Mitt Romney was in Miami last night for a couple of events, including an interview on Univision, where a viewer asked about the Affordable Care Act. As Igor Volsky noted, the Republican's response was a break from his usual rhetoric.
For those who can't watch clips online, Romney vowed, "I would repeal all of Obamacare and replace it with the kinds of reforms we really need." He added, "And I have experience in health care reform. Now and then the president says I'm the grandfather of Obamacare. I don't think he meant that as a compliment, but I'll take it. This was during my primary we thought it might not be helpful."
From there, Romney went on to talk about the success of his state-based reform law, which is effectively the same thing as President Obama's Affordable Care Act.
There's a few interesting angles here, but let's start with the most politically salient: Romney's now comfortable with having inspired "Obamacare," the law he hates and intends to destroy? When did that happen? Were conservatives aware of this?
Notice that remarkable line Romney mentioned in passing: during the primary, the Romney campaign "thought it might not be helpful" if Republicans realized his health care policy inspired Obama's policy. But the implication is that now that the primaries are over, and GOP voters were fooled, Romney doesn't mind acknowledging at least part of reality.
Is the Republican base on board with this? If recent history is any guide, a Romney aide will be along any minute to say the candidate doesn't believe what he said, but at least for now, this seems like a rather striking development.
But wait, there's more.
Also note that Romney vowed to destroy the reform law and "replace it with" something new. Of course, that leads to the obvious question of what, exactly, the replacement policy would be, and how many families would lose out once the Republican kills the provisions that are already expanding coverage, lowering costs, and rescuing Americans from crushing bills.
But Romney won't provide any details on what he'd "replace it with." That's apparently a secret -- vote for him first, then he'll tell Americans what he'll do with health care system.
For that matter, even Romney's boasts about Romneycare in Massachusetts struck an odd note. He's right that the law has worked well and is quite popular with his former constituents, but if Romney's proud of its success, why is he so eager to eliminate a comparable law that's already in place at the national level?
For context, let's also not forget that just two weeks ago, Romney's health care message was also a mess, giving contradictory answers on whether he'd repeal the entire law, and making incoherent remarks about protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
For a subject that was once Romney's signature issue, it often seems as if the presidential hopeful has no idea what he's talking about.
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Yeah, throw it back to Congress and the GOP will give the uninsured $2000 tax credits to purchase health savings account policies featuring $5000 premiums and $10,000 annual deductibles, with lifetime limits and subject to exclusionary riders for preexisting conditions.
The rationale behind the GOP system is that it will force people to shop for lower cost health care. As one who has a high deductible health savings account policy, I can tell you that the savings come because of self rationing and not from shopping among providers. There is no competition among providers which all collude on price so how the hell can I shop around? Going without won't lower health care costs. They just increase insurer profits.
You can't shop for bargains in an Oligarchy; there are limited options with a fixed price structure, and no way for you to quickly or accurately compare, so you take what you are offered. The problem is, everyone needs health care, like car insurance, so there needs to be regulation.
One of the factors Republicans have not considered with repealing Obamacare and replacing Medicare with Couponcare is the doctors lobby. If Republicans have their way, the medical profession and providers are going to lose significant amounts of money because people cannot afford insurance or medical care or they have to ration their medical care even if they have insurance. I would suspect that the doctors lobbyists are going to have a big say when Republicans call hearings or attempt to pass any legislation. The second factor is the number of people using Medicare which is climbing every day and even though Republicans have promised to not change current benefits, the public opinion polls do not support Couponcare. I think the Republicans will be unable to deliver a repeal and replace to the insurance companies and the radical Republican base.
Uh huh, throw it back to Congress and the GOP will give the uninsured $2000 tax credits to purchase health saving account policies featuring $5000 premiums and $10,000 annual deductibles, with lifetime limits and exclusionary riders for preexisting conditions.
I pity Governor Romney (yes, I do) because he cannot tout his proudest achievement - healthcare for Massachusetts - as a selling point for his presidential run. HE is obviously personally behind this policy and would be happy to talk endlessly and delightedly about how well it worked in his state and to brag about how President Obama used HIS program as a model for ACA. When you see him stumble and flipflop, lie and look like he has NO policy on the campaign trail; remember that he's trying to be something he's not...which NEVER works.
That said, however, this is AN issue of many upon which the Republicans have proved utterly dysfunctional. Two things appall me in this campaign: the first is that the Republican/TeaParty noise machine NEVER STOPPED campaigning from 2008. We are supposed to get over these things and move on. The second thing is that there's is a very large and very ugly 8000 pound, racist elephant in the Republican tent, who has been there ever since 11% of Hillary Clinton's loyal supporters refused to close ranks and support the Democratic nominee in '08 - they switched parties to vote for McCain/Palin because they couldn't stomach the idea of a black man in the White House. It is long past time to call these people out and make them acknowledge their nastiness!
Ya think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cvLeQbwuKys
I do, D. C. and every time I say it in public, I get called the racist! I am sick and tired of it, too...fanswats!
"For Pete's sake, I'm running for president and can't....."
.... be identified as the real Mitt Romney, whatever that may be.
.....as who he is. The man in the iron mask.......
Mitt boasted that he provided health care for everyone in Mass- and did not have to steal money from Medicare to do it!
Except Medicare is a FEDERAL program, not Massachusetts money.
There you go again with your darn "facts" .
Please do not bring up "facts" It destroys our narrative.
We now return to your regularly scheduled program , Fox and Friends.
Forgeting that Romney was tanking in the estimation of the public , a worthless empty suit would be a kindness , in fact . Sen Ted Kennedy was who Romney reached for to polish his little image up a bit . Up from its natural habitat that is shunned by most living creatures . On the strained thought of those who love and adore Romney here is a little bone .
The auteurs who involve themselves in depicting these horrors for fun and profit in the arts and films should have many molds to cast from on the horror that never repeats its evisceration of life . A new style for every hollowed out stereotype to perform its vampire lusts , Romney .
That in any fair estimation this was the product of a Ted Kennedy repair job to a straightforward rendering of Romney and his "personality" is mitigated by the fact that Romney swallowed his bile and helped the citizens of Forty Seven Percent .
Politicians talk about cutting costs; especially someone like Rand Paul is a big joke. And whom does Rand Paul work for rich people so they can make even more money that complain about the little guy making too much money and would literally destroy our environment. If these politicians actually cut cost the right way to help the little guy, it would be a big surprise. This idea of privatizing or drastically changing Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is a farce and nothing more than letting some rich people have more power, control, and greed over people. The Republicans are the biggest crooks over these very issues, since they are the very ones who spend like their nuts and don’t pay for anything. Than when the people finally get so pissed off from all this crap the Democrats have to come and fix it all. It is so ridiculous watching these Republicans trying to get away from Romney, when in fact these Republicans are the very same crap as Romney and just a little better liars and deceivers. You watch Ryan and know right out he is that same load of crap just as the others are that same con man style. These Republicans are the biggest power cravers, corrupt, greedy, arrogant, hypocritical, and deceiving people around.
The honorable jr Senator from Kentucky serves the visually impaired , as they seek relief from a self certified optometrist .
I'm Mitt Romney and I approve this message:
I'm for everything that is good, and I am against everything that is bad!
I have better policies than Obamacare though my plan in Massachusetts was the same! I have a different Middle East policy, though I can't figure out what to do differently than the current president! I am a secret Keynesian and want to redistribute wealth upward though I profess differently! I started out poor with nary a cash flow to match my stock portfolio! I can lie without batting an eye!
And oh, and did I mention, vote for me, I'm the white guy! -Kevo
Gee willikers !
I am all in ...
Thurston Howell III
Willard isn't T. Howell III, he is Mr. McGoo! Oh, wait, same actor. I don't think Jim Baccus would have liked the attention...... Oh, McGoo, you've done it again!
Shake,shake,shake the etch a sketch Mr.Romney.Which Romney will show up at his stump (the crowd) speeches.No one really know's, I do'nt think he even know's.First he said he would repeal Obamacare,no talk of replacement,then it's I will keep part's of it.Now it's I will repeal and replace it.He told a white crowd that his plan for immigration is self deportation.Then he tell's a latino crowd he has another plan for immigration.He tell's a public crowd that he will take care of everyone,then he tell's a wealthy private crowd he does'nt care about 47% of the nation.C'mon Romney which is it, which face will we see next time?Or which face's would we see if he is elected?Who know's!
A) Whatever face he is told to show the public by his consultants.
Stealth politics running without a plan except to undo everything Obama did. He is an embarrassment to America especially to the 'smart' people.
Schmartty pepple who no doubt will never vote for anything good and clean and and and ....
I caught this in my Twitter feed this morning...someone pointed out that Romney grew a very interesting, sudden 'tan' when he was sent out to parley with the Latino audience: https://twitter.com/SherreaDacus/status/248629461199757312/photo/1 Could he BE more obvious?
Fernando Lamas would say that he looked 'Mahvalous,' but I actually had to turn my tint knob from the 'racist' setting............. The Latino vote should be up to 80 percent for Obama this week. Willard only wants 61 percent of the white vote, nothing more.....
Romney also repeated his relentless lying about the ACA's $716 billion in Medicare cost savings.
To hear Romney vow to restore the $716B is to hear him vow to deliberately overpay insurance companies, to cut off the ability of millions to qualify for services, therefore raising the reimbursement rates the government would have to pay providers, and to make sure that con men like now-Florida governor Rick Scott can again game the system, therefore restoring rampant waste, fraud and abuse.
But yet he stands up there smoothly selling his pablum to people who are apparently willing to be played for fools. -- Well, at least selling his pablum to people he hopes are willing to be played for fools.
They obviously think the backlash against the 47% remark gives them some "STFU while I lie to the middle, okay?" space with the rightwing blogs and Limbaugh worshippers.
Did Willard 'Orange up' for the Latino audience? Did the racist 'gabacho' tell you he wanted to be a Mexican, so he could have a better chance of being president? Did he ask you to self deport? Did he tell you he is now for the ACA, when he has lied for months and months? Did he say where he would get 3 trillion dollars to build the border fence that he wants? These are the truths that Willard dare not say to a Latino audience.................
Gosh, golly, gee Ann,why can't I wear my "charro" suit and sombrero?