The Republicans faced criticism for their attempt to force negotiations on the Affordable Care Act, as President Obama would not compromise on his signature healthcare law. While their strategy of reducing government costs was sound, specifically targeting Obamacare gave Democrats ammunition. The Republicans should continue pursuing cost reductions through the budget and debt ceiling, which have been mainstream conservative goals for decades, in order to save the nation from an overreaching federal government. However, they should avoid mentioning Obamacare to make their case more effective.

1. Those damn Republicans…
The Republicans have again taken it on the chin for their recent attempt to force Obama into
negotiating on his doomed healthcare reform law. It is clear that Obama will not back off,
because Obamacare is the ONLY bit of work of which he can take ownership from his entire
first term! And from the looks of things, he will have no other opus to boast about during his
second term.
So, the Republicans made a tactical faux pas by trying to force him to the negotiating table on his
law. It would be compromising his legacy. Their strategy was just fine however. Even most
Democrats agree that the general plan should be to reduce costs of everything government.
Reducing costs is not a Tea Party concept. It has been a mainstream conservative concept for as
long as I can remember. The Constitution limits the duties of the government, and for good
reason. Yet for over 75 years, the Federal government has succeeded in growing and taking on
new responsibilities that were never mentioned by the Founders.
I sincerely hope that the pounding that the Republicans in the House are taking right now will
not inhibit them from doing the right thing in the long term by reducing costs. I would never
criticize the Republicans for holding the debt ceiling or the budget hostage for the higher
principle of saving this nation from its government. They should avoid mentioning Obamacare
in their cost cutting however.