Cook: Arkansas Republicans ‘Mitt Romneyed’ Themselves On Obamacare

It’s official as of 10:30am today. The Republican-controlled state legislature passed Obamacare in Arkansas and Governor Beebe signed it into law. Or, as it’s commonly called, the private option.

Which leads me to this question: Have Arkansas Republicans “Mitt Romneyed” themselves over Obamacare?

I believe they have.

As Governor, Mitt Romney passed health care legislation that became a model for Obamacare, which meant that during the 2012 campaign Romney couldn’t get any traction attacking Obama on this issue. Every time he tried, Obama pointed out Romney was criticizing him for implementing Romney’s own plan.

Back here in Arkansas during the 2010 and 2012 election, Republicans used Obamacare as a figurative baseball bat against Democrats. “A vote for a Democrat is a vote for Obamacare” was a significant part of Republicans’ message for those two elections.

But now, by voting for the Medicaid private option, Republicans voted to bring Obamacare to Arkansas. Looking ahead to the 2014 general election, Arkansas Republicans have taken one of their most effective cannons of attack off the political battlefield.

Anytime a Republican mouths off on Obamacare, Democrats can counter-attack that it was Republicans who brought Obamacare to Arkansas. Moreover, extensive quotes of various right-wing groups and leaders opposing the private option can be used against Arkansas Republicans come election time.

Republicans can defend themselves by explaining how technically that may be incorrect and how the private option saved the state money, making lemonade out of lemons, etc.

If you’re explaining, you’re losing.

Rank-and-file Arkansas Republicans believe their own party passed Obamacare. Check out the front page of today’s Democrat-Gazette for a perfect example of how angry some folks in Benton County are over this issue. Words like “traitors”, “turncoats” and even “socialism” are employed. Check out Twitter for more examples of how some Republicans believe their party abandoned their principles.

Along those same lines, Republicans bringing Obamcare to Arkansas could have an effect on some legislative leaders who may want to run for statewide office.

Republican Speaker of the House Davy Carter is one example of someone who may pay a future political price for bringing Obamacare to Arkansas. Carter has left the door open to running for either Governor or Attorney General.

The question is, can Carter even make it out of a Republican statewide primary after fighting for Obamacare? That’s exactly how any Republican primary opponent will frame the issue.

In the end, by voting for Obamacare, Republicans did the morally right thing by voting to help roughly 200,000 low-income Arkansans get access to affordable health care.

But by doing so, Republicans have “Mitt Romenyed” themselves on this issue.