Had Michigan not been as close, the Democrats would have waited to spring this on us in the general election. Luckily we have it now and I hope Ohio voters are paying attention.
In July 2009, Mitt Romney wrote an op-ed in USA Today urging Barack Obama to use an individual mandate at the national level to control healthcare costs.Health care cannot be handled the same way as the stimulus and cap-and-trade bills... There's a better way. And the lessons we learned in Massachusetts could help Washington find it.
...Our experience also demonstrates that getting every citizen insured doesn't have to break the bank. First, we established incentives for those who were uninsured to buy insurance. Using tax penalties, as we did, or tax credits, as others have proposed, encourages "free riders" to take responsibility for themselves rather than pass their medical costs on to others.On the campaign trail now, Mitt Romney says the individual mandate is appropriate for Massachusetts, but not the nation. Repeatedly in debates, Romney has said he opposes a national individual mandate.
But back in 2009, as Barack Obama was formulating his healthcare vision for the country, Mitt Romney encouraged him publicly to use an individual mandate. In his op-ed, Governor Romney suggested that the federal government learn from Massachusetts how to make healthcare available for all. One of those things was “Using tax penalties, as we did, or tax credits, as others have proposed, encourages “free riders” to take responsibility for themselves rather than pass their medical costs on to others.”
Friends, if Mitt Romney is the nominee, we will be unable to fight Obama on an issue that 60% of Americans agree with us on.
Just a month after Romney penned his op-ed advocating the Individual Mandate, The Boston Globe ran a breathless report complaining about RomneyCare, headlined "Bay State health insurance premiums highest in country."
Massachusetts has the most expensive family health insurance premiums in the country, according to a new analysis that highlights the state’s challenge in trying to rein in medical costs after passage of a landmark 2006 law that mandated coverage for nearly everyone.
Oh, but that's right: Romney's the "only one who can win".
Of course, that's what they said about McCain and Dole.
Well I guess the Rombots will again tell us about the vast difference between Obama and Romney.
ReplyDeleteThe difference is that Romney did it first.
If you really think that little Ricky can win the general election with his sanctimonious views then I suggest intense therapy. Fortunently Mitt will ne the nominee
ReplyDeleteand save us from your "purity" nonsense.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDelete"Fortunently Mitt will ne the nominee
and save us from your 'purity' nonsense. 9:40 PM"
You figured it out, Anon! People who support Rick think he's perfect and pure as the wind-driven snow. They don't realize he has flaws.
The don't understand that if we're going to beat Obama, we need to nominate a Republican who's a Massachusetts centrist, i.e., to the left of most voters in swing states.
We need to nominate someone who can alienate conservatives... someone who really doesn't stand for anything except getting himself elected... someone who is uninspiring... someone who is ideologically promiscuous.
Take the best of Al Gore, John Kerry, John McCain, Mike Dukakis and Bob Dole and you have yourself one hell of a candidate.
Go Mittens!
I didn't support Reagan bush. Mitt Romney
ReplyDelete@bourgeoiZ
WHAT IS "LIBERAL" IS ASKING TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR THE HEALTHCARE OR INSURANCE FOR FOLKS WHO CAN AFFORD TO BUY IT THEMSELVES BUT CHOOSE NOT TO.
ReplyDeleteAND THE FACT THAT STATES HAVE THE POWER TO DO THIS – OR NOT TO DO IT THIS WAY – PROVES THAT THE FEDERAL MANDATE IS UNNECESSARY AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
I GUARANTEE YOU THAT WHEN THE SCOTUS STRIKES IT DOWN THEY WILL CITE ROMNEYCARE IN THIS WAY.