Supreme Court strips Romney of favorite argument
So how does Mitt Romney, the architect of RomneyCare, attack ObamaCare from this point forward?
Until now, Romney has claimed that the individual mandate is fine as policy when implemented at the state level. In fact, he has said repeatedly that he believes he did the right thing as governor of Massachusetts.
In a GOP debate in January, for example, Romney defended his plan on its merits, arguing that “everyone has a requirement to either buy it or pay the state for the cost of providing them free care. Because the idea of people getting something for free when they could afford to care for themselves is something that we decided in our state was not a good idea.”
However, while Romney argued that such an approach was right for Massachusetts, he also argued that it would be unconstitutional to implement it at the federal level. That was his get-out-of-jail card; that was the core of the distinction that he attempted to draw between RomneyCare and ObamaCare:
What was good policy at the state level was unconstitutional at the federal level.
Except that as we now know, it’s not. Romney’s argument has been rendered null and void by today’s Supreme Court decision upholding the mandate and the tax penalty used to enforce it.
Romney could, I suppose, try to seize upon the court’s description of the penalty as a tax to try to explain how his plan was different. U.S. Sen. Lindsay Thomas, in an appearance on Fox News this afternoon, was already pitching that line, claiming that “the issue is no longer about health care; it’s about taxes.”
Unfortunately for that line of argument, the tax penalty levied under RomneyCare on those who refuse to buy health insurance differs from that under ObamaCare only by degree, and not in a way friendly to Romney. You see, the maximum tax penalty in RomneyCare, at $1,212, is considerably higher than the maximum of $695 under ObamaCare.
Of course, none of this means that Romney won’t keep attacking the federal plan so clearly modeled after his own strategy. It just means that he won’t be able to do so credibly or logically.
– Jay Bookman
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1,024 comments Add your comment
F. Sinkwich
June 28th, 2012
7:23 pm
“Insurance companies will be hiring more people, and health care providers will also.”
Oh, good.
America is BACK!!
We don’t need no stinkin’ production jobs. We don’t need no stinkin’ construction jobs. We don’t need no stinkin’ energy jobs. We don’t need no stinkin’ AG jobs.
We got bed pan emptiers !!!!
Pathetic.
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:24 pm
Sinkwich
Yep, most healthcare work is economic loss
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
7:24 pm
America is headed down a dark road
He was a dark and stormy knight….
Brosephus™
June 28th, 2012
7:24 pm
Nope. But then, Wingfield’s blog is chock full of name-jackers, rejects from this blog, and serial malcontents unhappy with anything that’s happened since 1850.
Whew!!!!! I was wondering if the combination of heat and beer was doing a number on me. I appreciate the response, and my appologies if I offended you with that question/statement.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
June 28th, 2012
7:25 pm
We got bed pan emptiers !!!!
Pathetic.
Speaking of serial malcontents . . .
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:25 pm
Need to warm up those Singapore applications again
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:26 pm
Not just yet tho
JamVet
June 28th, 2012
7:26 pm
I kinda chuckle when I think of the millions and millions that the Uncle Sam haters spent on their “Let ‘em Die” campaign…
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
7:27 pm
“I’d say the battle lines are clearly drawn for November. Mr. Romney pledges to repeal ObamaCare, due to its damaging effect on the economy; Mr. Obama pledges to lead the fight for gay marriage.”
And if you’d just give him a third term, polygamy, free transgender operations (like San Francisco actually considered) and mandatory imprisonment of not terrorists but “homophobes” and “haters”.
F. Sinkwich
June 28th, 2012
7:28 pm
“The number of applications for unemployment benefits hovered last week near the highest level of the year, showing little improvement in the U.S. labor market.”
Cheer up!
You’ve got Obamacare, dudes!
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
7:28 pm
I suspect I have a better understanding of what words mean than you do, but we don’t need to get into academic credentials.
1st man: “Brr, that river’s cold”
2nd man: “Deep, too”
3rd man: “Yep, with sharp rocks on the bottom.”
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:28 pm
Only chicks like “dark and stormys”
Kam, go get your nails done
Keep Up the Good Fight!
June 28th, 2012
7:28 pm
Give Obama a 4th term and Towncrier will be championing the right to marry his goat.
josef
June 28th, 2012
7:30 pm
Off topic but good news nonethless…Nissan is expanding its Canton, Mississippi operations and is hiring 1000. Gas is also below $3.00 a gallon there…
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
7:31 pm
“But then, Wingfield’s blog is chock full of name-jackers, rejects from this blog, and serial malcontents unhappy with anything that’s happened since 1850.”
Ummm…I like Kyle and think he makes some pretty good points, but his blog is not “chock full” of posters, period. And some days, half of those few posters are “serial malcontents” from this blog (without passing judgment on their character or intelligence).
Get Real
June 28th, 2012
7:31 pm
After reading that the law was considered constitutional as a tax not under the commerce clause it should be interesting to hear the Obama spin. The poll numbers have not changed as this is not a popular law. This may turn out to be the best thing that could have happened for Romney
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:32 pm
I want to be part of a different country
Time to emigrate if I can
St Simons - he-ne-ha
June 28th, 2012
7:32 pm
chicken little cons throughout history -
1842 – ‘if workers can strike, no bidness will survive!’
1887 – ‘if you give blacks $1/day wages, just burn bidness to da ground!’
1912 – ‘anti sweatshop legislation is gubmint interference!’
1924 – ‘banning child labor reduces free market oppotuniteh!’
1938 – (my fav) a 40 hr work week!? there won’t be any bidnesses
left to hire people!’
1964 – equal pay for women & negroes? bidness can’t survive if
if job-killin regulations strangle us!’
1970 – ‘health & safety laws – we’ll be outta bidness in 6 mos!’
2012 – ‘health care will end ‘merka!’
chicken little cons – wrong about, well, everything
Recon 0311 2533
June 28th, 2012
7:32 pm
The fact is that the AHA is unpopular among the majority of voters. Obama in his reelection campaign will be forced to defend the bill that will be under attack by Republicans. He will also be forced to defend his record on the economy that will be under attack by the Republicans. On a much lessor scale he will be attacked for protecting Eric Holder as his A.G. from the F&F scandal. He will be forced to play a lot of defense while his campaign strategy was to be on offense attacking Romney as an out of touch rich guy who put Bain profitability ahead of employee’s. The tables have turned thank you Chief Justice Roberts you’ve helped the Romney campaign with your decision albeit unwittingly.
Brosephus™
June 28th, 2012
7:34 pm
josef
I bet Bertolini looked like a combination of Fred Astaire, Ben Vereen, Sammy Davis Jr., and Gregory Hines today when that decision was announced. It will be interesting to see what his compensation package looks like after 2014.
Bruno
June 28th, 2012
7:34 pm
It is a mark of the mindless antipathy to all things Obama that conservatives would claim to be appalled by such a tax, and would build their 2012 campaign around an effort to free the moochers from any obligation to contribute to their own care.
While all of you Idiot Libs are celebrating the end of “free ridership” in our health care system, none of you are smart enough to realize that the system enacted by the Jackass Dems throws the door wide open for free riders. People like me will now simply pay the fine each year, then jump on board as soon as we have a serious health problem. Congratulations, you’re all now going to pay more.
The end of freedom and personal responsibility in our country is now in sight. The government is free via this ruling to force you to purchase any product they choose or force you to pay a fine. So, celebrate away. You’ve all traded away your freedom and all the good things that come with it for a little security.
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:35 pm
1776 to 1960 stellar growth
Post SS and Medicare, America has been treading water
May start drowning now….
josef
June 28th, 2012
7:36 pm
BROSEPHUS
Don’t you know it!
Keep Up the Good Fight!
June 28th, 2012
7:37 pm
Well I see another blogger makes a promise they could not keep…….. liar.
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:37 pm
Recon
If Romney loses, Roberts will be responsible for playing a key part in American decline
MiltonMan
June 28th, 2012
7:39 pm
I love it. I will quit my job so you clowns can pay for me to sit around and eat Cheetos all day!
Obama 2012!
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
7:39 pm
“While all of you Idiot Libs are celebrating the end of “free ridership” in our health care system, none of you are smart enough to realize that the system enacted by the Jackass Dems throws the door wide open for free riders. People like me will now simply pay the fine each year, then jump on board as soon as we have a serious health problem.”
Come on and take a free ride, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you have to be an albino?
G Mare 71(PLEASE VOTE NO ON TSPLOST)
June 28th, 2012
7:39 pm
Is Doomy on vacation?
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:40 pm
Bruno 7:34 I agree
It’s pretty appalling
Obamacare will have to be reformed or America is toast
MiltonMan
June 28th, 2012
7:40 pm
The US Supreme Court just delivered the WH to Mittie boy.
Thanks CJ Roberts!
Jay
June 28th, 2012
7:40 pm
No, Milton. Cheetohs will be banned.
You will have to munch on organic sun-dried soy.
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
7:41 pm
“Brr…sharp rocks…”
Good thought.
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:42 pm
If you strike the Medicaid expansion, and the premium subsidies, then things will be mostly ok
Best to also get rid of the other new taxes on investments and medical devices
MiltonMan
June 28th, 2012
7:42 pm
The company I work for informed us just yesterday that if ObamaCare takes affect, our “Cadillac insurance policy” will now include a deduction in our pay.
Thanks Obama & thanks to you morons who voted him in.
Erwin's cat
June 28th, 2012
7:43 pm
i dont understand….there’s a lot of anti-big-biz on the left, yet this bill literally puts your life in the hands of the insurance industry, that no matter how hard they try the govt can regulate anything in practice, only on paper…..so why oh why does the left embrace this decision….should have held out for a single payer….i expect many non-multi-national corps will opt to pay the fine and stop subsidizing health benes….be careful what you wish for
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:43 pm
“The US Supreme Court just delivered the WH to Mittie boy.
Thanks CJ Roberts!”
Don’t count on it. Work hard to get him elected.
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
7:44 pm
“The company I work for informed us just yesterday that if ObamaCare takes affect, our “Cadillac insurance policy” will now include a deduction in our pay.”
No…you can’t be right….Obama PROMISED you could keep the policy you have now…oh…wait….he didn’t say at the same cost. He must be from Chicago, arguably the most corrupt city in American history.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
7:44 pm
Bruno
June 28th, 2012
10:39 am
And BTW, enjoy the blog by yourselves from here on out. Bruno is done here.
Bruno
June 28th, 2012
10:40 am
Just want to say sick[sic] it up your asses Libs.
Bruno is done on this blog.
Uh, huh.
Stomp your feet and storm out in a drama queen fashion only to come back again.
You’re not the first, and wont be the last.
tiredofIT
June 28th, 2012
7:44 pm
I think it time to relegate the cons to the children’s table and just ignore their childish comments. The big guys made a decision so accept it.
Brandt Hardin
June 28th, 2012
7:46 pm
Republicans would have us believe this is bad for America. Is there any doubt that a Romney administration would favor the rich and increase the income gap in our country while leaving millions of our citizens uninsured and unprotected? Mitt is a pariah in Mormon Clothing and will stop at nothing to expand an empire of greed for the rich in this country. Can his sacred Mormon underwear gain him enough donations to buy this election? See for yourself as Mitt dons his tighty-whities sent from the Good Lord Himself at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2012/05/mitt-romneys-magic-mormon-underwear.html
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
June 28th, 2012
7:46 pm
Well, everybody needs to be tuned in to Fox News tonight. Bill O’Reilly promised everybody “to apologize for being an idiot” if the SC found Obamacare constitutional. I can’t hardly wait.
Patrick
June 28th, 2012
7:46 pm
Jm…
I just made my 2nd donation to Romney about an hour ago.
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:46 pm
Vote Romney
End the insanity
Keep Up the Good Fight!
June 28th, 2012
7:47 pm
The company I work for informed us just yesterday that if ObamaCare takes affect, our “Cadillac insurance policy” will now include a deduction in our pay.
Sure they did.
You were in line at the Whole Foods at the time, too.
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:47 pm
America will no longer be a free market economy after obamacare
More than 50% run by government
Ie, private sector smaller than government
Bad news
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
7:47 pm
“I think it time to relegate the cons to the children’s table and just ignore their childish comments.”
Hey, are you tried of IT (information technology) or it (as it Coke)?
getalife
June 28th, 2012
7:48 pm
willard gets unlimited corporate donations.
You are wasting your money.
Donate to charity instead.
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:48 pm
Patrick good job
Get a yard sign…..
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:49 pm
Or bumper sticker
getalife
June 28th, 2012
7:49 pm
Yeah, cons think willard will repeal willardcare.
That is insane.
Check mate.
Jay
June 28th, 2012
7:50 pm
Bruno … don’t go committing blog suicide
Patrick
June 28th, 2012
7:50 pm
@getalife
Charity is now handled by the government.
Erwin's cat
June 28th, 2012
7:51 pm
Tc…I asked this before but never saw an answer, that i recall….but if I opt out, pay the fine, have a bad day and have to have an emergency hospital visit…before I can sign up…what happens?
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:51 pm
And keep donating
Every dollar helps
Adam
June 28th, 2012
7:52 pm
Bruno: People like me will now simply pay the fine each year, then jump on board as soon as we have a serious health problem. Congratulations, you’re all now going to pay more.
Because that’s EXACTLY what happened with Romneycare.
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
7:52 pm
“In addition to no longer having the patience to deal with Jay’s half-truths and ugliness towards conservatives, my GF no longer feels safe here since Jay refused to deal with the sexually-laced attacks launched on her by Jay’s favorite POS SoothSayer/Redneck Convert. Because I have no power to deal with the situation directly, I think it’s best for me and her to seek a more welcome environment. So next time SoothSayer or his alter ego RC gets another free pass, just remember that it caused some decent folks to leave.”
Bruno, hold on…you can always bring the matter to the editor via e-mail if you think Jay has been unresponsive. Secondly, I doubt RC is SS (actually I was thinking it might be AG or even Jay himself). I may be wrong, but there is a certain level of quality in RC’s satire I haven’t seen in SS regular posts.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
7:52 pm
Bruno — the class of Harvey Mudd U., til the end.
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:52 pm
Getalife
Romney can’t repeal obamacare
But he can fix it
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
7:53 pm
“Because that’s EXACTLY what happened with Romneycare.”
So…it is alright, then? Or are you conceding the criticism?
Jay
June 28th, 2012
7:54 pm
I guess I’m too late to save the man.
Adam
June 28th, 2012
7:54 pm
Towncrier: That’s actually not what happened with Romneycare.
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:55 pm
“Because that’s EXACTLY what happened with Romneycare.”
Sorry it is. MAhas had huge healthcare problems since romneycare
It was feasible to fix because it always is at the state level
Federal laws are insanely difficult to fix
We’re probably FUBAR
But maybe, maybe there’s hope….
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
7:56 pm
“Tc…I asked this before but never saw an answer, that i recall….but if I opt out, pay the fine, have a bad day and have to have an emergency hospital visit…before I can sign up…what happens?”
[Tongue-in-cheek] You are turned away, almost die and then the press gets hold of the story and reveals how heartless this liberal reform of healthcare turned out to be…
Erwin's cat
June 28th, 2012
7:56 pm
“Because that’s EXACTLY what happened with Romneycare.”
ah hmmmm…..you can do better than move the gp’s…i know ya can
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
7:56 pm
“Towncrier: That’s actually not what happened with Romneycare.”
Source?
Jay
June 28th, 2012
7:57 pm
For the record, Sooth is not RC, and vice versa.
And for the record, I intervened immediately when Sooth got out of line, and Sooth admitted that he had done so and quickly apologized. Later, Bruno claimed that Sooth had repeated the attack. I looked at the posts cited and saw nothing — literally — to complain about.
Bruno, in my opinion, insisted on playing the victim when he had other choices available to him. He has made his choice.
Erwin's cat
June 28th, 2012
7:57 pm
Enter your comments here
kayaker 71
June 28th, 2012
7:57 pm
So, now it’s only three white guys and an uncle tom. And the evil John Roberts jumped ship…. so is it necessary after all to “look under the robes of the Supremes?” This is a big surprise. Even the liberal media was gearing up to blame those evil conservatives for denying to provide health care as a right and not a commodity to all of those disadvantaged out there. Now it appears that those least able to pay for health care are going to have to buy health care insurance. But with the cost of insurance going up to the stratosphere after Bozocare was ruled constitutional, those same people are not going to be able to afford it. Then as each insurance company throws in the towel, where do they look for insurance? You got it….. the single payer option. Which was the plan all along. Bozocare has not done these poor unfortunates any favors. When the cost of health insurance premiums doubles, we will see just how much the American electorate likes it.
This election now has some pretty distinct lines drawn in the sand. Stay tuned.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
June 28th, 2012
7:58 pm
Well, I like Sooth—even if he does follow me around the golf course and try and rat me out to the ranger. But I’m no Sooth. Anyhow, if I got anything bad to say about Bruno, I’ll say it about him, not his girlfriend,.I won’t be going on no hunger strike to wait on Bruno’s apology. He don’t have that much class.
Adam
June 28th, 2012
7:58 pm
Jm: No, you are wrong. Forbes had a whole article on how successful Romneycare was.
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:58 pm
Houston……
http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/15/news/economy/massachusetts_healthcare_reform.fortune/index.htm
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
7:58 pm
For the record, Sooth is not RC, and vice versa.
Heh, heh, heh….
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:59 pm
Adam read 7:58
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
7:59 pm
“For the record, Sooth is not RC, and vice versa.”
The plot thickens….
Don't Forget
June 28th, 2012
7:59 pm
No, Milton. Cheetohs will be banned.
The Canadian Cheetoh cartel will supply all the black market cheetohs you can eat.
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
7:59 pm
“Heh, heh, heh….”
It ain’t you, either.
Erwin's cat
June 28th, 2012
8:00 pm
Bruno, in my opinion, insisted on playing the victim when he had other choices available to him. He has made his choice.
Passive Aggressive much Jay?…just sayin’…I’m far from perfect myself
That Black Guy
June 28th, 2012
8:00 pm
Doggone/GA
June 28th, 2012
6:09 pm
That Black Guy – been trying to touch base with you for days about your question on the dogs. Are you still considering getting the Cane Corso?
________________________________________________________________
Doggone, yes, I’m still considering it. Any feedback?
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
8:01 pm
“So, now it’s only three white guys and an uncle tom…”
Oh boy…
Jm
June 28th, 2012
8:01 pm
I ran into Jon lovitz a few weeks ago
Did not ask him about his rant
But I bet he’s pissed
getalife
June 28th, 2012
8:02 pm
Patrick,
Clinton foundation.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
8:02 pm
It ain’t you, either.
Never claimed it was, sport.
But there is one here (and St. Elsewhere) that some took their cues from.
bman
June 28th, 2012
8:02 pm
I really know very, very little about the new healthcare law. I wonder how the independent voters feel about this?
Brosephus™
June 28th, 2012
8:03 pm
And the evil John Roberts jumped ship…. so is it necessary after all to “look under the robes of the Supremes?”
Oooookkkkkkkk!!!!!! Another one who didn’t get the full gist of Roberts opinion. No fear dude, Roberts’ conservative creds are still valid and in full effect. He ruled against the commerce clause, putting a limit on government reach with that one. He also called Obama out for a tax increase, which we all know Democratic Party members love taxing people. One other thing that not many people realize is that he saved the free market for insurance companies for the time being.
Had the ACA been overturned, the only other option for getting any of the popular features of the ACA would have been via single payer. Enacting single payer healthcare kills the private sector insurance industry.
Adam
June 28th, 2012
8:03 pm
Towncrier: My source for premiums NOT shooting through the roof after Romneycare and creating a bunch of people who dumped their insurance in favor of the fee? How about articles saying that never happened?
BRW
June 28th, 2012
8:03 pm
Name that company Milton. Bet you won’t. Because I will check it out and then call you a liar.
getalife
June 28th, 2012
8:04 pm
jm,
Yeah, that is the ticket.
josef
June 28th, 2012
8:04 pm
GMARE
He’s on vacation…
IMAM
Yeah, unh-huh, sure…
********
And Bruno will be back on the third day…we just need to get him down from that cross…
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
8:05 pm
“How about articles saying that never happened?”
Hit me.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
8:06 pm
Enacting single payer healthcare kills the private sector insurance industry.
And there will be much rejoicing.
Jay
June 28th, 2012
8:06 pm
As are we all, Erwin.
Adam
June 28th, 2012
8:06 pm
Earth to Jm: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/02/27/432820/report-massachusetts-premium-growth-declined-after-passage-of-romneycare/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2012/01/20/romney-care-massachusetts-healthcare-reform/
St Simons - he-ne-ha
June 28th, 2012
8:06 pm
‘like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our blog’
Adam
June 28th, 2012
8:07 pm
Off to pick up my girlfriend for whom the bus has not arrived for an hour. I will be back in a bit.
Brosephus™
June 28th, 2012
8:07 pm
Although this video comes from Australia, I think it makes a reasoned explanation for having insurance coverage…
http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/animal-house/201206/motorcyclist-receives-slithery-surprise
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
8:07 pm
“so is it necessary after all to “look under the robes of the Supremes?”
Well, I have thought since yesterday that Jay’s phrasing was odd (and I hope not crude).
Oscar
June 28th, 2012
8:08 pm
I thought I remembered seeing Sooth’s apology and Bruno accepting his apology. And thought that ended it.
josef
June 28th, 2012
8:08 pm
BROSEPHUS
“Enacting single payer healthcare kills the private sector insurance industry.”
The health care end, and not a bad idea…they still got life insurance and everybody dies. I hear our friends at Aetna are planning to start insuring illegal aliens…
St Simons - he-ne-ha
June 28th, 2012
8:09 pm
jm, in the pacific rim, they call it ‘migration’ and in most countries
you have to be under 45 yrs old, because they already have
excellent universal health care, and they don’t want our fat
american butts to be a drain on it. good luck
We have an associate over there (Oceania), because
I am over 50. If me and mrsstsimons weren’t over 50,
that would be us.
kayaker 71
June 28th, 2012
8:10 pm
There are only about 10M people in this country without health care insurance. Out of a country of 311M people, that represents about 3% of the total population. So now, the rest of us have to suffer a major change in our health care to accommodate just 3% of our citizens. Hell, the federal government could pay the health care premiums of 10M people and we would still be way ahead of the curve. This is not about health care for those who don’t have it…… it is about power and government control…. nothing else. Bozo and his gang could care less about the plight of the unfortunate. He uses them as pawns for re-election efforts then throws them aside when he is finished. Bozo cares nothing about ANYTHING, except Bozo. The Constitution is a doormat to wipe his feet. But this will energize the Republican base like nothing else. Count on us to all show up. Can you say the same thing, liberals, about the unions, the welfare hangers on, blacks and latinos?