OBAMACARE!!!!! (GASP)

As I sat today watching local television, I came across a plethora of campaign ads. Let's not kid ourselves; that's the only reason I watch local television. I did notice that there will be a theme to the Republican ads this year, and I doubt it will end with just the primary: "ObamaCare." It's used as a scary term, made more frightening by that creepy political voiceover gentleman. And yes, let's admit it: the use of this word to describe a healthcare bill that will potentially help a countless number of people gain access to health care just annoys the hell out of us Democrats.

Was the bill perfect? I don't believe anyone has said it was. Was it everything I hoped it would be? Not at all. Did it include things that I didn't want it to and not include things that I did want it to?Absolutely. But it's what we've got. It was the final bill; it passed. That's how government works. And for all the debate about the deficit and deficit spending, it's become obvious what Republicans are choosing to say (even if implicitly): $ > People. Period. That's what it comes down to. What's lost in the debate about health care, and these ads that I saw of Ralph Hudgens, Sam Olens, etc., is that when it comes to health care, people's lives are at stake. And I have serious doubts that even one of these people screaming at the top of his/her lungs about the deficit wouldn't do a complete 180 if a family member was gravely ill and bankrupt. That's all I'm saying. Prioritize people. When you prioritize money, you get yourself into situations where the rich get rich, the poor get poorer, the sick get sicker, profitable companies get more profitable at the expense of the blue collar worker...and these all statistically seem to recur under Republican administrations. Deficits are unsustainable over the long-term, but Tea Partiers kid themselves if they think this country hasn't always operated with short-term deficits. They are workable and manageable. And there are many ways to cut spending. These days, "excessive spending" just conveniently seems to translate to "spending on programs I don't approve of." (Like health care or clean energy) Trying to make this a national election instead of one about Georgia is the last thing that this state needs. Get over yourselves.

You're going to see these ads frequently, and you can't stop them from using the word "ObamaCare", but if you encounter someone who is voting Republican and that's one of his/her big issues, then I have some advice: next time you hear a person use the word "ObamaCare", just bite your tongue and smile. Accept the word as it is...but then alter your vocabulary a little bit too. Social Security will now become "Roosevelt Security", and Medicaid and Medicare will now respectively be "LyndonAid" and "JohnsonCare." Toss ObamaCare in with them; all we're proving is that when it comes to caring for the people of this country, providing compassionate safety nets, and helping those who aren't so fortunate...Democrats have cornered the market.