Go Ahead, Supporters, It's 'ObamaCare'

At first, there was an unofficial ban among supporters of President Obama's health care overhaul on referring to it as "ObamaCare." But, as of last Friday, the ban was no more: An email to supporters proclaimed, "Happy birthday ObamaCare," and declared "ObamaCare … something to be proud of." Now, Democratic activists are chanting, "We love ObamaCare" and hoisting signs that say the same as they stand outside the Supreme Court, the AP reports. "It just rolls off the tongue much easier than 'We love the Affordable Care Act,'" one supporter explains.

"ObamaCare" was originally dreamed up by opponents of the law as an insult, and the president's re-election campaign didn't take the choice to embrace it lightly. Ultimately, however, the campaign decided to spin the word to its own advantage, in an attempt to use the right's own term against them like "rhetorical jujitsu," says one expert. The campaign made the move after Obama tested out using the term at fundraisers—and it is already selling "I Like ObamaCare" T-shirts. (More Obama Health Care Plan stories.)