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Take Two

Friday Flashback: Obamacare fallout, immigration reform, and more

By Take Two Staff
Published Oct 25, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 21: U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks about the error-plagued launch of the Affordable Care Act's online enrollment website in the Rose Garden of the White House October 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. According to the White House, the president was joined by 'consumers, small business owners, and pharmacists who have either benefitted from the health care law already or are helping consumers learn about what the law means for them and how they can get covered. 'Despite the new health care law's website problems, Obama urged Americans not to be deterred from registering for Obamacare because of the technological problems that have plagued its rollout. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks about the error-plagued launch of the Affordable Care Act's online enrollment website in the Rose Garden of the White House October 21, 2013 in Washington, DC.
(
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
)

Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.

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Friday Flashback: Obamacare fallout, immigration reform, and more

It's time for our weekly analysis of the big stories making news, the Friday Flashback. Joining us to discuss healthcare.gov and other stories is Nancy Cook of National Journal, and James Rainey of the LA Times.

Three weeks after its launch, and the healthcare site is still buggy, people say they can't sign up for insurance, the word train wreck is being thrown around. Let's start with the basic question. How did the White House let this happen?

Yesterday, there was the first in what will be a whole series of hearings in Congress. Tech companies execs claimed they did their jobs, and the government agency overseeing this was to blame. Some Democrats objected to the entire process. But even if some Democrats protest, isn't this a real opportunity for Republicans to continue their fight against Obamacare?

May Republicans be able to use the healthcare.gov problems as a way to neutralize the damage done to them by the shutdown? Do you think all this means it's time for the government to establish a cabinet-level department of digital technology?

Even without the website problems, there are lots of anecdotes rolling in about Obamacare. Most of them are not good. People complaining they have to purchase policies that will be more expensive than what they had before. Young people who say they have no intention of enrolling. Healthcare reform is considered President Obama's legacy achievement, but could it actually tarnish his legacy?

Meanwhile, leaders from both parties began talking about immigration reform again. The President was out pushing for it this week, and the House Speaker, John Boehner said he's hopeful reform will happen. What are the chances he can get Republicans in line to support something that Democrats in the Senate will also get behind?

Here in California, there is talk of trying to organize recall elections that target officials who support gun control. You'll remember there was a similar, and successful effort to do this in Colorado. But California?