(CNN) – Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney pointed Wednesday to the Massachusetts health reform law he signed – and particularly its coverage of children – when asked about his compassion for middle class people.
Romney raised the law in an interview with NBC News. Conservatives have criticized Romney for supporting the law, which is similar to the health reform law signed by President Barack Obama. Romney has said his law was constitutional and appropriate in Massachusetts, but was not meant to be implemented nationally.
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"I think throughout this campaign as well, we talked about my record in Massachusetts, don't forget - I got everybody in my state insured," Romney told NBC News, according to a quote on their website. "One hundred percent of the kids in our state had health insurance.
"I don't think there's anything that shows more empathy and care about the people of this country than that kind of record," he continued.
Minutes later, however, Romney railed against Obama's health law, which bears similarities to the Massachusetts provision.
At a campaign rally in Toledo, Romney reaffirmed his commitment to "repeal Obamacare and replace it with real health care reform."
"Obamacare is really Exhibit No. 1 of the president's political philosophy, and that is that government knows better than people how to run your lives," he said.
Romney has largely avoided speaking about his Massachusetts health care plan on the campaign trail, since it served in part as a blueprint for Obama's sweeping health care reform, which Republicans oppose. Last week, Romney joked that Obama often jabs him as "the grandfather of Obamacare," saying "I don't think he meant that as a compliment but I'll take it."
Last month, Romney brought up the law when defending himself against accusations that he's waging a "war on women."
"Look, I'm the guy that was able to get health care for all of the women and men in my state," Romney said on Fox News. "They're just talking about it at the federal level. We actually did something, and we did it without cutting Medicare and without raising taxes."
At the rally Wednesday in Toledo, Ohio, Romney explained that "government has a role" in helping people.
"We have people that are hurting, we have people who are disabled and people who are poor, they need our help and they receive our help," he said. "We're a charitable people."
"So we're going to help those that need our help, we're a compassionate people," he continued. "At the same time, at the same time, we're going to insist that these people have the opportunity for work if they can carry out work, if they're able-bodied. Because we are not going to create a society of dependence on government."
– CNN Political Producer Rachel Streitfeld contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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Romney has flipped and flopped so many times on the Mass. Health Care Reform Law that people are no longer listening to him.
It's a wonder the man hasn't given himself a mental hernia.
Romney said,
"I think throughout this campaign as well, we talked about my record in Massachusetts, don't forget – I got everybody in my state insured," Romney told NBC News, according to a quote on their website. "One hundred percent of the kids in our state had health insurance. "I don't think there's anything that shows more empathy and care about the people of this country than that kind of record," he continued.
So, Romney, I take it you'll be voting for Obama then?
ROMNEYCARE = OBAMACARE
and because of that FACT, Romney has tried to distance himself from the healthcare law he passed in Mass.
the fact of the matter is, the healthcare law passed by Romney is good for the people. The healthcare law President Obama signed is good for the people. It has been demonized by those who want to "make Obama a one term president"
Let's get this straight.... When he was governor he had compassion for the people in his state and wanted them to have health care. As President his answer would be to let people go to the emergency room. So he's flip flopped on compassion as well as everything else.
My head is spinning with Mitt the Twit and his flip-flops. Now is he for Obama Care and how come he has suddenly discovered the middle class and the poor.
Forget it, this guy is toast. Can we go vote now.
Obama 2012
Romney has said his law was constitutional and appropriate in Massachusetts, but was not meant to be implemented nationally.
Half measures availed us nothing Mitt !
Didn't Mitt say he was a Kinda guy yesterday ?
Romney / Ryan
KInda 2012
No really, is this Romney guy for real? In a split second, he just canceled himself out. Either you are or you are not, you do or you don't, you will or you won't, are you for or against, up or your down? I just figured this Romney cat out . . . Bipolar!
He says, "I don't think there's anything that shows more empathy and care about the people in his COUNTRY than that kind of record". Did he mean to say state? If not, he just admitted "Obamacare" shows empathy and care for the people in this country. Careful Mitt, you stepped in it again and you don't have too many wacko tea bagger supporters left, keep talking like that and they just might not show up on election day.
I have a question for romney the tax cheat ,why not nationally,or are there no children in the rest of the country or is Massachusetts another country ?????????
"Romney raised the law in an interview with NBC News. Conservatives have criticized Romney for supporting the law, which they and some Democrats see as similar to the health reform law signed by President Barack Obama. Romney has said his law was constitutional and appropriate in Massachusetts, but was not meant to be implemented nationally.
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Why not implement it nationally? Aren't the rest of us a good as the residents of Massachusetts? You're cute, Robme, real cute. You have contradicted yourself and switched positions so many times, most of us have no idea where you stand on anything.
Mitt Romney is a confused individual.....if you can't properly run an effective campaign, how can you run an entire country?
It's too late to be compassionate Mitt.......we all saw the videos of how you really feel about us "victims". Flip flopping again, are you?
"Romney raised the law in an interview with NBC News. Conservatives have criticized Romney for supporting the law, which they and some Democrats see as similar to the health reform law signed by President Barack Obama. Romney has said his law was constitutional and appropriate in Massachusetts, but was not meant to be implemented nationally."
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Cute. Aren't the rest of us as deserving as Massachusettes? Seriously, Robme, you have switched sides so many times, I doubt that even you know where you stand.
But Mitt, 47 percent of "us people" are lazy, not paying taxes, and dependent on the government, right?
So why is your law good enough for Mass but not good enough for the rest of the country?
Why are Mass citizens more privileged then the rest of the country?
Romney "The Stench" wants to repeal affordable healthcare for Americans on day one, his replacement plan is the emergency room. Compassion – yeah right. Romney also wants to get rid of medicare and give seniors a coupon. No thanks!
Obama/Biden 2012
I'm waiting for Romney to totally breakdown and scream: "What do you want me to say"! The debate should be videos of old Romney versus his modern-day self.
I'm so confused! Romney is starting to sound just like President Obama. What's the deal?
Having not lived in MA I want to quote someone who has the drivers chair on this issue....
Pat Boston MA.
Health care in MA was in the works years and years before Romney was our governor. He passed health care as a way of getting on the national stage. Period. It was the democrats here in MA who wanted it passed because hospital and doctor bills weren't getting paid.
Show me where BEFORE Romney was governor, he was pushing for health care in this country. Ted K. devoted his career to getting it passed. Al Franken before he was a US Senator devoted much of his time here in Boston working on getting health care passed. Michael Dukasis spent years here in MA AFTER he was governor to getting health care passed here.
Romney signed on the dotted line. Period. And then he walked away from it. How can he have any feeling for people in this country if he talks about repealing the president's health care legislation?
He's full of it. Now he sees that the legislation is popular and he has to now change lanes and go back to being "for" health care.
Say... WHAT? (made my head spin around) He said the health care law is compassionate in Massachusetts (look at me! look how compassionate I am! I care about the 47%!) ... but on a national level, it's not???
Go get em MITT all of us that are out here workin our 70 hrs a week 51 or 52 weeks a year shouldnt have to take care of the ones that can work !
"I think throughout this campaign as well, we talked about my record in Massachusetts, don't forget – I got everybody in my state insured," Romney told NBC News, according to a quote on their website. "One hundred percent of the kids in our state had health insurance.
_____
But he has since argued he wouldn't do it again. And why it is ok to insure everyone in Massachusetts but not in the US as a whole? Another Mitt Romney being on both sides of the issue topic apparently.
Romney ,does that mean Pres.Obamas compassionate as well for getting the ACA for all the citizens of this nation..Of course not his was just for Massachusetts residents he was talking about, right STENCH!!How bout explaining another of your screwups,that how you've run this campaign on screwups right,fend yourself nitwit!!You spoke publicly on reversing the ACA bill but when pressed that parts are republican created and the same as yours you again lie stating you never said anything about the bill being reversed till the video was shown to you,you're done buddy!!Debates will uncover your lies,inuendoes and after the presidents brings them to light on public tv you'll be political history,a pathelogical liar caught in your own pathedic web of lies,to bad republicans,you've brought another loser to the elections ,maybe next time suckers!!
That's when he was a fake moderate. Now that he is a fake right wing zealot it's not good for the rest of the country. What would happen if he was elected a fake president? Who knows? Rule by etch-a -sketch I presume.
Here he goes again. Mr. Romney simply is incapable of taking just one side of an issue.