Romney pens op-ed to mark 'Obamacare' anniversary
(CNN) – Republican and Democratic opponents alike have sought to align the health care reform laws of Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama, but on the federal law’s two year anniversary, Romney penned an op-ed to argue he has nothing to do with “Obamacare.”
On the presidential campaign trail this year, Romney has repeatedly argued for repealing the Affordable Care Act, signed by Obama on March 23, 2010, and in the USA Today op-ed, wrote, “What we need is a free market, federalist approach to making quality, affordable health insurance available to every American.”
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The op-ed came as the president tied Romney and the health care law he signed as governor of Massachusetts to the national law.
“Well, I would have loved to have gotten it done quicker,” Obama said on the radio program “Marketplace,” “which is part of the reason why we designed a program that actually previously had support of Republicans - including the person who may end up being the Republican standard bearer and is now pretending like he came up with something different.”
Romney has this cycle described the Massachusetts as a state-appropriate and imperfect “experiment,” though in a 2009 CNN interview, he said “there are a number of features in the Massachusetts plan that could inform Washington on ways to improve health care for all Americans." He did explain that the Massachusetts plan insured people “without a government option,” though it did include a health insurance mandate, which some tea party Republicans find unappealing.
Romney argued for state-level reform in his op-ed, and outlined his limit for federal government intervention.
“President Obama's program is an unfolding disaster for the American economy, a budget-busting entitlement, and a dramatic new federal intrusion into our lives,” Romney wrote. “To the extent that we have any federal regulation, it should focus on helping markets work.”
The candidate did not address criticism of his state’s law, though he explained his plan for federal reform is very different from the current law. He favors a tax credit for individuals purchasing their own insurance, allowing insurance sales across state lines, limits to medical malpractice suits, coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions, and individual states determining how to tend to the uninsured.
Romney wrote his reforms “entail no new taxes, no massive diversions of funds away from Medicare, no tax discrimination, and no new bureaucracies.”
The United States Supreme Court is set to review the federal health care law in a series of oral arguments next week.
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Romney has consistently eaten his cake and had it, and now he wants to not only run away from his own shadows but totally escape from them. Dear Romney! your shadow's just another part of you. Even in our graves, it follows us all. Man up Mitt, only cowards lie about everything, and admit your role on insurance mandates. We all knew you and the mandate long before it was taken federal. None of your arguments can excuse nor justify the "Chameleon" you have become.
Why don't I see any articles about Rick sanatorium saying it would be better ti vote for Obama then Mitt Romney??
A mandate is a mandate, states wide or federal wide.you still force people to get insurance! This Romney's a liar and people really believe this guy's point of view? What's the difference please somebody explain it to me.
Ok Mr. Etch A Sketch lol.
This is the problem with Willard ,he assumes that the voters are to stupid to research his past comments. Willard tried to contact president obama's administration and help implement some of the policies of the current health care bill.Willard is a pathological liar.
Here are some FACTS regarding Romneycare:
In addition to the Mssachusetts healthcare reform signed by Mittens , which included a mandate and which was the blueprint for President Obama's Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare), in 1993, the Republicans championed the idea of the individual mandate in healthcare reform (as an alternative to the Clinton initiative).
During the 2000s, dozens of Senate Republicans co-sponsored healthcare plans that included a mandate.
In 2007, Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), a favorite of the teabaggers, endorsed Mittens for President, citing Mittens HEALTHCARE PLAN AS A REASON FOR DOING SO.
DeMint has once again endorsed Mittens for President.
Why would anyone vote for Mittens?
Certain conservatives are repulsed by Santorum's remarks about Willard being "slightly different than president Obama".His statement that we might as well keep president Obama .To these conservatives who see this as an endorsement,you need to research Willard's remarks on April ,2011 which is an endorsement of president Obama.If you are angry at Santorum ,you should be angry with the pathological liar also.
Romney the flip flopper can't criticize ehe health care law because he agrees with it whether he admits it or not. Say one thing, but do te opposite, as usual.
Romney knows you cant have a viable educated work force without a medical system that is affordable to all. He believes in a corporate cast system of slaves. His idea of medical care is the same as his sons avoiding military service, Only the the less economic fight Americas wars.
How much money will the Romney's make in overturning Obama care ?
Once again Mitt is spot on. Mitt 2012.
In other words, your on your own . Tipical republican propaganda, we should strip congress of any health and pension benfits that there so againest and they can have romnecare or obamacare ,which ever the bums prefer, why should they have better than you or I have and they suck.
Let's see you want women to go somewhere else for their health care (your words NOT mine) and you are talking about a program that doesn't go into effect until 2013 or 2014.
What is your solution, if it's not something like you did in Massachusetts? When Americans are sick you send them overseas for medical care? That seems to be your answer to everything. Bankruptcy of companies and loss of American jobs.
Romney has become the the Burger King Clown as his campaign is the home of the whopper. Yesterday he gave credit to Bush for the end of the Bush/republican depression, and nothing could be further from the truth. Bush created the economic meltdown, and President Obama ended it.
And ETCH-FACE continues on another of his 180 degree turns!
Remember when ETCH-FACE ed-op on letting Detroit go bankrupt? LOL Just what he needs now De Mint's support from the Tin Foil Hat Loonies!
Romney you lie. Now i see how you made your millions. You lie to compinies telling them that you would help them but instead you ran them into the ground and ship the jobs off china. You lie so much that i belive that you have been doing this from birth. Money is not every thing you lier. And that the truth . Truth
We are not going to elect Mitt LIAR Romney to be President! This guy lies so much my head is spinning.
“there are a number of features in the Massachusetts plan that could inform Washington on ways to improve health care for all Americans."
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Romney was trying to appear as the wizened cynic at the time. The last thing that he ever expected was for the Obama administration to actually follow his "advice."
.................focus on helping markets work=insurances you rob the nation. Nonsense.
4 years from now, when the program has been proven successful, the 2 Mittens will again flip the script & take credit for creating the prototype (Romneycare), of Obamacare! Remember this little blurb on this blog!!
Where is your Etch & Sketch flip-flopper?
Obama 2012
Writing an op ed piece does not change facts. Even those who helped him craft Romneycare will testify otherwise. You know, all politicians spin and we all get that but Romney? The man just lies with abandon.
What a tool and with nothing meaningful to say to boot–
News flash: we already have a "free" market its called Wall Street–
Somebody should tell "Mitt for brains" he has been sent on a fools trip–
More worn-out, stale, wooden-headed ideas from just another Bush in a different suit.
The beginning of the end of Romney which he won't even be able to receive his eth-i-sketch treatment because he won't win the nomination