Michelle Obama’s idea of Thanksgiving table talk: Push the Obamacare

So this is how first lady Michelle Obama imagines Americans should spend their Thanksgiving dinner: Talking about Obamacare.

That’s her call to supporters, via an email invitation to Democratic Party backers, The New York Post reported.

“As you spend time with loved ones this holiday season, be sure to talk with them about what health care reform can mean to them,” she said, in the email that contained 14 talking points that could be raised. Among her touted topics, The Post reported: Talk about the need to sign up for Obamacare. And, ask guests to bring W2 tax forms, or pay stubs, in order to verify income levels.

Mrs. Obama’s tips are posted on an Internet site operated by Organizing for Action, called “Health Care for the Holidays.” The goal of the tips, the site says, is to “get the ball rolling” on widespread Obamacare enrollment — a much-needed scenario, given the floundering and failings the government HealthCare.gov site has suffered since it’s October kick-off.

Some other words of wisdom on the website, The Post reported: “Dn’t wait until the last minute — be sure to start the conversation early!” And “Integrate the talk into family time — take advantage of downtime after meals or between holiday activities to start your talk.” And one more: “Find a quiet place to shop” for a new health care policy. And don’t leave out the blunt approach; the site suggests asking family and guests: “When do you plan on signing up?”

Moreover, the Obamacare push shouldn’t end just because the holiday wraps, the site advises.

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“Don’t forget to follow up,” is one final tip, The Post reported.

Manners experts are outraged.

“They are effectively hijacking a holiday that’s really about giving thanks and not about having heavy, heavy conversations like this,” said Thomas P. Farley, also known as Mister Manners, The Post reported. “This is a whole lot of potentially fractious conversation — arguments stirring up — that I think is best kept for an occasion other than Thanksgiving.”