Democrats have a powerful response to GOP's new attempt to repeal Obamacare

The headlines are nearly all focused in one general direction: former FBI Director James Comey’s stunning statements to the Senate Intelligence Committee; Donald Trump’s tweets, or even merely the threat thereof; and the postmortems and predictions for what comes next in the ceaseless scandals surrounding Trump and Russia.

But for the Republican Party, if the news serves as a distraction for the public from their obstinate quest to repeal the Affordable Care Act, it’ll prove cynically useful.

Despite the seemingly endless mess the repeal process has been for Congress, one that looks worse every day, the GOP is still forging ahead.

Senate Republicans, led by Mitch McConnell, are planning to hold a vote on the repeal plan by July 4. And they’re willing to do whatever is necessary to meet that fast-approaching deadline:

Sen. McConnell implemented Senate “Rule 14” Wednesday to fast-track the GOP House health bill. This rule allows the Senate to skip the committee process (goodbye full senate committee debate) and instead “fast-tracks” the bill by moving it on the senate calendar so it can be brought to a vote.

The GOP may hope that by fast-tracking the bill and avoiding as much debate on it as possible, they can finally achieve their years-long goal of ripping health insurance away from millions of people.

But Democrats are making sure that we all remember exactly what is at stake, and that behind the numbers and the jargon are human beings whose lives could be irreparably and devastatingly damaged if the Republicans sneak this repeal bill by under cover of darkness.

Watch & RT the hard-hitting #Trumpcare ad that DSCC members made possible. Then, join us >> https://t.co/YdnBnbDBec pic.twitter.com/eGXiXyosmE

— DSCC (@dscc) June 8, 2017

The message at the end — “What will the Republican health care bill cost you?” — is a potent reminder that nearly anyone could find themselves in the shoes of the family featured in the ad. Illness, accident, and injury do not discriminate. And they certainly do not pass over those who “lead good lives.”

A majority of Americans do not support the Republicans’ plan. And as it is those citizens, and not protected members of Congress, who will pay the price exacted by repeal, it is their voices that ought to be heard.

Democrats are listening. Are Republicans?