As predicted the GOP is using the ACA delay as a talking point.

[ctsnowman]

WASHINGTON — Republicans seized upon the administration's abrupt delay of the employer mandate in the health care law as fresh evidence that President Barack Obama's signature domestic policy is unworkable and should be repealed, an argument that energizes the party base ahead of 2014 congressional elections.
But the White House's willingness to respond to the concerns of business – and avoid the specter of job layoffs due to the unpopular health care law – spares Democrats one political headache in next year's races.
"The best delay for Obamacare is a permanent one," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said Wednesday, hours after the administration announced a one-year delay in requiring businesses with 50 or more employees to provide health coverage for their workers or pay a penalty.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/03/gop-obamacare_n_3542776.html?ref=topbar

[JoePhilly]

1. The GOP was going to scream no matter what happens.

Its too fast, too slow, too big, too small, too high, too low, too long, too short.

As an example ... they claimed the original legislation was pushed through too fast, even though it took 9 months.

They have a talking point for all situations.

[leftstreet]

2. If people were seeing results, it wouldn't matter

The only reason the GOP can scream about is that it's not working

[pampango]

4. That sounds like "the GOP only screams if it has the facts on its side". Is that what you meant?

My guess is that the GOP could and would scream about it (and many other things) whether it is working or not. Their base hates it so promising to "repeal" it is part of their campaign strategy.

Like many of their party's policy likes and dislikes, there is little connection between republican policy choices and what actually works in the real world. It is all about fear and emotion and pushing their base's buttons.

[leftstreet]

5. That would be like running against Medicare or SS

If the US had a working Single Payer NON PROFIT healthcare program for all, any political party running against it would be committing suicide

[alc]

3. I'm sure Obama expected this

The GOP is going to use the ACA as a talking point no matter what. I'd guess Obama decided the "delay talking point" will be better than the "implementation talking point" the GOP would have without the delay.

Maybe it just can't be implemented fast enough (3-4 years?) and the GOPs "implementation talking points" won't work in 2016. Or maybe Obama knows just how bad the implementation will be and something else will be needed before 2016 (like taking over the house and making major changes to the ACA) Or maybe it will need to be delayed again past 2016.