President Obama said “I like it,” in response to the term “ObamaCare” when used by his opponent Mitt Romney in the first presidential debate.
Romney was going through a list of what he’d cut from spending and said, “Is the program so critical it’s worth borrowing money from China to pay for it? And if not, I’ll get rid of it. ObamaCare’s on my list.”
Adding, “I apologize, Mr. President. I use that term with all respect, by the way.”
The president responded to the use of the phrase, and said, “I like it.”
Romney then followed up with a direct jab and promise, “Good. OK, good. So I’ll get rid of that.”
Obama has himself used the term ObamaCare on the campaign trail, often saying he doesn’t mind it.
“I do care,” he’ll typically say in stump speeches.
At first in the early days of the debate, it was used primarily by pundits, but has slowly moved into the political lexicon. The official name is the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
Later on while talking about entitlements, the president emphasized his affinity for the term, saying “and I have become fond of this term, ‘ObamaCare.’ “