Byron York:

Recently a number of top Democratic strategists conducted focus groups in Las Vegas, Charlotte, Philadelphia and St. Louis. They also conducted a national poll of 1,000 likely voters and an online poll of 2,000 more likely voters. They wanted to measure the public's feelings about Obamacare and help Democrats make an effective case for the bill they passed in March.

The researchers found what they call a "challenging environment," which is a nicer way of saying "disaster in the making."

When you fashion such sweeping legislation as Obamacare behind closed doors and then pass it before anybody can read, absorb and debate it, only those with no respect for our representative democracy will really approve of it.

One other item reminded me of how outraged many Democrats were when George W. Bush used the phrase, "Bring it on."

Just a few months ago, Obama issued a very public challenge to opponents who seek to dump Obamacare. "For those Republicans and folks who are on the 'repeal' platform, my attitude is, go for it," the president told a cheering crowd at a Democratic fundraiser in Florida April 15. "I'll have that fight. We'll have that argument."

Well, the time to fight, the time to argue, has arrived. But with everything on the line, the president's party is trying to run away.

He seemed willing to defend a law passed over nationwide opposition which has risen to alarm, but he's not up for election this year and those who are don't particularly want to remind people that they supported his agenda.