Your morning jolt: Romney notes ‘a number of similarities’ between his health care plan and Obama’s
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney spoke Tuesday to a packed chapel at Emory University. John Bazemore/AP
Former and future Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney addressed a packed chapel at Emory University on Tuesday evening.
Introduced by Gov. Sonny Perdue, who was not on his train in ‘08, Romney was the portrait of a man working at a post-candidacy pace – in slacks and a sport shirt.
Officially, this was one stop in a book tour – Romney was in Iowa on Monday. And in a 40 minute speech, the former Massachusetts governor declined to address the largest question dangling over him.
Which is, given the similarities between the health care system that he designed for his state, and the national system that President Barack Obama has embarked on, how will that shape a ‘12 bid for the White House.
But the topic was raised at once in a question-and-answer session by a medical student. “There are a number of similarities,” conceded Romney, who continued at length:
“We passed in Massachusetts a health care bill that makes sure, that if you lose a job or change a job, you won’t lose your insurance. Everybody in Massachusetts is able to keep insurance throughout their life. It’s not taken away from them. So it’s portable.
“No. 2, you can’t be cancelled if you have a pre-existing condition or if you become ill once your insured. So everybody’s insured. Ninety-eight percent of the citizens in our state are insured. So in that respect, it’s very similar.
“And we also have an individual responsibility. We have an incentive – a mandate, if you will, to say we need everybody insured. The reason we did that was pretty simple. We had a lot of people showing up at the hospital without insurance – people who had the money or funds to buy insurance, who said, ‘I got no insurance. I’m real sick. Take care of me.’
“And the government was paying for those people. That’s what’s happening here, and in the other states in the country. There are people who — we call them free-riders — who say ‘I’m not going to be insured. I can’t pay my own way. If I have an accident or have a heart-attack, the government will pay for me.’ We say no more. You’ve got [the] responsibility, a personal responsibility, to get insured.
“But there are some aspects of the president’s plans I don’t like. One thing, I like states being able to do what we did – not the federal government. I’m a big believer of the federalist system….
“He’s raising taxes by half a trillion. We didn’t raise taxes to get our job done. No. 2, he’s cutting Medicare. We didn’t cut the benefits for senior citizens to get our job done.
“And No. 3, he’s putting in price controls. Markets don’t work if government starts setting prices. That just does not work. So for those reasons, among others, I’m an opponent of Obamacare.
“But [I] like what we’ve done pretty well, despite its weaknesses and flaws – and it has weaknesses and flaws. And those are worth studying. But what I don’t understand is, given the fact that some people think our system is a lot like what the president did, why didn’t he call me to ask for my advice? I would have given him some good advice.”
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110 comments Add your comment
David
March 31st, 2010
12:24 pm
I think the GOP needs to seriously get their house in order before they can criticize the Democrats. We need fiscal conservative intellectuals, not reactionary buffoons.
Kurt
March 31st, 2010
12:30 pm
Alphar, are you serious? We may be red states here in the South, but just look at the demographics. Go to the grocery store and see who pays using government assistance. Then go to a doctors office or an emergency room and see who is there without any way to pay, again relying on the government (or, taxpayers) to fund their lifestyle. Then go to the schools and see who rides the buses and who does not. Then investigate why this is. Then sit in on class or two. Or stand outside in the halls and watch the classes change. Then, go to a mall with your family on a just about any given night and let me know what kind of experience you have. Or a fast food restaurant. Then turn on any local news or read any local paper, and see all the violent crimes (murder, robbery, drugs) and who they are committed by and how many are multiple repeat offenders. Do all this and then see if you can’t answer your own questions. It’s a way of life in the south.
David S
March 31st, 2010
12:36 pm
It is the same plan. And some of you actually voted for this jerk, when you had a real conservative like Ron Paul to vote for instead.
The plan is a failure in Massachusettes and will be a failure accross the nation.
Ron Paul has always proposed truly free market solutions to every government-caused problem (and aren’t they all). But you are all too afraid to trust the market and would rather trust the government. Suckers.
Amused by People
March 31st, 2010
12:41 pm
Hey Jon Lester,
Mrs. White is right on. That guy is definitely challenged. However, you tell sunshine not to “..make broad assumptions..” after you just said “..the whole “Tea Party” movement and the larger Fox Nation crowd..” Why don’t you get back to Starbucks. I think your lunchbreak is over and I need you to make me another Venti coffee so I can get back to making more money for your elected messiah to pi$$ away. Maybe if you were more responsible and saved more money in your past, you wouldn’t need to take it from people like me who earn it fair and square.
Libby
March 31st, 2010
12:44 pm
@ Republican turned Democrat. Welcome! The KoolAid we liberals serve is much better than conservative Tea! More than 60% of Americans that don’t want ObamaCare can’t be right, they need to listen and trust in their ObamaGod!
Question – why is Fox News covering for those hate spewing, brick throwing Republicans? Someone should have been tried and convicted by now for that terrorist attack on our Right to ObamaCare!
Libby
March 31st, 2010
12:47 pm
“I think the GOP needs to seriously get their house in order before they can criticize the Democrats. We need fiscal conservative intellectuals, not reactionary buffoons”
So Right David! We Democrats are in power and we don’t have to listen to 60% of Americans! If they would just drink KoolAid instead of Tea, then they would see ObamaGod for the savior he is! Hail ObamaGod Hail!
RGB
March 31st, 2010
12:47 pm
Mitt is a bright, articulate individual, but RomneyCare is a failure. Here are some excerpts according to the WSJ.
1. A typical family of four today faces total annual health costs of nearly $13,788, the highest in the country. Per capita spending is 27% higher than the national average.
2. …insurance companies are required to sell “just-in-time” policies even if people wait until they are sick to buy coverage.
3. Fifty-six percent of Massachusetts internal medicine physicians no longer are accepting new patients.
4. For new patients who do get an appointment with a primary-care doctor, the average waiting time is 44 days.
5. Emergency room visits jumped 7% between 2005 and 2007. Officials have determined that half of those added ER visits didn’t actually require immediate treatment and could have been dealt with at a doctor’s office—if patients could have found one.
6. While Massachusetts’ uninsured rate has dropped to around 3%, 68% of the newly insured since 2006 receive coverage that is heavily or completely subsidized by taxpayers.
7. More than half of the 408,000 newly insured residents pay nothing.
8. Mr. Romney’s promise that getting everyone covered would force costs down also is far from being realized. One third of state residents polled by Harvard researchers in a study published in “Health Affairs” in 2008 said that their health costs had gone up as a result of the 2006 reforms. A typical family of four today faces total annual health costs of nearly $13,788, the highest in the country. Per capita spending is 27% higher than the national average.
Read about it: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703625304575115691871093652.html
Given the failure of RomneyCare, why would any thinking person want to implement a version of it on a national scale?
The article cites IN Governor Mitch Daniels for implementing a plan that made health care more accessible without bankrupting his state. The Republican governor could be a terrific candidate for president in the future.
deegee
March 31st, 2010
12:52 pm
Kurt, what is your point? I live in meth/Xanax/Oxycontin infested Forsyth County. Is that the demographic you are referencing?
Lady T
March 31st, 2010
12:55 pm
Hey i’m in love with sara palin
You are so stupid you just don’t know what to say… Let me break it down for you I’m a BLACK FEMALE who spend 10 years in the military as a Military Police officer for sara palin lover that’s MP, I got out of the military after a head injury in Desert Storm. After I got out I went to college and received three degree do u know how to spell three I don’t think so, which includes a Masters in Engineering. I also have a child who I take care of by myself with out the help of food stamps, wick or any other that ofter stuff the government offers. I make a honest living taking care of myself and my child who by the way go to private school paid for out of my pocket. Mr/Mrs. Sara Palin lover. It seems you have so much to say, wanting to put blacks down or whoever, why don’t you get a life and a job and stop acting like a retard. Everything I got I worked to get it and didn’t have to ask for a hand out. So I think and feel you need to keep your childish comments to yourself. And by the way my husband is a very respectful white man, who lost his job a year ago and I’m still standing by him through thick and thin.
DRH
March 31st, 2010
12:57 pm
Romney likes the benefits, but not the costs. How swell. How is Taxachusetts paying for it?
That said, health care reform is worth the cost. And all the haters will turn to it in their inevitable time of need. As usual, they can’t see past their own current situation, which is all that matters to them.
Selfish now, hypocrites later (and still selfish).
All races are Equal
March 31st, 2010
1:07 pm
“i’m in love with sara palin”… Dude, go back to high school or take the GED, learn to read and write properly before you post anymore comments.
Libby
March 31st, 2010
1:07 pm
@ DHR You are so right, ObamaCare haters are selfish! ObamaGod has mandated that the haters take care of us, more than 60% of Americans are wrong! I am so excited that my ObamaCare card is going to be black and not platninum!
DHR, what flavor of KoolAid do you like?
Fellow Engineer
March 31st, 2010
1:07 pm
FYI, Lady T, did they not teach you in engineering school that “three degree” should be “three degrees”?
Good for you for not taking welfare or food stamps like 95% of white americans.
Line up for your medal.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & TIred
March 31st, 2010
1:13 pm
What I can’t understand is why all these tax paying Americans don’t want to have access to the SAME healthcare options that their congressional representatives have….that they (the taxpayers) are already paying for????? That one escapes me…….is it self hatred????
Libby
March 31st, 2010
1:13 pm
ObamaGod is getting back at you haters of ObamaCare! Instead of saving $2500 on premiums, you haters now must to pay 17% more to take care of me!
Do you think the red dye in the cherry KoolAid is bad for me?
Libby
March 31st, 2010
1:19 pm
“After I got out I went to college and received three degree do u know how to spell three I don’t think so, which includes a Masters in Engineering.”
Bravo Lady T, that head injury did not affect you one bit, did it? Wow, a black woman with three degree married to a jobless white man, a tale only to be told in ObamaGod’s America!
RGB
March 31st, 2010
1:20 pm
Don’t you love it when moochers call other people (who pay their bills) “selfish”?
anything obama does
March 31st, 2010
1:22 pm
anything obama and his administration does can not be trusted…they think only about their constituites…who they need to pay back political favors too…the entire jobs package, healthcare package, stimulus package is 100% biased to the 50% of the population who does not pay taxes…wake up america..it is over soon…we are being controlled by the non-producers..regarding jobs…it is nice to know that washington dc is the only town growing in the country…thanks komrade obama.
Neil
March 31st, 2010
1:27 pm
Is it any wonder the last bunch of presidential candidates didn’t like Romney? Romney is a real as John Edwards was loyal to his marriage — who needs pretty boys who are stuck on themselves? They need to go back home and stay stuck looking into their mirrors!
Romney is deluded if he thinks people are buying his is different because his was a states decision.
This man must have told whoppers since he was a kid!
http://mittromney2012potus.blogspot.com/
Devil's advocate
March 31st, 2010
1:30 pm
It is amazing how one person (Mr/Ms Palin lover) is able to stir up so much. Can’t you see that this person is making these ignorant statements just to cause strife in this blog? It is not feasible for anyone (who is not inbred) to be that stupid consistently. Look at how he lists his name (handle), it is grammatically correct, but his/her statements are pure Poe’s Law. http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/Poe’s_Law. You can’t help but laugh.
Libby
March 31st, 2010
1:40 pm
Devil’s advocate you are so smart. We liberals need to continue to show Republicans how superior we are and how to love not hate! Can you teach me how to do links? I’ll make you some refreshing KoolAid if you show me how?
Tech Man
March 31st, 2010
1:41 pm
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & TIred 1:13
We won’t have the same benefits as Congress. All that is in the bill is that Congress will participate in an “exchange”. They are going to take their current cafeteria plan of benefits, retitle it as a “local” exchange as it has more than one carrier and continue to rock and roll.
Cant Get Right!
March 31st, 2010
1:44 pm
Romney said: “But there are some aspects of the president’s plans I don’t like. One thing, I like states being able to do what we did – not the federal government. I’m a big believer of the federalist system….
“He’s raising taxes by half a trillion. We didn’t raise taxes to get our job done. No. 2, he’s cutting Medicare. We didn’t cut the benefits for senior citizens to get our job done.
This is disingenuous, The Health Care Reform Act has the Opt-Out provision for states. HIS Massachusetts program was the impetus for this amendment. He knows this, and he stood there and lied about it for political purposes. Romney also knows that the “cut” to Medicare is in the subsidies being paid to the private insurance companies for Medicare Advantage. The subsidies were being paid by the govt, and the Seniors who “purchased” the additional supplemental were being abused with high premiums. The purpose of the subsidies should have been to keep the premiums low, and the Insurance companies were abusing it, this is part of the “cut waste and fraud” portion of the reform. You can’t have “reform” without “reforming anything……What do people want. I keep asking why people are so willing to stand up and defend a corporation’s right to abuse you, and why are people willing to fight for the right to be abused? Somebody please explain it, because it really is that simple.
renee
March 31st, 2010
1:48 pm
How great that Imno found President Nixon’s CHIP foresight and address to Congress. What a shame he was not allowed to complete his visions for our Country. He abolished the draft, inherited civil unrest/violence in the streets and an unpopular war. Under his watch, the civil violence on college campus’ ceased and the Nation healed as he began ending the Vietnam War. i’ve never met anyone who served in our Military during his time in office say anything but positive things about his world vision and Leadership.
Larry
March 31st, 2010
1:56 pm
@get off your high horse: If Obama is successful at doing all the good things you mentioned in your post i.e. gaining jobs, reducing fuel prices etc. Why wouldn’t you support him.
Who cares which side gets credit for things if the end result is positive for the country? I’m a Dem, but if a Conservative champions an effort that benefits me, my response is not gonna be…uh-oh Repubs did something good, Dems better attack.
Lady T
March 31st, 2010
2:07 pm
The bottom line is there are black and white people who don’t have a job, no health care and some who even lost their home, so provety don’t have a color or a religion. Instead of crying like a baby about everything we need to come together and help each other out that mean black and white. The mexicans can come over here and get every hand out there is but black and white americans catch HELL trying to get the same assistant from our local government, but you don’t raise hell about that and it’s coming out of our pockets.
This health care reform has been a issue for years and not a single President was able to sign this bill, but now President Obama has sign this bill it’s a big issue. There are too many child & grown people out here that need medical help, so why not help them. We helping the no taxing paying mexicans so what’s the difference, the difference is Obama is a BLACK PRESIDENT and people hate that, that’s why we can’t never get past the racial bull crap that is going on today.
Bill
March 31st, 2010
2:08 pm
Folks,
I am pretty sure “I am in love with sara palin” is jerking your chain.
Bill
March 31st, 2010
2:12 pm
The screamers on cable blast everything the administration does, calling names and making threats. The tea party folks take this a step further and talk about secession. Then the “Christian Militia” ratchets things up another notch and decides to wage war on the government.
How about some responsible adult behavior.
Lady T
March 31st, 2010
2:16 pm
LIKE RODNEY KING SAID “CAN WE ALL JUST GET ALONG”!!! FOR A CHANGE
Libby
March 31st, 2010
2:39 pm
“How about some responsible adult behavior”
Yes Bill, we Democrats are the authority on responsibily and civilty. WE would never be unkind, except when it comes to taking trash to Republicans! Hail ObamaGod!
OBAMAMERICA
March 31st, 2010
2:39 pm
SARAHPALINLOVER- Please learn how to spell. Your statements are very ignorant towards a race of people that you don’t know anything about. The comment about Sarah Palin stopping children from being born to unwed mothers is very contradictory, since her daughter is an unwed mother. The President even defended her daughter when other’s were lashing out at her. I bet Bristol and her dgt will benefit from the healthcare reform bill, since she is out of school and no means of healthcare. Now she can be added to her parents until she is in her late 20’s if she stays in school, etc. Also, the President is doing the best he can with the sources that he is given. President Bush handed him “mess” on a platter, but you are too ignorant to see the past. Just because he is black does not mean he can not do a good job. You guys are still stuck on show me your birth certificate and he’s a muslim. Show us your high school diploma. This “country” does not belong to you. You invaded it and took the credit of discovery. The people that you are supporting take uneducated hillbillies like you and instill hate, fear, etc. then you think “yeah, it’s mine, let’s have a tea party, we need to take out country back!” The healthcare reform will help you more than anyone. There are people just like you that don’t have a pot to piss in and a window to throw it out, your party gets you rowdy, then they go back home and sit in their million dollar homes & laugh, because they have nuts like you to believe anything. Your debate is senseless, your comments are uneducated, you are filled with hate. Grow up, learn the facts and stop thinking America is own by one people. I am a nurse and I see people everyday in the hospital that need healthcare, can not get the proper funds to take care of themselves or their families. We do free service daily. That’s ok with you when it involves your people, but Lord help us all if you think the blacks or any other race benefit from something. Everyone is a socialist then. We work hard and want the best also—–stop the hate!!!!!!!!!! I know you want listen because you only want to hear yourself speak- Hannity, Rush and Beck is taking all of you to HELL with this hatred and they will still be raking in the millions. They don’t care about you, only about their ratings and the money they are making off of “poor” people like you. Sit back and think about it—–You are being used and abused! Leave my educated President alone!
Libby
March 31st, 2010
2:42 pm
” the difference is Obama is a BLACK PRESIDENT and people hate that”
Yes people hate that ObamaGod is black and we will keep reminding the haters that he is black because anyone that disagrees with ObamaGod is racist!
Ira in East Lake
March 31st, 2010
2:42 pm
I think Libby’s about to stroke out.
i'm in love with sara palin
March 31st, 2010
2:44 pm
i dont care what you all say about me im as real as you get an you get mad about me calling out the librals for doing all that inbred stuff and giving my money to the blacks and mexicos. i wont never be a libral and i wont never support no blacks getting free docters when i got to pay for it. they can pay there own bills just like us whites do. i aine rich neither but no a raw deal when i see one and i know palin will stop that wase of money you librals are spending. call me all the names you want because come november the palin rommey and tea party will take back this county from all the muslims blacks mexicos and inbreds. an the black lady with the white husband i hope you are happy mixing up the race your poor kids
Ira in East Lake
March 31st, 2010
2:46 pm
Preach it brother Palin-lover!
i'm in love with sara palin
March 31st, 2010
2:49 pm
that misses obamamerica lady must be black an most every body agrees with me an not her. she just on here lieying about every thing. i aine no hillbilly neither and i got a ajucation thank you. i got amendmint rites too so stop acting like some imbred
Libby
March 31st, 2010
2:49 pm
“so provety don’t have a color or a religion.”
Yes, Lady T, provety is color blind! Lady T you are a true inspiration, a black woman with a head injury with three degree and a white jobless husband. Your anonymous tale of woe is remarkable and I am saddened that the haters don’t believe your story.
Libby
March 31st, 2010
2:52 pm
Ira, Thnx for caring! ObamaCare will cover my stroke! And my addiction to KoolAid if I ever want to stop drinking it!
i'm in love with sara palin
March 31st, 2010
2:55 pm
i love it how them imbreds get upset when a white man stands up for my rites every one gets all crazy. those people are brianwash and just lieying about every thing obama tells them. how about pain for your deffasit and stop taking my money
Kurt
March 31st, 2010
2:56 pm
Not at all. People in Iowa, Alaska, North Dakota, etc., have those same problems. Do you think the people you talk about there in Forsyth County are buying their oxycontin with government assistance money? Me either. And I’m sure that 99.9% of them there don’t believe that they are ENTITLED to anything if they’re too sorry to hold a job. Nope, the demographic to which I refer is the same one who causes my taxes to be so high so that I can help fund their entitlement programs (welfare, food stamps, Medicaid/Medicare, government housing, and on and on….)and pay for the prisons they overrun.
Libby
March 31st, 2010
2:59 pm
I bet those meany Republicans are getting ready for their afternoon Tea!
But I, Libby the Liberal, am going to partake in an economical and delish KoolAid!
ObamaGod said I must make the 3:00 hour as a time for worshipping him.
Hail ObamaGod Hail!
MCE
March 31st, 2010
3:02 pm
Isn’t it intersting that “love Sara” and the like love to drape themselves in the constitution and site ammendment rights but they have never read the constitution or the amendments to the constitution?
rdh
March 31st, 2010
3:09 pm
And lets be clear: MassCare is BANKRUPTING MASSACHUSETTS, which is in the top 5 richest states in the nation:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/03/19/more_cuts_loom_as_state_faces_295m_in_red_ink/
If one of the richest states in the U.S. can’t do it. They, and RI, and NY, and CA, and Hawaii, and EIGHT OUT OF THE TOP TEN richest states in the nation are looking to red states to bail them out. Soon, though, we will ALL be in the financial straights of NY, NJ, CA, and there will be NO ONE to bail us out. Then, no healthcare, no social security, and Democrats will have killed the golden goose because it would not lay golden eggs fast enough.
rdh
March 31st, 2010
3:11 pm
From my previously cited article:
Cahill, who argued earlier this week that the state’s universal health care law is bankrupting Massachusetts, said the latest shortfall “is further evidence that we have a broken and mismanaged health care system in this state.’’
“I warned on Tuesday that health care spending in Massachusetts was blowing a hole in the state budget,’’ Cahill said in a statement. “I’m glad that the governor’s office is finally acknowledging that fact.’’
get off your high horse
March 31st, 2010
3:14 pm
@Larry,
I did vote for Obama; due to things I will not mention so I will not upset others. However, I am more in line with a Ron Paul libertarian. I do not believe America can handle the debt that some of Obama’s programs will require. Also, the deals that where made I really didn’t like. That is the point my arguement comes from. The health care law is done; we lost; move on and try to get in on something we like. I do like these blogs because I think if we express ourselves and agrue our points from a critical thinking aspect I really believe most of us could reach a consenus.
I love the Constitution, our founding fathers where so far ahead of their time. I would recommend for anyone to actually go and read our founding documents.
Preston
March 31st, 2010
3:22 pm
Man, AJC needs to hire some forum moderators. Good Lord. I mean, seriously, Libby and Sara Palin, you do realize you’ve spent the last 4-5ish hours making fun of the obvious stereotypes of the opposite party to no real effect except to bother other people?
I also consider it possible they’re the same person. Get a job, sir.
RH
March 31st, 2010
3:24 pm
MCE, do not ridicule others for something you haven’t done yourself! Hypocrit!
Republican turned Democrat
March 31st, 2010
3:33 pm
@ in love with Palin – Dude you might want to give it a rest. NO ONE thinks like you except the other whackjobs in the militias, white power groups and the ones bombing clinics and sending white powder around to our elected officials. If you want to contribute to society in a positive, meaningful way, get out and run for the senate, house, or even for president. Seeing the likes of you out there campaigning for office, now that would be a real treat.
My vote is that this idiot is actually real and genuine (considering we are in Georgia afterall).
MCE
March 31st, 2010
3:51 pm
RH,
Not true. With all of the reter
MCE
March 31st, 2010
3:55 pm
RH, Not True. With all the rhetoric and mud slinging going on I ttok the time to re-read the US constitution. Here’s a link. It’s not that long and a brilliant document.
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html