‘Obamacare’: Say It Loud and Proud

By Edward Koch

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision upholding the constitutionality of the Obama administration’s universal medical coverage law is a huge victory for the president and greatly increases his chances for re-election.

Thank you, Chief Justice Roberts!

The president also brilliantly increased his re-election prospects by exempting from deportation individuals (overwhelmingly Hispanic) brought to this country illegally when under the age of 16.

That action ensures that the president will receive an even larger vote from Hispanics than he received in 2008. Republicans were caught flatfooted on this issue and, due to mean-spiritedness, were unable to advance a similar proposal made by Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.

Gov. Mitt Romney has said he will repeal the president’s executive order and put in his own, without revealing what that would be. The president’s detractors, primarily Republicans but some Democrats, have criticized his campaign as uninspired and the president as lacking leadership qualities.

Those making snide and untrue charges are now eating their words.

The Democrats will now drive home the major positive changes associated with the new health law. According to the New York Times of June 30, those include “medical coverage for children up to age 26, protections for people with pre-existing conditions and the end of annual and lifetime caps on certain forms of coverage.”

It is true that many voters were—and still are—confused about the effects of the universal medical coverage law, dubbed “Obamacare” by opponents. Today, I believe Obamacare is on its way to becoming positive—big time.

The Democratic campaigns should feature the descriptive name in their literature explaining its overwhelmingly positive consumer protections.

Indeed, I would urge that one Democratic campaign promise be that if the voters give the Democrats majorities in both houses, the president will seek to amend the bill to allow for a government option that would compete with insurance companies to keep premiums as low as possible.

This would be similar to what FDR did with the TVA power service keeping the prices of electricity down in the area served by the new TVA dam and private electricity-generating companies.

I believe President Barack Obama should promise to allow Medicare to seek volume discounts in prescription drugs, saving billions. He should consent to allowing insurance companies of every state to sell their policies in every state—adding competition.

This Supreme Court decision issued by a 5-4 majority, with Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. providing the deciding vote, is perceived by many court observers to be a historic vote.

It also reinforces the observation that no one can predict with certainty how Supreme Court nominees will vote—no matter what their perceived ideology, and no matter which president appointed them.

President Eisenhower thought when he appointed Earl Warren Chief Judge he was appointing a conservative. The Warren Court is considered one of the most liberal of Supreme Courts because of Warren’s influence.

What a great country!

How fortunate for those of us who, by birth or naturalization, are citizens of the United States. We supported and voted for President Obama in 2008 hoping for change, bringing the fruits and bounty of our country to more of its inhabitants.

There is so much more to do. Let’s make sure President Obama is given a second term in which to get it done.

© 2012 Newsmax