Obama defends health law in Ohio town hall meeting

President Obama says he doesn't mind the "Obamacare" label and is chastising Republican Mitt Romney for not championing the Massachusetts health overhaul.

Politico: President Obama Highlights Health Care Law On Campaign Trail
President Barack Obama on Monday gave a strong defense of his health care law, weaving multiple mentions of health reform into answers at an Ohio town hall and saying he doesn't mind the "Obamacare" label "because I really do care." Drawing attention to the parallels between his controversial legislation and the Massachusetts reform signed into law by Mitt Romney, Obama said, "It's working really well there. He should be proud of it instead of running away from it" (Smith, 7/16).

A new poll finds that Republicans' view of Chief Justice John Roberts has shifted after the health care ruling:

Los Angeles Times: Poll: Republicans Turn Against Supreme Court, Chief Justice Roberts
What a difference a single court decision can make. In the wake of the Supreme Court's monumental decision on President Obama's health care reform law, Republican opinions of the court and Chief Justice John G. Roberts have plummeted, while Democrats now view both more favorably, according to a new Gallup poll (Little, 7/16).

Politico: Poll: GOP Down On John Roberts, Dems Up
John Roberts's favorability rating has plummeted among Republicans and spiked among Democrats since the Supreme Court's chief justice voted to uphold President Barack Obama's health care reform law, according to a new Gallup poll. Shortly after his appointment in September 2005, Roberts was astoundingly popular among Republicans: 67 percent had a favorable view of him, versus 4 percent unfavorable. Now, those numbers are 27 percent and 44 percent, respectively (Robillard, 7/16).

Meanwhile, congressional Democrats are opening a campaign salvo on the law --

The Hill: DCCC: GOP Backed Health Law Repeal To Guard Lawmaker Benefits
A Democratic campaign committee [video] accused Republicans of voting to repeal the health care law to maintain their own government-subsidized health benefits, in part. The health care law mandates that members of Congress receive coverage through the new insurance exchanges rather than the current Federal Employees Health Benefit Program. Repealing the law would return lawmakers to the program, which allows officials to keep their policies after they retire. In a Web video, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) sought out GOP lawmakers, asking "Why did you vote to give yourself health care for life" (Viebeck, 7/16)?

The Hill: Once-Vulnerable Dem Doubles Down On Health Care Reform
One Democratic congressman from Northern Virginia isn't shy about proclaiming his support for "ObamaCare." Rep. Gerry Connolly kept his Fairfax-based seat by a mere 981 votes in 2010 as Tea Party Republicans swept the House. Now, facing easier odds this cycle, he is making President Obama's health care law a centerpiece of his campaign -- again. "I'm unapologetic about it," he told The Hill. "I am running on it. I am proud of my vote for the law" (Viebeck, 7/16).