these folks, the priniciple still stands that they will be willing to repeal the Act and incumbents better do a heck of a job supporting the "HOW" we will subsidize millions of people who will not be placed into coverage. 

oh, right.  he he he.  Yeah, repealing medicare is going to go over great with the Romney base... who are all on medicare.   

Yeah.  A mandate based health care system which brings more people into the role of paying for their health care.  Romney will get up and say "That was the worst law I ever signed!"

It won't be easily rendered a moot point.  it will take $1B of Koch Bro's and Adelson funded advertising to convince people that Romney had nothing to do with Romneycare.  However- with enough money, you can make people believe anything.

I think it's funny (in a sick and sad way) that the GOP is so against THEIR health care plan, just because the enemy adopted it. 

The thing is, Romney can't repeal anything.  Only Congress can and as of now the Democrats still hold the majority in the Senate.  It makes for a good campaign speech, but like most of what politicians say it's just empty words. 

I just read this article which is a little (ok a lot) conspiracy theory ish.

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/06/in-health-care-ruling-roberts-steals-a-move-from-john-marshalls-playbook/259121/#.T-yRTyasDq8.facebook

But the underlying premise is actually pretty spot in IMHO.  The ruling by the Supremes today helps Romney (a lot).  Now wether he can actually repeal it, replace it, or whatever is a whole other argument that doesn't really play into getting elected.

Romney's quote today was "What the Court failed to do on its last day in session, I will do on my first day if elected President of the United States, and that is I will repeal Obamacare".  That's all well and good if the GOP can win back the Senate, but they need to pick up 4 seats and hold on to Maine and Massachusettes.  Looking at the seats up for grabs, that's by no means a lock. 

Romney is clearly making this his #1 issue.  If the GOP can't win the Senate and hold on to the House, then President Romney is going to come off looking pretty weak.  As bad, if not worse, than Obama did when he vowed to end the Iraq war in 16 months, then took until December of 2011 to get it done.

And there is some discretionary funding that can be withheld, but the bulk of Obamacare was crafted with mandatory spending requirements.

er... did you even read the article you linked?  What the Ryan plan does is 'privatize' medicare.  It provides credits or vouchers for old people to go and shop around for their health plan.  FWIW- I often disagree with politifact's ratings.  I think 'ending medicare' is a pretty accurate description of what the Ryan plan proposes.  Truthfully, it changes the nature of medicare significantly, from a single payer system to a privatized one.  

What I don't know about the GOP plan is how they handle the 'freeloaders'.  Ya' know, way back in the 80's Reagan signed that bill that requires all hospitals to care for anyone that walks into the emergency room, regardless of their ability to pay.  Of course, there was no money behind that requirement, but it was a big step that Reagan took to guaranteeing a level of socialism in medical care.  So, what does the GOP plan do to handle those expenses?  

see- that's the part about the mandate (and the 50% credits to small businesses).  it gets a lot more people that previously were freeloaders, and brings them into the paying roles.  It also guarantees that many prevention and screening treatments are covered with no co-pay, which has been shown to reduce overall expenses.  (colonoscopies and the like)

Freeloading is a mindset, not a monetary state.  The same people who paid nothing before will pay nothing in the future.

Romney's campaign is declining to call this a tax. Thoughts?

He pretty much had to because of the Romneycare mandate.  Then again the rest of the republican party can and will beat that drum loudly so that Romney doesn't have to.

I don't think it really matters.  It is a little amusing to watch the Dems try to answer the question about it being a tax or not a tax, but that's about all I get out of it.