A Republican Congresswoman’s Obamacare Twitter Poll Didn’t Go as Planned

Politics

 | January 5, 2017 | By Steven Lerner

One of the many consequences stemming from the election of Donald Trump is that the Republicans will control the White House, the Senate, and the House. And first on their agenda is the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (better known as Obamacare).

On Tuesday, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), a staunch opponent of Obamacare, posted a Twitter poll asking her followers if they supported the repeal of the health care bill.

And the results of the poll were not what Blackburn was expecting.

84 percent of the nearly 8,000 people who voted in the poll opposed the repeal of Obamacare.

Do you support the repeal of Obamacare? RT if you do, and share what you want to see as the replacement.

— Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 3, 2017

According to The Hill, White House spokesman Eric Schultz retweeted the Twitter poll, which may have helped influence the results.

Blackburn and other members of Congress also have access to a better publicly funded health care plan. In addition, the Republicans have yet to name a sustainable alternative to the Affordable Care Act.

Parts of Obamacare still remain largely popular. Since the bill was enacted, over 20 million people have gained access to affordable health care. Also, the rate of health insurance premium increases has dropped thanks to the bill.

On Wednesday, the hashtag #ACAWorks began trending on Twitter, as many people shared their personal stories of how Obamacare has helped them.

My brother has insurance because of ACA. He has MS and is self employed. It's literally saving his life. He's having his 1st baby! #ACAWorks

— IMPEACH OrangeJulius (@puppymnkey) January 5, 2017

#ACAWorks: Women are no longer charged more than men for the same coverage. Being a woman is no longer a pre-existing condition.

— Rep. Lois Frankel (@RepLoisFrankel) January 5, 2017

#acaworks before ACA my son with cerebral palsy was uninsurable despite our ability to pay. Now is covered as no pre-existing condition

— Kate Pearce (@Kate4Queen) January 4, 2017