Behold the plight of Republicans elected in districts carried by President Obama:
In another sign that the politics of repeal are far from a slam dunk for many Republicans, a House GOPer went way off the national Republican Party's message on the health law, dismissing the House vote for repeal as merely "ceremonial" and saying it was time for the GOP to "put up or shut up" on their promise to "repeal and replace."
The complaints were delivered by newly elected Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY), whose district was carried by President Obama in 2008 with 51% of the vote. Hanna said:
They've complained for two years about this health care bill. They've offered alternatives, but they're not alternatives that are in many ways viable. Well, now they have to put up the goods. They have to say "here's what we're presenting, here's why it will work." ... Let the Republican party put up or shut up.
Tell you what, Congressman Hanna. I'll gladly donate $10 to your reelection campaign if the Republicans actually pass a plan that would achieve universal health care while bending down the Medicare cost curve. I'll donate $20 if it's better than the plan that President Obama signed into law. And if neither of those things happen (and we know they won't), I'll donate $30 if you run an ad saying the GOP should "shut up" on health care reform.