Washington (CNN) – Republican Sen. Jim DeMint came to the defense of Mitt Romney over the health care plan Romney passed while governor of Massachusetts.
The South Carolina senator blamed the Democratic state legislature for the ultimate plan that has similarities to the current health care law, including the individual mandate that requires all residents, with some exceptions, to have health insurance or pay a tax penalty.
But DeMint, who has become a national figure and Tea Party favorite, told The Hill that Romney's attempts to make private health insurance available for everyone contributed to his decision to endorse him for president in 2008.
"For me, I think he started with good ideas that were essentially hijacked by the Democratic legislature," DeMint said. "Instead of getting people insured, it was a government takeover."
Romney has received criticism from other potential 2012 candidates over the plan, which is sure to be a topic of discussion if Romney makes another run for the White House.
Most recently, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum called the plan a "failure."
Romney defended his record in a March speech, explaining the law as a "state plan intended to address problems that were in many ways unique to Massachusetts."
"Our experiment wasn't perfect. Some things worked. Some didn't. And some things I'd change," Romney said. "One thing I would never do is to usurp the constitutional power of states with a one-size-fits-all federal takeover."
From CNN Politics
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This DeMint guy is the one who during his campaign said, "Unwed mothers and Gays should not be allowed to teach in our schools." So this is what Mitt stands for????? Bigotry and hate?
Sounds like Will Rogers standing by Wiley Post.
If the final product was so bad, Romney should not have signed it into law or vetoed it outright, or maybe he should have tried to improve it. Instead, he chose to bail out and run for the POTUS after one term. DeMint seems to have forgotten that a chief executive needs to compromise with a legislature, even when its run by his own party. Romney never had that luxury, and he treated the governorship like a part-time job to boot. None of these losers deserves the nomination or the presidency based on their miserable, unimaginative and cowardly performances. Daniels is the only one with sense to focus on the economy, and because he won't kowtow to the religious loonies, he's toast.
Mittens took credit for the same thing that DeMint says the Mass. democratic legislature did. So Mittens accomplished nothing as governor. Sounds like DeMint has gotten the message from the Kochs.
Oh brother, nice try. Republican passes health care identical to Obama's and now the Republicans scramble to try to 'blame' someone else for why it's the same at the same time disavow it. Are these the same guys giving Charlie Sheen career advice?
First, MA citizens want some kind of health care law passed, Romney did not shove it down their throats. And, now that there are obvious problems, Romney would repeal it if he were still in office.-–Second, the Bill that Romney passed has been added to/deleted from by the liberal MA Democrats.--Third, states are allowed to experimemnt with health care, but our constitution does not give the fed government this same right.--Finally, Romney turned the MA deficit into a surplus, without raising taxes.--Romney and his LT Gov voluntarily gave up their salaries--$255,000 per year--while in office.--Romney is going to be elected President of our country in 2012.
Tell me something you tea party people especially you who are on medicare, when people who don't have insurance or choose not to buy it go to an emergency room, who pays for it? You guessed it we the insured. In fact in 2008 emergency room visits by uninsured people cost 42 Billion dollars.
Romney you are an idiot, just like when you were a candidate in 2008, you said I changed my mind all the time when you were confronted with your moderate ideas, you have not had a plan so far that you have either not changed your mind or stuck to it, and look who is standing up for you, a Tea Party favorite, need I say more, I want someone anyone to tell me what is wrong in having a universal health plan on one side whoever wants and if you don;t want that we also have the private insurances that you can belong to, what is WRONG WITH THIS, like that idiot Backman said, we have an excellant health plan in this country, Yes miss Stupid, you have an excellent plan not us, open your eyes and see what is going on in this country enough of these self serving blind people wanting to govern this country, go and play with your grandchildren maybe you can do a good job there doubtful.
There are just no words that can explain the total collapse of the Teapublican Party. They just throw it at the wall to
see what sticks.
Thank you Mr Romney for giving us the blue print for improved Health Insurance Reform. By the way, you 15 mins of Fame is done.
South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint is a DimWit.
Unlike a senator, a governor has the power of a veto if he/she feels a plan is wrong. Can Sen. DeMint explain why Romney didn't veto it rather than let the Democratic legislature push through something that he did not want?
Mitt Romney solved a state problem with a Constitutaional plan that Mass residents supported and 84% of residents still support today.
It was lauded and endorsed by many Republicans at the time, including the Heritage Foundation. The plan was as Conservative as you can get in blue Mass.
Who is the real Liberal? Mike Huckabee.
FACT: The ethics commission fined Huckabee $1,000 for failing to report that he paid himself $14,000 from his 1992 U.S. Senate campaign and $43,000 from his 1994 lieutenant governor’s campaign. (Source: POLITICO, Huckabee rivals unearth ethics complaints Kenneth P. Vogel Nov 21, 2007)
FACT: Huckabee accepted more than 300 gifts worth at least $130,000, ranging from $3,700 cowboy boots to a $600 chainsaw. (Source: POLITICO, Huckabee rivals unearth ethics complaints Kenneth P. Vogel Nov 21, 2007)
FACT: Mike Huckabee raised more taxes in 10 years in office than Bill Clinton did in his 12 years. (Source: The Leader, 08/30/2006)
FACT: Mike Huckabee’s substantial tax hikes far surpassed his modest tax cuts, with the average tax burden increasing by a whopping 47% over his tenure. (Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 10/09/07)
FACT: Mike Huckabee opposed a congressional measure to ban internet taxes in 2003. (Source: Arkansas News Bureau, 11/21/03)
FACT: Mike Huckabee in 2004, he allowed a 17% sales tax increase to become law. (Source: The Gurdon Times, 03/02/04)
FACT: Mike Huckabee stole over $70,000 worth of furniture from the Arkansas governors mansion. (Source: Arkansas Times Counting the Furniture, 12/14/06 Leslie Newell Peacock)
FACT: Mike Huckabee set up a nonprofit entity so he could give paid “inspirational” speeches without having to disclose the donors. (SOURCE: Bloomberg Dec 12, 2007 Margaret Carlson)
FACT: During the 2001 regular session of the Arkansas Legislature, Mike Huckabee supported giving driver’s licenses to illegal aliens. (Source Arkansas Journal, Mike Huckabee Supported Bill to Give Driver’s Licenses to Illegal Aliens, Henry Rearden, 11/22/2007)
FACT: Mike Huckabee supported in-state higher education benefits for children of illegal immigrants. (Laura Kellams, “Senators research U.S. law on aliens,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 1/27/05)
FACT: Mike Huckabee opposed a federal raid of 119 illegal immigrants at an Arkansas Tyson poultry plant, 107 of whom left the country either voluntarily or through deportation. (Melissa Nelson, “Huckabee Risks Political Fortunes To Denounce Immigration Raid,” Associated Press, 8/5/05)
FACT: Mike Huckabee opposed a bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote in his own state. (Source CNS NEWS, Some GOP Concerned about Huckabee’s Immigration Views, Fred Lucas, 12/04/2007)
FACT: Mike Huckabee says he has degree in theology, further investigation discovers he does not. (Source: The Carpetbagger Report, Mike Huckabee has a theology degree — or does he?, 12/14/2007)
Yeah Romneycare...Thank you for the health care plan you came up in your state that lead to Obamacare. Thank you Romney! Great Job!! Romney 2032!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll go along with this ONLY if we can all agree to forthwith change the collective lexicon to refer to the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts rammed through using Reconciliation and which are the major cause of our debt and deficit as "the GOP Legislature's tax cuts" instead of the "Bush tac cuts." In fact, I suggest we do just that because it highlights that most of the powerbroker jackholes in the GOP who are STIL IN CONGRESS, aside from the entirely teatarded freshman class, WERE THERE WHEN THEY WERE ENACTED. We still have people in Congress who jammed that inequitable, corporatocratic, middle-class killing, wealth redistributing poison down our throats. Your move, DeMented.
"Romney defended his record in a March speech, explaining the law as a "state plan intended to address problems that were in many ways unique to Massachusetts."
How utterly Republican of Romney and his little group of supporters to try and whitewash HIS plan while continuing their constant (and ridiculous) criticism of the nearly EXACT national Affordable HealthCare Act, aka, Obamacare, passed by Congress last year. After a while you'd think they'd learn.
Mittens favorite breakfast has to be Flip-Flop-Flap Jacks.
Watch out Mittens-anything coming from Demented can't be good. You might want to distance yourself from him.
Obama/Biden 2012
DeMint get some health care for the people in S. C., so they will quit flooding the emergency rooms in N. C.
Looks like CNN likes Mitt in 2012. There's a good enough reason to not vote for him. CNN keeps posting negative articles on Palin, Huckabee, Trump, etc., but postive spins for Mitt Romney. Media Bias anyone?
You know you have real problems when Jim DeMint comes to your aid. Goodbye, Mitt.
Let me guess, BelieveInAmerica...you either really REALLY like Romney for 2012 or he's got you on his astroturfing payroll? Maybe both? Not that we liberals mind...the GOP can eat their own for all we care. Money well spent. nom nom nom
Mitt Romney for President 2012
Campaign slogan: I was for it before I was against it.
Uh-oh, sounds like the fix is in. All the goose-stepping teatards will be expected to fall in line behind their Dear Annointed Leader after DeMented endorses Mittens as the Greedy Old Parasite candidate for 2012.
Sue, the unmittigated idiot in the room thinks the 25% that think like she does is the majority.
WRONG SUE.
Most of us understand that your hate is the only thing you have, since your Republican T-bagger officials have FAILED to do what they promissed they would do...
HEY SUE,
Name jobs legislation thaty Republicans have eve put on the table. Bet you can't, because there is NONE.
Silly stupid Sue.