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The South Georgia Republican estimated there are about 150,000 Georgians who could get a health insurance plan right now through the Obamacare exchange, where they would pay zero, or single-digit premiums.

Dont get me wrong Carter wasnt offering an endorsement of the Affordable Care Act.

But the tenor of his comments unintentionally showcased a notably different situation for GOP lawmakers. Four years ago with Donald Trump in the White House they were doing everything they could to get rid of the Obama health law. Now thats almost a political relic.

The complaints from Republicans at the state and federal level about the current system arent much different, as GOP officials still argue the plan isnt fixing the problem of people going without health insurance coverage.

Insurance is still far too costly, Carter said. But he made no mention of the Republican calls to repeal the law, which began as soon as it was signed in 2010.

The 11th birthday of the Obama health law was also a reminder that Republicans have never been able to rally around a single legislative plan to replace the system, as Democrats used the new COVID relief law to expand insurance subsidies for the next two years.

With new help for families in the American Rescue Plan, its a great time to sign up for health insurance at healthcare.gov, tweeted U.S. Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux, D-Suwanee.

That same law also offers new incentives to Georgia and other states which have resisted expanding Medicaid under Obamacare to finally take that money from Uncle Sam.

We must expand Medicaid in our state to insure more Georgians, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock said this week.

The Obama health law has been under attack since its inception. Somehow, it has survived, and now seems to be prospering.

Jamie Dupree has covered national politics and the Congress from Washington, D.C. since the Reagan administration. His column will appear weekly in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. For more, check out his Capitol Hill newsletter at http://jamiedupree.substack.com

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Opinion: The debate has changed on the Obama health law - Atlanta Journal Constitution

In the first volume of his memoir, The Promised Land, former President Obama says the smartest decision he ever made was choosing Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate. And hes right. Too bad he didnt listen to Biden more, once he got to the White House.

Its no secret that Obama and those around him never took Biden seriously. They praised him publicly, but privately they clucked, raised their eyebrows, and made him the butt of jokes. To this day, Obamas treatment of Biden is nothing short of embarrassing.

Obama wanted Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonPresident Biden, on special interest money are you more an 'Obama' or a 'Hillary?' Kamala Harris, Bill Clinton to hold talk on pandemic's impact on women Drawing a line from minority discrimination to electoral outcomes MORE, not Biden to succeed him and pressured Biden not to challenge Clinton in the 2016 primary. He tried to talk Biden out of running in 2020 and didnt endorse him until every other Democratic challenger had dropped out. As Amie Parnes and Jonathan Allen reveal in their new book, Lucky, after Biden won the presidency on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Obama didnt call to congratulate him until Saturday, Nov. 7.

And, as Biden himself confessed to CNN, not once in eight years not once! did Barack and Michelle ObamaMichelle LeVaughn Robinson ObamaMichelle Obama jokes living in the White House prepared her for quarantine Michelle Obama slams 'leaders who won't take a stand to save lives' following Boulder shooting Press: What Biden could have taught Obama MORE invite Joe and Jill BidenJill BidenMegan Rapinoe visits White House to mark Equal Pay Day The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - COVID vaccine developments Biden's dogs return to White House MORE to their private quarters in the White House. Ouch!

Too bad. If only Obama had paid more attention to Biden, he might have proven a more consequential president. In only 63 days, Bidens already shown more skill in dealing with Congress than Obama did in eight years. Like Obama, he reached out to Republicans on his first big legislative priority. He held his first Oval Office meeting with Senate Republicans. He offered to work with them in responding to the coronavirus pandemic with a robust stimulus package.

But, unlike Obama, he didnt waste two years, waiting for Republicans to come around. Once it was clear that Sens. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsDemocrats divided on gun control strategy Overnight Health Care: Senate confirms Levine for HHS, first openly transgender official | Progressives up pressure on Biden to back COVID vaccine patent waiver | Former Operation Warp Speed chief fired over sexual harassment allegations Senate confirms first openly transgender official, approving Levine for HHS MORE (R-Maine), Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyDemocrats divided on gun control strategy Remembering Ted Kennedy highlights decline of the Senate Vivek Murthy confirmed as surgeon general MORE (R-Utah), and others werent serious about compromise offering only a $618 billion alternative to his proposed $1.9 trillion stimulus plan Biden decided to charge ahead with Democratic votes only. On March 11, he signed the American Rescue Plan, for which Biden is already being compared to FDR and LBJ (a comparison which Biden himself would admit is premature, at best).

What Biden gets, which Obama never did, is that once you arrive in the Oval Office, you cant waste any time. As president, you have to strike first and fast. Your best opportunity to get big things done is in your first two years, when you still have the wind at your back, popular support, and, most importantly, all the votes you need.

Despite a 256-vote majority in the House and Senate majority that was filibuster-proof for part of his first two years, Obama failed to take advantage of it.

Even though he didnt need them, he tried to win Republican votes by agreeing to a paltry $800 billion stimulus package, yet not one House Republican and only three Republican senators voted for it. He wasted a year trying unsuccessfully to convince Sen. Chuck GrassleyChuck GrassleyBiden takes sales blitz to swing-state Ohio Cruz accuses Democrats of playing 'ridiculous theater' in proposals following mass shootings Senate Judiciary chairman says he 'can't keep up' with number of mass shootings MORE (R-Iowa) to support the Affordable Care Act.

Even with only a razor-thin advantage in both houses of Congress, Bidens not going to make that same mistake. He knows that when youve got the power, youve got to use it before you lose it. Having secured the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, Biden now plans to move on infrastructure, voting rights, climate change, and other priorities. If Republicans want to come onboard, fine, but Biden has determined to plough ahead with or without them.

Americans want action more than they want bipartisanship.

Press is host of The Bill Press Pod. He is author of From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire.

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Press: What Biden could have taught Obama | TheHill - The Hill

Former President Obama renewed calls for tougher gun laws in the wake of mass shootings in Georgia and Colorado in the span of a week.

Obama lamented the "familiar outrage" that has come to accompany the frequent gun violence in the U.S. while offering condolences to the families of victims in Atlanta and Boulder.

"It is long past time for those with the power to fight this epidemic of gun violence to do so. It will take time to root out the disaffection, racism and misogyny that fuels so many of these senseless acts of violence," Obama said in a statement Tuesday.

"But we can make it harder for those with hate in their hearts to buy weapons of war. We can overcome opposition by cowardly politicians and the pressure of a gun lobby that opposes any limit on the ability of anyone to assemble an arsenal. We can, and we must," he continued.

"A once-in-a-century pandemic cannot be the only thing that slows mass shootings in this country," he added. "We shouldnt have to choose between one type of tragedy and another. Its time for leaders everywhere to listen to the American people when they say enough is enoughbecause this is a normal we can no longer afford."

Obama noted in Tuesday's statement that life for many Americans may soon return to a sense of normalcy as coronavirus cases decrease and vaccinations increase. But he expressed concern that the return to large gatherings and in-person learning could also mean a rise in gun violence.

"We should be able to go to school, or go out with our friends, or worship together without mentally planning our escape if someone shows up with a gun. We should be able to live our lives without wondering if the next trip outside our home could be our last," Obama said.

"We should. But in America, we cant."

Obama issued a statement after 10 people, including a police officer, were killed in a shooting at a grocery store in Boulder on Monday night. Police have arrested the suspect, a 21-year-old, and charged him with 10 counts of first-degree murder. The victims range in age from 20 to 65, police said.

The Boulder shooting comes one week after a gunman killed eight people in the Atlanta area, most of whom were Asian women. Those killings put a spotlight on the sharp rise in violence and discrimination against Asian Americans over the past year, which coincided with the start of the pandemic.

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Obama rips lack of action on guns: Shouldn't take pandemic to curb shootings | TheHill - The Hill

The Fox News host slams the former president for his comments on gun violence

Tucker Carlson has never been a fan of Barack Obama but this week the Fox News host accused the former president of being a racial arsonist during his broadcast, due to comments he made about the recent shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, and Boulder, Colorado.

READ MORE: Keyon Harold Jr.s family to file lawsuit against hotel, woman who falsely accused teen

Tuesday evening, during the opening monologue for his show, Carlson responded to Obamas public statements on Mondays mass shooting in Colorado that left 10 people dead. He opined that Obama took a break from becoming one of the richest men in the world to weigh in on the tragedy and characterized the former president as someone seeking to use discussions of race as a way to divide the nation.

More than any other contemporary American leader, Barack Obama is a racial arsonist, said Carlson. He emerges at our most vulnerable moments to deepen the wounds that divide us. He sows hate.

He then asked his audience, Why does Barack Obama do this? Well, it would take a psychiatrist to answer that question fully, though it seems obvious that deep loathing of some kind plays a role. It must play a role.

He then concluded by alleging that Obama managed to divide Americans a little more than they were yesterday, and so from his perspective, mission accomplished.

Carlson, and many conservative talking heads are upset because Tuesday, Obama who was often critiqued by the Black community for not speaking about race more radically during his presidency issued a statement about the Colorado shooting that very pointedly called out both racism and misogyny for emboldening the violent attacks.

As theGrio previously reported, the former president took to Twitter to release a copy of his statement with a caption, reading, A once-in-a-century pandemic cannot be the only thing that slows mass shootings in this country. Its time for leaders everywhere to listen to the American people when they say enough is enough.

Story continues

In the statement, Obama shares that he and wife Michelle are grieving with the families of the victims, along with the families of the people killed in Atlanta the week before.

Read More: Biden senior advisor Cedric Richmond on how American Rescue Plan benefits Black communities

The statement goes on to say, Because in addition to grief we are feeling a deep and familiar outrage that we as a nation continue to tolerate this kind of random acts day in and day out without taking any significant action.

In so many ways, our lives may soon start to return to normal after a long, difficult year filled with so much loss. But in a normal life, we should be able to buy groceries without fear. We should be able to go to school, or go out with friends, or worship together without mentally planning our escape if someone shows up with a gun, Obama continues.

He adds, We should be able to live our lives without wondering if the next trip outside our home will be our last. We should. But in America, we cant.

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Tucker Carlson slams Barack Obama for saying recent shootings were motivated by racism and misogyny - Yahoo News

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Monday said that President Biden maintains "regular" communication with Barack Obama on a number of issues.

Psaki was asked by a reporter whether Obama had visited the White House and how often the two speak, to which she responded that Obama and Biden have a relationship that is not defined as president and vice president instead, they are "friends."

"They consult and talk about a range of issues and I would expect that continues through the course of President Bidens presidency," Psaki said. "That can be done over the phone it turns out, and I think if President Obama had been here, you would all know."

Psaki declined to give an exact number of times that the powerful pair had spoken, but said they "keep in regular touch" and their respective teams also were in regular touch "about a range of issues."

JEN PSAKI DODGES QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER BIDEN SAW DOCTOR AFTER FALL

Psaki added that given Obamas work on the Affordable Care Act, which Biden has committed to strengthening and expanding, that is one issue they will talk about.

She pointed questions as to what else Obama would specifically be involved in to his team.

Biden has tapped a number of individuals who previously served in the Obama administration to join his team, including chief of staff Ron Klain, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Despite the longstanding friendship, Obama drew interest from the media after he waited until late in the campaign cycle to formally endorse Biden

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Meanwhile, Biden drew criticism throughout the campaign from Democratic contenders who accused him of running on Obamas legacy.

During one 2019 debate, for example, Julin Castro, who served as Obamas housing secretary, said Biden wanted to take credit for the Obama administrations victories but did not want to answer for any potential shortcomings.

"My problem with Vice President Biden every time something good about Barack Obama comes up, he says, Oh, I was there, I was there, I was there, thats me, too," Castro said. "And then every time somebody questions part of the administration that we were both part of, he says, Well, that was the president. I mean, he wants to take credit for Obama's work, but not have to answer to any questions."

Biden responded at the time that he stood with Obama over the eight years of his term.

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Biden regularly consults with Barack Obama on a 'range of issues,' Psaki says - Fox News