Campaigning in Virginia yesterday, Mitt Romney got a little cocky when talking about the pending Supreme Court decision on health care reform. "My guess is they're not sleeping real well at the White House tonight," he said.
For Romney, that's apparently what today is all about: politics. What matters is who gets to brag, who's in a better position to spin the outcome, who gains or loses an electoral advantage.
But you know who else probably wasn't sleeping well last night? The mother with a child who has leukemia. The recent college grad who's unemployed and thinking about making a doctor's appointment. The grandfather who isn't sure if he'll be able to afford the prescription medication he needs. The middle-class family who isn't sure if they'll be able to keep their home if their medical bills broach the lifetime cap "Obamacare" eliminated. What would Romney and his bravado do for each of them? Nothing.
Of course, he used to know better.
American Bridge 21st Century uncovered this video, showing Romney at a press conference touting the individual health care mandate he now pretends to oppose.
For those who can't watch clips online, here's what the then-governor said in 2006: "With regards to the mandate, the individual responsibility program which I proposed, I was very pleased to see that the compromise from the two houses includes the personal responsibility principle. That is essential for bringing health care costs down for everyone and getting everybody the health insurance they deserve and need."
A year later, in 2007, Romney added that he hoped for "a nation that's taken a mandate approach."
Five years later, I still can't say exactly why Romney hates the Affordable Care Act so much. It appears to have something to do with the polls that tell him what to say, think, and believe.





Romney being a little bit cocky is like a woman who is a little bit pregnant.
My God, the arrogance of this SOB knows no bounds. Don't you guys remember what these guys were like in high school? Didn't you just hate these guys?
They are despicable, therefore they should be despised.
I remember similar guys in high school . and I forgot their names, however, looking through facebook, it came back to me in glaring detail. Yuck.
Romney was cocky. Wonder how he handled this today. I saw a pix of Michelle Bachmann with her ticket to get into the SC decision. And she looked all excited. I wonder what she said afterward.
True to her lunacy, she said, "It is ridiculous that the SC would find a law constitutional that is obviously unconstitutional." Apparently not. Since the SC is the final arbitor of constitutionality Bachmann is obviously wrong!
Did she really say that? She's allegedly a lawyer, and Marberry v. Madison is only about 200 years old, and is the first case taught in Constitutional Law.
Last summer, she was the Republican front-runner for a short time!!!
If the mandate is ruled unconstitutional, what does that do to Massachusetts?
Nothing. Whereas the Federal government is empowered to legislate only in respect of certain enumerated heads of power by the Constitution, state governments are not limited in this way; they have residual plenary power. The Chief Justice explained this at page 3 of his decision by saying "[t]he Constitution may restrict state governments--as it does, for example, by forbidding them to deny any person the equal protection of the laws. But where such prohibitions do not apply, state governments do not need constitutional authorization to act."
Romney doesn't hate the ACA...he's a political robot that supports or denigrates what his billionaire handlers TELL him to. He is a jerk who will ruin this country. WAKE UP AMERICA!!!
It's pretty clear that he is somebodys puppet.
He's a Kochsucker....
And it isn't just the Presidential election, its all of the Congresspeople, the state governors, the state legislators too. If we don't get out and vote, we will get what the person who stayed home, deserves.
I live in NW Iowa, my congressman is Steve King. Christi Vilsack is running against him for his seat in the House. If we don't work extra hard to get rid of Steve King, we will have more time with his doing absolutely nothing for anybody. We have to fight for every seat, not just the President. Although if Mittens won, I'd wonder if I could get asylum in Canada. LOL
Great word, sick-n-effin-tired. The Koch brothers and Sheldon Adelson will form a triumvirate to rule this country if if Mitt Robme gets elected.
Romney will be jumping for joy that people are losing and will lose their health insurance.But what does he care,he and his family and friends all have theirs.They have their place in the life boat and if you and your family try to get in they'll hit you and your kids over the head with their oars.This snob does'nt care about people that do'nt have a ton of money.He's not running for President to help the poor and middle class as he claims,he's running for himself and his wealthy friend's.One of his promises is to cut the inheiritance tax,think about it,who will that benefit most?That's right, his "five sons". If he wins Plutocracy here we come.
Romney's a shark in a religious disguise.
It sure gives new meaning to being a Christian. He was a bishop in the LDS. I cannot believe that someone with his character ever got anywhere in a Church.
joca41, "...his friends and family have theirs." I once explained to my children, when they were teen-agers and asked the question, that the simplest difference between democrats and republican was that democrats say, "Let's make sure everyone gets some." and republicans say, "Let's make sure I (we) get mine (ours) and if there is any left, then we can share." It hasn't changed.
Republicans ought to be careful what they wish for - they may get it. If the Court strikes down Obamacare:
1. Obama gets a chance to go back and do it the way we wanted in the first place - single payer or Public Option.
2. A reason for Republicans to go to the polls to vote for Romney is eliminated.
The easier way is Medicare for All. Seniors love Medicare. The Republicans may then go all in to try to strike it down.
Let the fight begin.
We didn't fight hard enough for single payer in the first place - All Obama saw were the screaming mimis Rove paid for t potty folks, while the Dems just sort of laid back in silence and offered no support. However, I think you're right. I don't think there's any way Rove or the Republican Plutocrats can prepare for the onslaught of the army of Seniors they will encounter if they try to destroy these programs. Especially if we honor the NRA's demands for our right to bear arms and throw an AK whatever over our shoulder.
Liebermann and Ben Nelson stopped the public option. Period!
Here is how we can get the politicians to provide us with affordable healthcare. We the taxpayers need to take away the health care coverage we pay for them. We the taxpayers are paying them a salary and they have the best healthcare paid by our tax dollars. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, they need to live like the rest of us with high deductibles and plenty of out of pocket expenses.
Last time I checked, most of them were 1%ers or close to it .
If you took it away they would laugh in your face .
BOO HOO .
Exactly my point they can afford healthcare they don't need the middle class and poor paying for there healthcare. Let them pay out of there pockets. They can laugh in my face we cut some major spending by taking it away from them and there salaries they don't need our tax payer dollars.
Pardon my cynicism. You have no choice , you have owners
George Carlin Explains in 3 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbD8fASqORw
Maybe you sold yourself out and are owned sick-n-effin-tired but I haven't. I refuse to be and am willing and will always fight it. I have a choice and make the choice all the time. I am not owned by anyone but me. I am priceless, my work ethic and my unwillingness to play the political games at work may keep me poor. But I am happy and have my dignity how many others can say that.
These used to be considered public service jobs but instead, now we serve them and they serve the .01%. The best way to honor their smaller government agenda is to drown them in Reagan's bathtub along with their salaries and benefits and their many vacation days per year, their health insurance and most of all, their lifetime pensions. They cut the real public servants like firefighters, emservices, police, teachers, nurses, pilots, air traffic controllers, veterans, those who really do serve the public. They cut aid to the poor, disabled and elderly, including medicaid and medicare and SS for one reason only, to further fatten their own bulging pockets. I cannot believe they have gotten by with this, but then they have Murdoch and the Kochs and their own Joseph Goebbels, Rove and his dirty mouthpiece Limbaugh to brainwash the masses.
I really hate this guy AND this insane "Republican" party. HATE! They have made me a hater. This one is just too hard to turn the other cheek.
Me too KatB63. However, I was so flattened and intimidated by all the rantng and raving by the t potty while Obama was trying to piece a deal together out of nothing, I was in shock. It's way past time we all get our anger on and stand up for our rights. As I said above, I'm as mild as it gets, but I can get very angry at them for trying to strip everybody of their rights and their money and their healthcare. They may think the 001% has it all sewed up and in their own pocket but the rest of us can stand our ground against these low life thieves. I am in the mood to welcome them to trying to pull off stripping SS and Medicare - they are not prepared for what a bunch of ol' white hairs can do :)
My parents were fiscally responsible Republicans when I was growing up. I agreed with their ideas, they saved and invested, never went into major debt, bought with cash, etc. However, these Republicans are nothing like my parents or their friends. these Republicans are so far to the right, they are ruining this country. I always said that I can work with anyone of any political group, because we still have the same interests in common and want the best for our country. No more. I have learned my lesson. I have lost a lot of respect for the Republican party. They don't want what is best for this country, they want what is best for their corporate overlords. I will never again think I could compromise with a Republican.
Another I've got mine, screw you! moment, brought to you by the Sociopath party and its Hairtron 2000 robotic speaker, where humanity does not compute but the adding machine works tirelessly!
Mitt does not care about the poor souls who need help with medical issues, after all he said the "poor are just fine, they have a safety net." When he and Paul Ryan get done if he is elected the poor will be in a hole they cannot get out of and it won't bother Mitt one bit. He has, after all, worked hard and become very wealthy which is what every American can do( in his pointed pea sized brain I am sure he believes that is all it takes, hard work) Never mind the advantages he has had which make him think he in entitled to anything he wants. Many Republicans feel the same way. They are entitled to wealth at the expense of the middle and lower class but the middle and lower classes are not entitled to SS or medicare. Since Republicans have the money which equals power they will do what they wish and the rest of the country be damed. Those in Congress have already shown they are willing to sacrafice the entire country to get rid of Obama which sends a loud and clear message to any people of color in this country, at least in my opinion.
When Mitt said he does not worry about the poor because they have safety nets. I was watching Dateline last Sunday and the term safety net was used. What Mitt fails to realize is that these nets are very fragile and cannot provide enough help until someone finds a new job. He fails to realize it takes a year or longer to find full time work. I know some people that have been unemployed for over three years. One friend of mine is over qualified and get even get a part time job.
Catherine, and the Republicans would just say these people are whiners, and too lazy to look for work, just waiting until they run out of benefits. These Repubs have no clue what its like out there.
Someone needs to design/draw a Romney SuperFratBoy un-superhero character - cause that's what he is and not even as good at it as George W was.
Mitt's wife and I both have MS. Difference is that Ann can afford care.
If the decision goes the wrong way, there is no way Romney doesn't overreach in his reaction. Once he is out on a limb, I hope the DNC and Obama campaign have this video edited into a 30 second spot ready to roll as early as this evening. (But knowing Democratic messaging, I sadly doubt it.)
Who would handle an Alien Invasion better? Well that would be quite obvious it would be President Obama, since Romney would probably sell people as food and slaves to the Aliens. Considering Romney has basically done that when he shipped jobs overseas and those people there were put under a tyrant class of business practices. If you would call what Romney did as good business practices, you should think again, because all it did was to serve the extreme wealthy at the cost of everybody else. There was no other thought process behind outsourcing or offshoring jobs, except to make huge profits. No consideration was given at all to what the work conditions would be for the workers, which of coarse were treated as slave labor. But the guilty of doing these rather poor business practices really does reach back much further to Reagan and Bush, who started all this scheming of screwing over the American people. Plus causing hardship for many people in the world without caring about the peoples lives it would affect. These Republicans and extreme rich can pretend all they want that they did something good, but in reality are literal failures in implementing anything good. So if you wonder who caused all these problems in the world, you don’t have to look too far, except at the idiots who started it all namely the extreme rich and the Republican types.
Of course, Romney’s comment to the Aliens would be bon appetite.
And Romney’s comment to the people it’s nothing personal, it’s just business.
Probably followed by "Aliens are people too, my friends."
No matter what you do, if Romney starts advertising Soylent Green for a great protein shake, DON'T DRINK IT!!!
LOL
What will be the most stomach-turning will be the manic celebrations on the right that 50,000,000 won't be getting health care. And then there's the inevitable, nauseatingly impotent Democratic nearly non-response to dread, also.
Never mind. :-0
Obama's going to be sleeping pretty well tonight, methinks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8i5NLyXZdc&feature=player_embedded#!
Referring to Steve Benen's article, I AM a father to a child who has cancer. The change that put him back on my insurance even though he was 21 was the single biggest effect that any law has ever had on me. The fear that it may be taken away over night has been an almost unbearable weight. His care was over $60,000 a month.
When I saw that Chief Justice Roberts had voted to uphold, the tears just gushed. Finally the rule of law forces itself to the top of all the BS. Dear God, could this be a turning of the tide? Is there still some sanity out there?
Very happy for your relief!
And I sure hope this is the beginning of the end of the scourge of rightwing absolute stupidity that has infected this country like a seemingly unstoppable virus.
Jeb Bush said that he is hoping the Republican party will be becoming more moderate this election, Because there are a lot of moderate Republicans out there that want the move toward the center. I hope so, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Because its looking vaguely like 1935 out there.
My prayers for your son. Its difficult enough feeling helpless, as if you cannot help, much less having financial worries too.
Romney's lying reaction to this decision once again affirms that the Mormon at the head of the GOP is a predatory carpetbagger. He lies at will, in extraordinary ways on every subject and at every opportunity. He's unethical and inhumane. He is the antithesis of human. He's pond scum. Pundits can whitewash this predator and cowtow to his corporate sponsors, but the truth shines like a beacon in the night. Romney is low down, dirty and unethical and lacks common humanity. Period!
I guess Romney is the one who will not be sleeping "real well" over the next few months--lol
I guess it will be Romney who won't be sleeping "real well" over the next few months!!--lol
Romney doesn't need sleep, he's a wind up robot for Karl Rove and the Gang. Here in KS, Brownback returned $25 million given to the state to subsidize people who cannot afford to buy insurance - he's cut jobs, salaries, pensions, added 18 new anti abortion laws dictating to women and their drs what they can and cannot say and do. He has cut medicaid and food stamps and education and fire and ems and police, any line item that has p (for poor) or e (for elderly) or d (for disabled) he has cut. Better than taxing the people who can afford it. I just don't understand why people who can least afford to give any more to the wealthy keep voting them. On what planet do they live?
Mitt is a Mormon and those people are masters of the Out of Context Quote and direct answers. Ju
st ask them about specific bible verse interpretation.