With the November elections rapidly approaching, it is becoming clear the Republican Party’s focus during the 2010 campaign season seems to be government spending, jobs and the repeal of health care reform. While government spending and job creation are familiar territory for the GOP, health care issues are proving to be choppy political waters for the party to navigate.

Since President Obama signed the bill in March, there was a movement throughout the Republican Party to repeal the health care reform bill dubbed “Obamacare.” The party stood together in opposition of the bill and was quick to find vague wording members could manipulate to their advantage for talking points and commercials. It all appeared to be going so well for the Republicans — that is, until the benefits of the new bill proved to be just what some states needed.

Currently, governors and attorneys general from 22 states are suing the federal government to repeal health care reform. While all of these states are campaigning hard against the bill, the Associated Press reported, seven have also requested to join the programs health care reform has initiated.

Common sense would dictate if someone is running on a platform against health care, it is not a good idea to also put a hand out to receive the benefits. Common sense aside, if Obamacare is really unconstitutional because it threatens state and individual rights, then why are seven of the states involved in the lawsuit taking advantage of this allegedly unconstitutional bill?

Health care opposition states Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Nevada have recently had their requests approved to get subsidies for covering retired state government employees with health insurance before they can get Medicare. With the exception of Nebraska’s governor, Dave Heineman, five governors and one attorney general who filed suit on behalf of their states all focus on the repeal of health care as a primary issue on their professional websites.

They are part of a group of more than 20 states that have challenged the law’s requirement mandating that “all citizens and legal residents have qualifying health care coverage or pay a tax penalty,” according to the health care lawsuit homepage. They argue that the government cannot order individuals to buy a particular product. The Obama administration is countering that the mandate falls within broad powers conferred on Congress to regulate interstate commerce.

Regardless of constitutional interpretation of the health care reform, the outward campaigning of these GOP members against the bill and their private filing for benefits is hypocrisy best exemplified. I agree these states should take every advantage of the health care bill. Bills of this magnitude are supposed to be passed with the sole intention of benefiting the American people.

To those in the GOP who feel it’s OK to call Obamacare “evil,” reference death panels and employ scare tactics to keep conservative voters confused and against a bill that most will stand to benefit from, I applaud your conviction and political posturing.

But to those who sign up for the bill’s benefits while opposing the bill for political gain, I say good luck in your upcoming election season. You can’t have it both ways, and once the light is shed on your dirty little secrets, it will be interesting to see how many voters stand behind you.

Jason Strachman Miller is a senior in mass communications. Please send your comments to opinion@spub.ksu.edu.