As liberal activists embrace Tea Party tactics to try to rescue the Affordable Care Act, Tea Party organizations are preparing to reclaim the protest mantle by planning a "day of action" to encourage Congress to repeal Obamacare. "Tea Party tactics were excellent when there were not Republican majorities in Congress and when the president was opposed to all conservative policies," Freedom Works stated in acknowledging that a new approach is necessary now that the GOP controls the executive and legislative branches.
"Rallies by themselves are a defensive tactic used by those without significant leverage in the government," Freedom Works CEO Adam Brandon stated. "It's time to move from defense to offense."
From March 15 to April 15, "Freedom Works will begin to unleash new tactics," the conservative group stated, promising to bring 1,000 supporters to Capitol Hill for the March 15 kickoff.
Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Mike Lee, R-Utah, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Reps. Dave Bratt, R-Va., Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Mark Meadows, R-N.C., and Mark Walker, R-N.C., are all slated to speak at the rally.
The group is not waiting two weeks to follow through on its promise to hold lawmakers' feet to the fire.
"The House and Senate sent this repeal of Obamacare to Obama's desk. Why are they afraid to send it to President Trump's desk?" the group stated Tuesday, referring to the ACA repeal bill Republicans passed in 2015.
"After nearly seven years, it's time for Republicans to follow through on their promises and repeal Obamacare by using the 2015 reconciliation bill as the baseline," Brandon stated. "It would be a stunning level of political hypocrisy if Republicans failed to follow through. Thankfully, principled conservatives are fighting for full repeal, not a watered down bill or Obamacare-lite," he said in praising Cruz, Jordan, Lee, Meadows, Paul and Walker for insisting on making the 2015 legislation the floor for any bill passed this year.
