GOP Got It Wrong – 10 ways Republicans lost the debate on Obamacare

Exactly five years ago today, the White House hosted a signing ceremony in the East Room for one of the most important policy breakthroughs in a generation. Policymakers from both parties have talked about providing health security for all of the nation’s families for roughly a century, but on March 23, 2010, officials gathered not just to talk but to celebrate action.

Vice President Biden introduced President Obama to the audience and, in comments that weren’t intended for the public’s ears, said to the president off-mic, “This is a big f***ing deal.” Five years later, there’s little doubt that Biden was entirely correct.

If you’d told me five years ago that on March 23, 2015, the Affordable Care Act would exceed expectations on every possible metric, including reducing the nation’s uninsured rate by a third, I’d say “Obamacare” would look like a great success. And fortunately for the country, that’s exactly what’s happened.

Anniversaries are a good time to pause, reflect, and take stock, and when it comes to health care reform, objective observers are going to find it easy on the ACA’s fifth anniversary to appreciate the law’s triumphs. But it’s also a good time to take a moment to acknowledge those who told Americans exactly what to expect from the Affordable Care Act – and who got the story backwards.

Failed Prediction #1: Americans won’t enroll in the ACA

Failed Prediction #2: The ACA won’t meet its enrollment goals

Failed Prediction #3: Insurers will want no part of the ACA system

Failed Prediction #4: The economy will suffer terribly because of ‘Obamacare’

Failed Prediction #5: Even if Americans enrolled, they won’t pay their premiums

Failed Prediction #6: Even if people pay their premiums, the flawed ACA structure will send premiums soaring

Failed Prediction #7: The ACA won’t reduce the uninsured rate because it will only help those who already have coverage

Failed Prediction #8: The ACA will lead to a “net loss” on overall coverage

Failed Prediction #9: The ACA will lead to higher deficits and a weaker fiscal footing for the nation

Failed Prediction #10: Americans will end up hating the coverage they receive through the ACA

That’s 10 failed predictions and we could keep going. ACA critics were wrong about the “death spiral.” And “rate shock.” And the notion that young people wouldn’t enroll. And assertions that Medicare patients would suffer. None of these predictions – literally, none of them – stood up to scrutiny.

More From MSNBC: