Democrats Joining Republicans In Protest Over Medicare Advantage Cuts

by JASmius

Evidently there are some Democrats who still are under the anachronistic impression that this country is still a constitutional federal republic subject to the popular sovereignty of the American people:

Several Democrats — including some lawmakers whose re-election bids are seen as vulnerable in this year's midterm races — are joining Republicans in calling for the Obama administration to stop proposed cuts to the Medicare Advantage program.

Administration officials plan to announce the 2015 rates for the program on Monday, reports the Hill, and could prove a sensitive issue as both parties are courting the senior citizens who tend to turn out in high numbers to vote in midterms.

Republicans say the program is a valid private alternative to Medicare, as it allows seniors to enroll in plans offered by private insurers, who are then directly paid by the federal government.

Until now, Democrats have complained that the plan receives a disportionate amount of money compared to the Medicare program, and ObamaCare was partially funded through $200 billion in cuts over ten years.

"Until now," eh?  Gee, what has taken place in recent times to change Democrats' previous complaint, and what is on the near temporal horizon that could reinforce that change of heart?

Ah, yes:

Opponents include Senators. Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, considered two of the Democratic Party's most vulnerable senators seeking re-election. But some powerful Democrats are also speaking out, including Senators Charles Schumer and Michael Bennett.

Opponents staged a protest on the House floor Thursday to ramp up the pressure on Obama.

"I oppose these cuts, and I have called upon the president to reverse course and protect this critical program," said Democratic Representative Ron Barber of Arizona.

Schumer and Bennett are next up for re-election in 2016, so their day of reckoning is starting to come over the horizon as well.

Still, I have to admit I'm a tad puzzled by Donk alarm.  Weren't they paying attention last Tuesday?  ObamaCare met its "enrollment" goal!  That means ObamaCare is wildly popular and Democrats can run on it instead of away from it, just like Nancy Pelosi keeps saying!  Did Pryor and Landrieu and Schumer and Bennett and Barber and the rest not get the memo?  So who cares about Medicare Advantage?

And then there's the allegedly toxic Paul Ryan budget, with its own "massive" Medicare and Medicaid "cuts" that will be the Dems' "salvation" if House Republicans muster the "foolish" gumption to pass it anyway.  Why aren't Pryor and Landrieu and Schumer and Bennett and Barber and the rest demagogueing that instead of cravenly succumbing to the Medicare Advantage manipulations of the "Republican Attack Machine"?  It's almost as if they still think that having cast the deciding vote for ObamaCare is still a liability or something:

The issue is already coming up in early primaries, with Republicans who vowed to make ObamaCare the key issue this election cycle tying Democrats to the proposed Medicare Advantage cuts.

And even though Landrieu opposes the cuts, Representative Bill Cassidy, R-LA6, has attacked her over them, saying that her vote helped get ObamaCare approved and bring about the cuts that she now opposes.

And suddenly, the logic, such as it is, presents itself: imperiled Donks are better off defending Medicare Advantage - which is, in essence, to oppose spending cuts - then they are defending ObamaCare itself.  Senator Landrieu would be better off defending the release of nude pictures of herself on the Internet than she would talking about ObamaCare in any way, shape, or form, even a complete about-face to advocacy of repeal.

Still doesn't explain why Donks aren't trying to change the subject to the Ryan budget, though.  Or the nude Internet pics of Mark Pryor.  That'd probably restore his popularity.  Worked for Turgid Tony Weiner, didn't it?