--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The truth is, I don’t really believe that…" description: "\"“The truth is, I don’t really believe that Republicans are ever going to come up with a real replacement for the Affordable Care Act. Because it seems ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/al-franken-1407_affordable-care-act_the-truth-is-i-don-t-really-believe-that_2334296.jpg" --- # The truth is, I don’t really believe that Republicans are… ![“The truth is, I don’t really believe that Republicans are ever going to come up with a real replacement for the Affordable Care Act. Because it seems to me that they don’t actually care about making sure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care. What do they care about?…” quote by Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/al-franken-1407_affordable-care-act_the-truth-is-i-don-t-really-believe-that_2334296.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/al-franken-1407_affordable-care-act_the-truth-is-i-don-t-really-believe-that_2334296.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/al-franken-1407_affordable-care-act_the-truth-is-i-don-t-really-believe-that_2334296.jpg) > ““The truth is, I don’t really believe that Republicans are ever going to come up with a real replacement for the Affordable Care Act. Because it seems to me that they don’t actually care about making sure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care. What do they care about? They want insurance companies to be able to sell you junk policies. They want drug manufacturers to be able to gouge people who rely on medications to stay healthy. They want to make it harder for people who’ve suffered from medical malpractice to get their day in court. They want rich people to not have to pay for health care for poor people. And, most of all, they want to keep using this issue to rally their base, reward their donors, and punish Democrats. I don’t know what’s going to happen going forward.”” [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker doubts Republicans will replace the ACA with a genuine, affordable solution, criticizing their motives and policy focus. **In simple terms:** Republicans unlikely to offer a real ACA replacement. Key Takeaway Critically assess health policy proposals. Themes healthcare politics policy trust Mood skeptical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - voting decisions - advocacy - policy analysis - public debate Key Concepts public health political strategy Questions to Reflect On - What would a truly equitable health system look like? - How can citizens hold policymakers accountable? A Different Perspective Policy proposals may be politically motivated rather than solution‑oriented. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affordable Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affordable-care/) [Affordable care act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affordable-care-act/) [Affordable health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affordable-health-care/) [Believe Republicans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-republicans-2413264/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Policies Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policies-want-1062942/) [Poor people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-people/) [Republicans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republicans/) [Republicans Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republicans-going-1064736/) [Rich people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-people/) [Stay Healthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-healthy/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Since the Affordable Care Act allows individuals to buy affordable health care coverage on their own, women no longer have to remain in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/since-the-affordable-care-act-allows-individuals-to-buy-affordable/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [I ask the American people not to fall victim to disinformation. There are no death panels. The Affordable Care Act cuts the deficit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-ask-the-american-people-not-to-fall-victim-to-disinformation-there/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [In the Senate, I will defend the protections in the Affordable Care Act, and expand health care to more Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-cunningham/in-the-senate-i-will-defend-the-protections-in-the-affordable-care/) [Cal Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-cunningham/) > [I don't think it's any secret I've never been an advocate for the Affordable Care Act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-sandoval/i-don-t-think-it-s-any-secret-i-ve-never-been-an-advocate-for-the/) [Brian Sandoval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-sandoval/) > [“If the federal government really wanted to provide affordable, quality healthcare to as many citizens as possible (including the poor), they would be deregulating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hambleton/if-the-federal-government-really-wanted-to-provide-affordable-quality/) [Chris Hambleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hambleton/) > [The Affordable Care Act was passed in large part because of recognition that our nation's health care system is not working. The act is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/the-affordable-care-act-was-passed-in-large-part-because-of/) [John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/) > [I am on the Health Education Labor Committee. That committee wrote the Affordable Care Act. The idea I would dismantle health care in America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-am-on-the-health-education-labor-committee-that-committee-wrote-the/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [The Affordable Care Act is no longer affordable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-affordable-care-act-is-no-longer-affordable/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The Affordable Care Act has failed its promises to lower costs, to let people keep their doctor and to let people keep their plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mast/the-affordable-care-act-has-failed-its-promises-to-lower-costs-to-let/) [Brian Mast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mast/) > [I hope the new health care exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act will provide some help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-kotlikoff/i-hope-the-new-health-care-exchanges-created-under-the-affordable/) [Laurence Kotlikoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-kotlikoff/) > [The Affordable Care Act has been designed to provide health security by driving competition, lowering premiums, and protecting families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/the-affordable-care-act-has-been-designed-to-provide-health-security/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [The White House approved an exemption in Obamacare coverage for Congress and members of their staff. Members complained that the Affordable Care Act will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-white-house-approved-an-exemption-in-obamacare-coverage-for/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [My biggest fear, that 27 percent of Americans under 65 have an existing health condition that, without the protections of the Affordable Care Act,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/my-biggest-fear-that-27-percent-of-americans-under-65-have-an/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [ \[Tom Cotton\] has been an absolute champion of the idea of getting rid of Obamacare, scrapping the Affordable Care Act. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/tom-cotton-has-been-an-absolute-champion-of-the-idea-of-getting-rid/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [Building great public schools and universities, a strong health care system, including keeping the Affordable Care Act, and then an economy that works well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-castro/building-great-public-schools-and-universities-a-strong-health-care/) [Joaquin Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-castro/) ## More by Al Franken > [I want to reclaim 'liberal.' I'm a liberal, and I think most Americans are liberals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-want-to-reclaim-liberal-i-m-a-liberal-and-i-think-most-americans/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [“The Democratic Senator’s Serenity Prayer God Grant Me the Serenity to Accept the Things I Cannot Legislate The Courage to Legislate the Things I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/the-democratic-senator-s-serenity-prayer-god-grant-me-the-serenity-to/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [I'm for Israel's right to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-m-for-israel-s-right-to-exist/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [You have to love your country like an adult loves somebody, not like a child loves its mommy. And right-wing Republicans tend to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/you-have-to-love-your-country-like-an-adult-loves-somebody-not-like-a/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [Antitrust law isn't about protecting competing businesses from each other, it's about protecting competition itself on behalf of the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/antitrust-law-isn-t-about-protecting-competing-businesses-from-each/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [Putin has had many positive experiences working with Western political leaders whose business interests made them more disposed to deal with Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/putin-has-had-many-positive-experiences-working-with-western/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [I'm crushed by the responsibility of writing a satirical book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-m-crushed-by-the-responsibility-of-writing-a-satirical-book/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [“right wing’s most common techniques—including the deceptive use of statistics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/right-wing-s-most-common-techniques-including-the-deceptive-use-of/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [I know I have an awful lot to learn from the people of Minnesota.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-know-i-have-an-awful-lot-to-learn-from-the-people-of-minnesota/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [Apple has long been a leading innovator of mobile technology; I myself own an iPhone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/apple-has-long-been-a-leading-innovator-of-mobile-technology-i-myself/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [I am a Minnesotan, and not just because I root for the Vikings and the Twins. I like the Minnesota-nice sensibility. I like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-am-a-minnesotan-and-not-just-because-i-root-for-the-vikings-and-the/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [My dad didn't graduate from high school, ended up being a printing salesman, probably never made more than $8,000 a year. My mom sold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/my-dad-didn-t-graduate-from-high-school-ended-up-being-a-printing/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [“As the polls began closing in the East, with states like New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Virginia going for Barack Obama, it was quickly becoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/as-the-polls-began-closing-in-the-east-with-states-like-new-hampshire/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [Net neutrality isn't a government takeover of the Internet, as many of my Republican colleagues have alleged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/net-neutrality-isn-t-a-government-takeover-of-the-internet-as-many-of/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [Demagoguery sells. And therefore, radio stations will put it on. But that doesn't mean that you can't do something else and also make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/demagoguery-sells-and-therefore-radio-stations-will-put-it-on-but/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) [Explore all 245 Al Franken quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) ## More Affordable care act quotes > [Building great public schools and universities, a strong health care system, including keeping the Affordable Care Act, and then an economy that works well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-castro/building-great-public-schools-and-universities-a-strong-health-care/) [Joaquin Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-castro/) > [ Senator \[Tom\] Cotton has campaigned on wanting to kill Obamacare. He voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act back in January, but he now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/senator-tom-cotton-has-campaigned-on-wanting-to-kill-obamacare-he/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [ \[Tom Cotton\] has been an absolute champion of the idea of getting rid of Obamacare, scrapping the Affordable Care Act. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/tom-cotton-has-been-an-absolute-champion-of-the-idea-of-getting-rid/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [My biggest fear, that 27 percent of Americans under 65 have an existing health condition that, without the protections of the Affordable Care Act,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/my-biggest-fear-that-27-percent-of-americans-under-65-have-an/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [The White House approved an exemption in Obamacare coverage for Congress and members of their staff. Members complained that the Affordable Care Act will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-white-house-approved-an-exemption-in-obamacare-coverage-for/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [One of the criticism I had about the Affordable Care Act is it made insurance so expensive that people who had it didn't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-donovan/one-of-the-criticism-i-had-about-the-affordable-care-act-is-it-made/) [Dan Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-donovan/) > [The Affordable Care Act has been designed to provide health security by driving competition, lowering premiums, and protecting families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/the-affordable-care-act-has-been-designed-to-provide-health-security/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [I hope the new health care exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act will provide some help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-kotlikoff/i-hope-the-new-health-care-exchanges-created-under-the-affordable/) [Laurence Kotlikoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-kotlikoff/) > [The Affordable Care Act has failed its promises to lower costs, to let people keep their doctor and to let people keep their plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mast/the-affordable-care-act-has-failed-its-promises-to-lower-costs-to-let/) [Brian Mast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mast/) > [The Affordable Care Act is no longer affordable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-affordable-care-act-is-no-longer-affordable/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Every legislative meeting on how to pass health care, the communications director or someone from the communications team would be a part of because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pfeiffer/every-legislative-meeting-on-how-to-pass-health-care-the/) [Daniel Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pfeiffer/) > [I am on the Health Education Labor Committee. That committee wrote the Affordable Care Act. The idea I would dismantle health care in America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-am-on-the-health-education-labor-committee-that-committee-wrote-the/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [If the minority is able to successfully undo the Affordable Care Act by blackmail, it will be the undoing of the democratic nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerrold-nadler/if-the-minority-is-able-to-successfully-undo-the-affordable-care-act/) [Jerrold Nadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerrold-nadler/) > [“Let's run the experiment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/let-s-run-the-experiment/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [Now, if you have or had one of these plans before the Affordable Care Act came into law and you really liked that plan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/now-if-you-have-or-had-one-of-these-plans-before-the-affordable-care/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Browse all 160 Affordable care act quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affordable-care-act/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The truth is, I don’t really believe that Republicans are ever going to come up with a real replacement for the Affordable Care Act. 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