It's a "pretty dramatic change" for Democrats to go from embracing Obamacare to pledging to fix it, Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush, said Monday.
"Let's recognize this is a pretty dramatic change for the Democrats," Rove said on
Fox News' "Happening Now." "Last year, they were going to own it. They were going to reach out and grab it. They were going to support it. They were going to proclaim its many benefits."
Editor's Note: Should ObamaCare Be Defunded? Vote in Urgent National Poll
Rove questioned whether Democrats would still be credible with
their new position on Obamacare by the midterm elections this fall. He said the shift in support by Democrats for the healthcare law showed their awareness of its problems.
"This is a practical recognition that this law is unpopular, likely to remain so. And, that they can't simply say, 'Oh, everything is taken care of. It is glorious. Don't worry. Everything will work out,'" he said.
Rove said the Republican stance on Obamacare should emphasize a "specific critique" that says, "We want to replace it with something new. And, here is what the new thing is."
He also suggested stressing the broken promises about Obamacare, and said Republicans should "nail each one of these Democrats, starting with President (Barack) Obama for having said something that turned out not to be true."
Beyond that, Rove said voters should question Democrats who have been "reliable votes for Obama."
"The question is, do you want to have somebody who's just going to vote down the line with the president? Or, do you want to have somebody who's going to be a reliable check on the president during the last two years in office?" Rove said.
Obamacare continues to be a "political liability in every state," Rove said. Opponents of the law are "far more energetic" than supporters, which could affect the outcome of the midterm elections, he said.
"The people who say, 'I don't like it,' say it with a lot of vehemence and anger. That drives the turnout in the midterm elections," he said.
Editor's Note: Should ObamaCare Be Defunded? Vote in Urgent National Poll
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.