McConnell decides not to try and repeal Affordable Care Act

[Riot]

by Joan McCarter

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has decided that there's not much percentage in attempting to continue a futile effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. He might not have much going for him in the way of principles, but he is smart enough politically to understand that voters in 2012 are much more concerned about the economy.

Unfortunately for McConnell, some big spenders on the Right don't want to let that happen.

Back on planet earth, the most recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll [pdf] actually found that repeal really isn't so popular after all. Fifty-four percent of respondents either want to keep the law as is (19 percent) or expand it (35 percent), while 18 percent say replace it with the as-of-yet nonexistent Republican replacement and 19 percent say repeal it. Republican math doesn't really work like everyone else's, but 19 percent does not make a majority.

McConnell is smart enough to read the polls, though his caucus might not be. He's going to continue to get a lot of pressure from these outside extremist groups, and from the fringe in his own caucus. He'll likely bow to the pressure and keep on having disastrous votes like the Blunt amendment, already giving "moderate" Republicans heartburn. Good.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/0...lth-law-repeal