Hoping to take a break from politics and get some early Christmas shopping done from the comfort of your home or office? Good luck, because now even Cyber Monday is an opportunity for the right wing to, what else,
bash Democrats over Obamacare. Because nothing signals the start of the holiday season like telling people not to get health insurance as a political statement.
It's American Action Network's (AAN) first web campaign focused on the law this cycle, and marks an escalation of attacks for the group — and a warning to Democrats that even attempts to improve the law can't insulate them from its political fallout.
According to details shared first with The Hill, the group is hitting Democratic Reps. Scott Peters (Calif.), Brad Schneider (Ill.), Carol Shea-Porter (N.H.), Patrick Murphy (Fla.) and John Barrow (Ga.), as well as Democrat Erin Bilbray, who is challenging Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.), with the ads.
They're targeting shoppers and feature snow-covered ornaments and beribboned gift boxes, the latter reading "Erin Bilbray, running from ObamaCare" and "Don't buy it."
So much for peace and goodwill. It's a questionable strategy. For one thing, the most receptive tea party audience for the message is not the demographic you expect to be doing most of their holiday shopping online. The other part is that holiday shoppers might just end up a little resentful about having their holiday invaded by politics.
Meanwhile, consumers are reporting good news on the HealthCare.gov front, signing up and saying things like "It’s so exciting to get better insurance at a lower price." In other words, the message that Republicans fear the most.