Tough sell: Obamacare isn't worth causing chaos

Conservatives have had an interesting line of argument: (bear with it... for now.)

• They aren't the ones who want to shut down government.
• They want government to keep going, but without Obamacare.
• It's the Dems who are shutting down government just to preserve a program that Americans don't even like.
• IT'S THE DEMS' FAULT.

Well, that's how the argument goes. There is a simple, step-wise logic to the argument. It's actually the mirror image of the Democratic argument -- the DEMS aren't the ones who want to shut down government; the DEMS want government to keep going, but WITH Obamacare; it's the GOP who are shutting down...

See, the arguments are mirror images. They work for both sides or for neither, which is intensely frustrating and leaves me wanting to yell "But... but...."

So, if the shutdown happens, who will be successful in selling this argument which works for either side? I want that question to linger here for a while.

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Let's assume that both the Dems and the GOP have their bases locked up.

• For some low-information voters who haven't heard the argument yet, whichever side they hear first, they may believe. 
• People who are really fearful of Obamacare will go with the GOP side.
• People who have gotten used to the Senate being the more mature, moderate, and deliberative body will see what the Senate does, and go against the GOP crazies.
• People who thought the issue was settled with the 2012 election will go against the GOP partisans who just... won't... get... the... message!

So, although the GOP was successful in making Obamacare somewhat unpopular, I don't think they were successful enough to get Americans to support chaos for the sake of blocking it. But we shall see.

Who will end up in the dunk tank?

Image: www.completerantallsorillia.com

Addendum 9/29/13. The shutdown arguments of the Dems and the GOP are mirror-images, but this argument does favor one side.

• The GOP argument
• We really want to change US law.
• We don't have the votes to do it.
• We'll threaten shutdown, default, or havoc to get the changes we want.
• Maybe we'll need a second amendment solution if that doesn't work.

• The Dem argument
• If you really want to change US law, put together the votes in Congress.

This shows how they aren't the same argument.