Fox News host Bill Hemmer suggested that the conservative network was trying to build support for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act in an interview this morning with Rep. Steve King (R-IA). During a segment about the public’s waning enthusiasm for eliminating the law, King expressed concern that Americans were “making accommodations” to the measure since lawmakers are no longer publicly calling for its repeal. Hemmer seemed to agree, telling King that he is appearing on the program to boost support for ending reform:
KING: If we’re not in the news, if we’re not pushing to repeal Obamacare, it doesn’t drive the discussion in the public and the public just begins to move away from it, think okay, the Congress must think it’s impossible. That’s part of what’s going on here.
HEMMER: To be frank and that’s part of the reason why you came on our program today. But I think here is the critical point that Republicans are concerned with. This number [for repeal] is down from only two weeks ago, when it was at 56 percent and a lot of people thought that as long as the system works its way into the blood stream of the American people, that it would be accepted over time. Do you fear that, do you see that happening? [...] Just to be clear on this, back to the question. The longer it’s out there, the more accepting it becomes? That’s what you believe?
Watch it:
Unfortunately, Hemmer has a history of shilling for the Republican party. In 2010, Hemmer asked Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) about the GOP’s prospects in that year’s midterm elections and in formulating his question, betrayed his allegiance to the GOP. “As you evaluate things right now, some five a half months out, I mean, where do we stand,” Hemmer asked. “How strong a position are Republicans?”
A new Rasmussen poll out today finds that “support for repeal is at its lowest level since May, with only 41 percent of respondents saying they “Strongly Favor it.” Sixty-seven percent either strongly oppose repeal or somewhat oppose it. A Bloomberg National poll from last month also showed that support for repealing the Affordable Care Act is declining, “with just 34 percent of the country now favoring repeal of President Barack Obama’s health-care overhaul, down from 41 percent six months ago.”
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