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
Republican turned Democrat
March 31st, 2010
8:58 am
At least he admits it. Things is, this will catch fire and soon the whole country will realize that the world isn’t going to be destroyed by the new law.
AH
March 31st, 2010
9:04 am
No the world won’t be destroyed, just the United States of America that we all grew up in. In Obama’s defense though he didn’t do this all by himself he just took the golden opportunity that was made for him by the last 20 years of politicians.
deegee
March 31st, 2010
9:06 am
I love it when the talking heads on CNBC report the good news on the economy, i.e., stronger dollar, 4.0% growth in the stock market this year, decreasing jobless claims, small uptick in hiring. Then in the next breath ask, “And when do you think that the disastrous economic policies of the Obama administration will start having an effect?”
Republican turned Democrat
March 31st, 2010
9:18 am
All I can say is that if Romney had won the election, we’d have a very similar health care law and the some people arguing against it would be for it and vice-versa. Obama is probably the best president many of you out there will ever have known, yet you won’t realize it until 20 yrs from now. Then you’ll look back and thank your lucky stars for the benefits you and your kids/grandkids have but didn’t fight for.
Rule .303
March 31st, 2010
9:18 am
I like Romney, but for him to say taxes weren’t raised is disingenuous. How do you think it was funded then, by trimming the budget? He basically left the tax raising to a future administration. On top of that, Mass’s budget is around $29 billion..Ga’s is around $17 billion, but at least they get a lot for their taxes….check out their subway/light rail/and commuter rail next time you’re in New England.
In any event Jim, you could have kept this close to home and just compared Judson Hill’s SB28 from 3 years ago to Obama’s plan. Even now, the legislature is passing around parts of the national plan at the state level.
Daedalus
March 31st, 2010
9:24 am
Sounds like Romney was for health care reform before, but now he opposes it.
Or as they say in the South: “He was fer it, before he was agin’ it.”
CJae From East Lake
March 31st, 2010
9:26 am
The report of Romney’s responce is what has been missing from this debate from the beginning, honest dialogue! One could certainly argue the position taken on some aspects of how the bill was crafted (as Romney articulately summarized) but it’s far from a situation where the entire proposal needs to be scrapped.
I say come the start of the next session, let those lawmakers present put their money where their mouth is (assuming Republican control of the Congress is returned) and let them tweek the aspects they feel are out of wack. The fact that all provisions of the bill don’t take affect at once gives Congress the runway to make additional corrections.
i'm in love with sara palin
March 31st, 2010
9:27 am
if he is for given obama and the blacks more money for docters i will not vote for him. palin in 2012. obama is a rasist and hates us white people.
CJae From East Lake
March 31st, 2010
9:31 am
You can’t with good reason seriously believe that Sara Palin is best candidate available to serve as President? The must of have increased the doseage in the Kool-Aid.
i'm in love with sara palin
March 31st, 2010
9:35 am
she is way better then obama and she is not a muslim. she will not give a billion dollar to the blacks and illegal people for doctors. she will get our county back to us. he wont even show us his birth paper. he was not even born in us they said he was born in hawawi.
Intown
March 31st, 2010
9:47 am
I wonder if Mitt was invited by the university or by the little nazis, oops, I mean Young Republicans, that run around in a small pack on Emory’s campus.
i'm in love with sara palin
March 31st, 2010
9:51 am
you all need to wake up and take your county back before that muslim and the blacks take all our money and kill all our babies. palin is per-life.
lmno
March 31st, 2010
9:59 am
The health care reform act is also very much like the one proposed by Richard Nixon before Watergate brought him down.
Ira in East Lake
March 31st, 2010
10:02 am
palin lover: Your fear is comforting, what else scares you? I really really really hope you get your wish.
Palin-Huckabee in 2012!!!
Republican turned Democrat
March 31st, 2010
10:03 am
@i’m in love with sara: dude get a life. you are as ignorant as your tea party cohorts. you obviously been listening to the Fox propaganda and buying in to all the lies and rumors. Ironically, it’s for ignorant people like you that Obama is helping the most, despite your hatred.
i'm in love with sara palin
March 31st, 2010
10:07 am
ira we will take back our county my brother i am with you. these blacks and liars corrup everything even our govermint and they take the money away and give it out to the blacks so they can buy drugs and have kids with no daddies. palin will stop that. now obama wants to drill in vergina and there is not no oil there. he is a fool. he is no cristian but us cristians need to vote him out in november
Winkasdad29
March 31st, 2010
10:11 am
Even though Sarah Palin is a very attractive woman, she is not fit to be President. Maybe Mitt Romney might be a better choice for the Republican side.
Just my two cents, I think we need to stop all of this polarization, and get back to fixing what’s broke with this country. In Washington, there’s too much bickering and name calling instead of compromise and/or consensus. Repubs, Dems and Indies need to start working together as best they can to fix this mess. We will not all be satisfied because everybody can’t get what they want, but if our major problems get solved, then that’s what counts.
i'm in love with sara palin
March 31st, 2010
10:13 am
winsasdad29 you are crazy like the other blacks. get your facts strate and stop spending all our money on det
lmno
March 31st, 2010
10:16 am
How can anyone be so stupid to think that the sara palin poster is serious?
Its not subtle at all and lacks creativity. However, some of you still believe it.
lmno
March 31st, 2010
10:19 am
Here is a letter Nixon wrote to Congress 35 years ago.
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2009/September/03/nixon-proposal.aspx
i'm in love with sara palin
March 31st, 2010
10:22 am
imno you mark my words you think you are so smart you an your muslims will be voted out you are so stupid yourself. you ruin this county and i am sick of people like you who think they are better then every one else. mark my words sara palin will win and you and your baby killer muslim blacks will have to find another president maybe that revrand write
Georgia Conservative
March 31st, 2010
10:23 am
Romeney’s stance on Health Care Reform is a major problem for his candidacy. Given the unpopularity of that type of “reform” at the national level and even in his own state (see Scott Brown’s election), this issue can erode is support with the Republican base and with independents who might consider his candidacy. I’m sure he’s hoping that Obamacare will take the issue off the table so he won’t have to deal with it, but I don’t think it’ll be that easy.
I’d be willing to bet that I’m in love with Sara is a liberal masquerading as what he or she perceived tea partiers and conservatives to be. His/her ramblings smack of stereotypes.
Republican turned Democrat
March 31st, 2010
10:24 am
Serious or not the dude is a whackjob.
Winkasdad29
March 31st, 2010
10:24 am
Hey Sara Palin’s love slave:
Sarah can fix your “county”. We need our country fixed!
I think we’re dealing with a blog troll, and trolls are ugly and they smell.
i'm in love with sara palin
March 31st, 2010
10:30 am
i got better things to do then take this abuse from you black muslim lovers. i dont care what you say we will take this county back from you. you are all just librals who give all my money to the blacks and illigal people and i am sick of it. i have better things to do insted of reading your black libral stuff.
Ira in East Lake
March 31st, 2010
11:04 am
palin lover: I’m guessing you’re still working on that GED, right? Good luck with that! Oh, and just so you know – your great great grandma was a black woman.
Don
March 31st, 2010
11:10 am
ask the people of wasilla about the $2.3 million cost overrun on the ice rink ( and it was all on the $126,000 purchase of the land ). Seem the Palin administration neglected to sign an offer. They assumed that they had a deal without a signed document. She surrounded herself with people who were as smart as she is. That worked out well, didn’t it?
Sandy Spring For Roy Barnes
March 31st, 2010
11:15 am
All these racist people on here. I dont care for sara palin or romney.
Alphar
March 31st, 2010
11:17 am
Oh my god, oh my god, Massachusetts will be dead next year. The rich will be poor because they have to pay more tax, the poor will be homeless because the rich cannot support the poor any more.
The sky is falling in Massachusetts. The earth is collapsing in Massachusetts. Oh my god!
All the disasters the southern “conservatives” predicted are already happening in Massachusetts.
JET
March 31st, 2010
11:18 am
I was thought not to argue with fools. I’m in ove with sara palin is obviously a fool and if you continue to trade words with IT people reading will take you for a fool also. ANSWERETH THE FOOL NOT ACCORDING TO THE MULTITUDE OF HIS FOLLIES LEAST YOU BE LIKEN UNTO THEM.
Been Around-Done That
March 31st, 2010
11:18 am
Gosh! What a bunch of nasty, foul mouthed, dummies posting on both sides! Its no wonder our country is in trouble when this is the best you idiots have to offer. The IQ level must have dropped 50- points in the last 40 years. Give some of you morons a computer and all you can spray with it is BS! Get a life!
get off your high horse
March 31st, 2010
11:20 am
I have to give it to Obama, he is two steps ahead of the republicans. I disagree with his politics but he is making them look like suckers. The end game and misdirection this guys does has their minds spinning. Bam, I got you on healthcare, now to make you not feel so bad; here is some drilling you can do. Want more nuke plants? you got’em. Republicans better get their new contract with America out quick or Obama is going to own that also. If he gets our Energy sector rolling, gas prices drop, and creates jobs in the new drilling; republicans will be hard pressed to win in November. Republicans need to shift policy just a bit, and attack the liberals in Congress and not Obamacare.
Bring balance to the congress. Talk about republican fixes to the healthcare law; tort reform, more tax cuts for small business, HSA cover elective surgeries, HSA rollover from year to year but still only allow a contribution of 2500 per year max and maybe some amendment that renders the new law null and void if expenses/cost overruns occur above the projected budget. However, with the amendment keep the sweet spots of 26year olds on family plan, etc….
Republicans (we) need to get off our butts and get in this conversation or be left walking around in a dazed look like the last time.
GAmom
March 31st, 2010
11:20 am
It was inevitable and will continue to happen if he tries to run.
Obama is about to propose offshore drilling in areas that have been banned for decades. I can’t wait to see the “drill baby drill” crowd try to spin that one.
Alphar
March 31st, 2010
11:22 am
Wait a minute. I just found out Massachusetts has a higher average income than the southern “conservative” states. Wait again, they are even better than southern “conservatives”. Wait a minute, how come even most of the un-inusured are in the southern “conservative” states?
Alphar
March 31st, 2010
11:32 am
Since most of the Rush and Sean’s admirers are southern conservative, I don’t understand why the southern states have the worst education, lowest income, highest un-insured…
How can that be?
songbird
March 31st, 2010
11:36 am
get off your high horse – I agree with most of what you said. The only thing I think will not work is tort reform. The Georgia Supreme Court has already struck that down as unconstitutional. Other states have also struck it down. It goes against the right to a jury trial.
Bill
March 31st, 2010
11:42 am
And to think…not a SINGLE repub voted for healthcare reform. How sad.
Little Mary Sunshine
March 31st, 2010
11:42 am
Anyone else think that “i’m in love with sara palin” is a liberal operative? Come on, the racism, the ridiulous misspellings, the blind faith. Seriously, this guy has to be a Democrat troll.
get off your high horse
March 31st, 2010
11:43 am
cool, pull it off the table and run with something. Now if only the Republicans would listen to the people
Jon Lester
March 31st, 2010
11:43 am
@ “i’m in love with sarah palin” – I thought about reporting your comment but maybe it’ll do more good to leave it up for everyone to see. You are the very embodiment of the ignorance and racism driving the whole “Tea Party” movement and the larger Fox Nation crowd. The rest of us are challenged to persuade thinking people to vote this November because, for all your other faults, everyone as stupid as you will surely be voting. You must be countered. The future of humanity depends on it.
Jon Lester
March 31st, 2010
11:46 am
@little mary sunshine – I don’t think it’s a good idea to make such broad assumptions. Didn’t you see that recent Harris poll?
Dee
March 31st, 2010
11:47 am
To ‘i’m in love with sara palin’…where the hell do you think “Hawaii” is…Japan? What an idiot…and learn how to spell for heaven sake…Sarah, not sara…country, not county, Hawaii, not hawawi…
Bill
March 31st, 2010
11:53 am
Dee, don’t waste your time. He doesn’t deserve it!
Mrs. White
March 31st, 2010
11:58 am
i love sarah palin makes us respectable, conservative Republicans look bad…YOU THINK BLACKS AND MUSLIMS HATE YOU, WELL, WE DON’T WANT YOU EITHER!
Sincerely, your friendly neighborhood white, right-winger, pro-lifer, sometimes gay-bashing, REPUBLICAN.
Cherokee
March 31st, 2010
12:01 pm
As a proud Democrat, this pains me, but I agree with Georgia Conservative – the guy can’t be for real….
yawn
March 31st, 2010
12:01 pm
I hope Palin runs in 2012. That almost guarantees Obama a second term.
My taxes are lower this year, healthcare has passed, the rest of the world has begun to respect us again, alternative energy is getting a serious boost…everything Obama said he would do? Done or working on it. I couldn’t be more pleased with him.
BCDawg97
March 31st, 2010
12:12 pm
My guess is that “Sara” is a far leftist just trying to stir the pot. Trying to making the Repubs look bad, but just makes the Dems look worse. No way someone that illiterate and mis-informed is posting online.
Jay
March 31st, 2010
12:16 pm
The gloom and doom predicted for Massachusetts because of their health care bill still has not happened. There has been no mass (excuse the pun) exodus of people. Why didn’t he have the courage to stand up and say this stuff while the debate was happening.
BCDawg97
March 31st, 2010
12:17 pm
Or that I should’ve just read all the posts and said, “I agree with Sunshine”
catlady
March 31st, 2010
12:20 pm
He didn’t have to do many of these things BECAUSE he had the federal government/taxpayers picking up the slack. So how he can say some of these things is pretty silly. But it fools the 40% nonthinkers, I would daresay.
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
TW
March 31st, 2010
4:08 pm
Trouble with Romney is he’s a self-proclaimed Moron. Now, we had a Moron in the White House from 2000-2008, and even though he had only one wife, the results were disastrous.
No more GOP Morons!
You Asked
March 31st, 2010
4:42 pm
Gee TW no one has ever been clever enough to make a pun about my religion (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) using the word Moron in place of Mormon. Governor Romney would think you were hilarious.
Such a clever little basement dweller you are.
I second the motion to have the AJC moderate the forums- or at least make the reporting function easier to use. The racist, ignorant crap is really reflecting badly on Atlantans and I suspect most of it is Mobys (people pretending to be something to make a group look bad) or people who think they are funny.
OBAMAMERICA
March 31st, 2010
5:11 pm
Please get a dictionary or hit spell check on the computer Sarah Palin Lover…..You are too funny. It will take a long time to get rid of everyone that is not of your race. We are here to stay……It’s your ancestor fault, they brought us over
. Get serious….and please let me know what county you are in because I don’t want anyone to receive the “ajucation” that you received. How can you understand what is going on and you can’t even spell. You have to know how to articulate in order to understand. Who knows if I am black I may be your next door neighbor pretending to be “ignorant” when I am talking to you outside. You never know….:). Have a blessed day and keep spreading hate, because it motivates us to do what we did in 2009. Also, what makes you think you are paying for someone’s healthcare, etc. You can’t be making that much. You have to be able to spell and speak correctly to fill out an application. Or do you call your sheet parties a job! Everyone has a right to express their views in a positive manner. I know you were on the front row of Palin’s campaign trail, because anyone that had sense knew she couldn’t articulate her views either. Blah, Blah, Blah…..You are a hillbilly and proud of it, right. Again, I say continue to be the conservative little puppet. Drink your tea….or swine that you make in the hills, while you think we are enjoying the free care. I wonder how many of your family members are working, having babies out of wedlock, get government funds or free healthcare now. I know they are all weathy and own their own companies, never needing anything from anyone. Good day- and get a LIFE!
i'm in love with sara palin
March 31st, 2010
6:09 pm
are you stupid i am in the us of a dont they teach that in the black schools? i am not a hillbilly i am from goerga you imbred. an i got my own bissness and i am tired of paying for schools and doctors for the blacks. i am not a rasist i have blacks who work for me an they no there place.
i'm in love with sara palin
March 31st, 2010
6:15 pm
an none of my famly takes no govermint hand outs we work hard and i got my own bobcat bissness so i dont need you and obama or any other muslims an mexicos taking my doe and siting at home listening to rap music an getting gold teeth all day. i got nothin against u accep that rasist obama taking my money and giving it to you so you can buy rap music and big wheels for your cadalacs.
OBAMAMERICA
March 31st, 2010
9:28 pm
ok I’m in love with Sarah Palin……….no amount of typing will get the ignorance out of you. Maybe you will take that bobcat “bissness”
and roll on out of here. Let it take you to reading, phonics and writing first, then leave the state of “goerga” to form your own “govermint” with your “rasist” self. While you at it take your “doe” and by a d-i-c-t-i-o-n-a-r-y PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I only picked out a few of your misspelled words in parenthesis ok. It would take me a life time to point out all your ignorant comments-good ol’ Joe with his own “bissness.” I wish you would post your comments at work so the black workers would know their place, but I know you are a COWARD! Have a nice night. I am through having fun with you-STUPID.
i'm in love with sara palin
April 1st, 2010
7:05 am
yah i no all you blacks think it is funny that obama give you all my money. mark my words that will change in novenber when the tea party an sara palin put you in your place and take this county back. an dont talk about my blacks they no there place an they are good people not getting tattoos and gold teeth all day an not driving around with big shiny wheels on cadalacs shooting at innisent white people. why dont you read some histry an get your facs strate you sound imbred. you are just another jelliss one who dont work looking for a handout.
gsteinum
April 1st, 2010
12:54 pm
first question i would have for romney is: do you like syrup with your waffles?? first he’s against, then after it passes,he’s in favor of it, then when the president wants it for the nation, he’s against it and claims it’s nothing like the mass. plan, now that it’s gaining popularity, he’s admits that at least it’s similar to the mass. plan. ok. sure pal. just like you know what u.s. citizens want. tea anyone???
gsteinum
April 1st, 2010
1:01 pm
yur in lav wit apawlin: i say you’re a poser trying to sound black. anyone can be whatever they want on the web, but you’ve given yourself away by typing too much. i can believe you identify with apawlin; as you do sound programmed and out of touch with reality.
Glenn
April 1st, 2010
1:42 pm
I think in time, our country will be back in pretty good shape. Most of the things Pres. Obama and his adminintration are pushing through had to done sooner or later by someone to get our economy and health care back in good shape. Changes had to happen. So I wish Palin, McCain, Romney, the new Mass. Senator and those Republicans in Congress that are on tv constantly running down our president would grow up, get back behind their desk’s and STOP it.. It was their man George Bush and some of THEM who helped put us in the mess we are dealing with now, I hope they have to eat their words someday and that many of them do not get re-elected to their post. By the way, how much do we still owe China?, since they funded the war in Iraq after Bush and his group wrecked our economy. Billions I’m sure.