Crossroads GPS, the 501(c)(4) “dark money” group co-founded by Karl Rove, has released a new ad encouraging young Americans not to get health insurance coverage under Obamacare.
According to The Washington Examiner, Crossroads GPS plans to submit the satirical ad to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services contest seeking videos encouraging young people to enroll in Obamacare’s health insurance exchanges. House Speaker John Boehner submitted a similarly tongue-in-cheek entry to the contest last week.
The ad — which contains several false claims, most notably that health care premiums will triple under the law — serves as the latest example of Republicans’ broad effort to reach out to young voters, who overwhelming supported President Barack Obama over Mitt Romney in the 2012 election. It has not been going well.
Young Americans are critical to the success of the Affordable Care Act; their active participation in the health care exchanges is crucial to holding down premiums for the law’s programs. For that reason, right-wing groups such as Crossroads and Americans for Prosperity have attempted to undermine the law by launching campaigns to dissuade young people from enrolling in the exchanges.
According to a recent Gallup poll, young Americans are less familiar with Obamacare than other age groups — but they are also far less likely to disapprove of the law than older Americans, suggesting that Crossroads is fighting an uphill battle. It remains to be seen whether “MC Rove” can connect with a younger generation by saying “YOLO” and hoping for the best — but based on Crossroads GPS’ abysmal track record, it seems rather unlikely.
