As party leaders send mixed-messages, voters are left wondering what exactly the GOP stands for.
On Monday, Senator Ron Johnson told a conservative outlet that Republicans should have a plan to repeal and replace Obamacare if they ever return to power in Washington, D.C.
Johnson’s remarks were eye-brow raising. Despite constant criticism from Republicans, Obamacare – also known as the Affordable Care Act – has become increasing popular. According to public polling conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a healthy majority of Americans (58%) have a favorable view of the policy. That’s an all-time high.
In addition, approximately 31 million Americans now have health coverage though the ACA, and the rate of signups have increased since President Joe Biden extended the enrollment period.
Johnson has used his tenure in office to spread ridiculous misinformation about COVID-19 and the 2020 presidential election; even when he’s been caught spreading outright lies, he rarely issues walk-backs and corrections. But incredibly, Johnson issued a convoluted statement on Monday night explaining that he merely mentioned Obamacare “as an example of how we need to be prepared to deliver on whatever agenda items we decide to run on.”
“I was not suggesting repealing and replacing Obamacare should be one of those priorities,” he added.
Johnson’s foot-in-the-mouth moment is just the latest sign that the GOP has no unified message headed into the 2022 midterms.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the most powerful Republican in the U.S. government, has resisted issuing a policy platform, telling reporters that the GOP’s plan for running Congress will become available “when we take it back.”
That apparently didn’t sit well with Florida Senator Rick Scott, who chairs the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm. Scott released a rogue 11-point plan to “rescue America.” CNN reports:
Among the most attention-grabbing of his proposals in the memo, which says it was paid for by his campaign and not the NRSC, is completing Donald Trump‘s border wall and naming it after the former President, as well as calling for all Americans to pay an income tax “even if a small amount.”
Scott’s plan also endangers Social Security and Medicare by requiring Congress to reauthorize the programs every five years, a perilous requirement in an age of political brinksmanship where passing even routine budgets is fraught.
The idea of raising taxes, even “a small amount” is generally anathema to Republicans. Indeed, McConnell rebuked Scott’s plan, telling reporters: “Let me tell you what will not be a part of our agenda: We will not have as part of our agenda a bill that raises taxes on half the American people and sunsets Social Security and Medicare after five years. That will not be part of the Republican Senate majority agenda.”
As the the GOP sorts out its political objectives, Democrats are seizing on the dysfunction. Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, recently tweeted, “Senate Republicans have a plan to gut health care, raise premiums, and strip protections for pre-existing conditions. They also want to raise taxes on half of Americans, including seniors and working families. Don’t take my word for it, listen to @SenRickScott and @SenRonJohnson.”