Shame on the Republicans

Michael Gerson argues that President Obama put his re-election at risk for pushing through the Affordable Care Act in 2010 without any Republican votes or without “recalibrating” following the loss of Ted Kennedy's Senate seat [“Obama’s discrediting victory limits chances for another term,” Opinion, Oct. 30].

Really? By the end of 2009, Obamacare had already been recalibrated practically to death. Obama and the Democrats had compromised on one thing after another, trying to attract support from any Republican at all.

The reality is that the Affordable Care Act comprises a series of reforms to the existing system, designed to encourage insurance providers to treat consumers fairly, increase access to coverage and expand Medicaid. More is needed. If commercial plans actually reached everybody who needs health insurance, no one would ever have seen a need for Obamacare, Medicare, Medicaid or the VA.

It's a sad shame that Republicans begrudge other Americans real access to adequate, ongoing medical supervision because of phony concerns about too much government.

— Judy DeLaittre, Seattle