How Mitt Romney sold out his greatest achievement in search of a talking point
I’ve often said that Mitt Romney running against ObamaCare is like Madonna running against Lady GagaCare. ObamaCare is a tribute to what worked in RomneyCare made national. It is already helping save many of the 45,000 Americans who die every year for lack of insurance.
Yep. When ObamaCare passed, 45,000 Americans were dying every year for lack of health care. A preventable 9/11 every month.
When it was signed into law 6 years ago today, RomneyCare was a centrist solution to get nearly everyone covered by health insurance. It was conceived by conservative economists and endorsed by Ted Kennedy. And it helped make the dream of national health care a reality, for now. (Have no doubt, if ObamaCare goes down, millions of Americans will be hurt.)
Of course, ObamaCare and RomneyCare are not identical. RomneyCare covers abortions and undocumented immigrants. It also has the equivalent of a public option.
Mitt Romney used to be proud of RomneyCare he even trumpeted as a national solution, right up until the exact moment that was no longer politically advantageous.
Faced with a Tea Party that hated moderation, Romney, in his Vince McMahon/WWE fashion, changed his mind overnight. Suddenly, his plan was unconstitutional—something he might have wanted to mention when he passed it into law and offered it as a model.
Romney had seized upon one of the Tea Party value he agreed with: inequality. Why should everyone have health care? Let the states decide! Take your stinking paws off mah Medicares that people under 55 won’t get, you damned dirty gubberment!
It was workable solution for a man who has the money and resources to fool about 30% of the Republican Party all of the time. But it does nothing to help the 45,000 Americans who die every year for lack of insurance. And it does nothing to change this fact that Ronald Reagan socialized medicine in this country in the dumbest possible way.
We’re told that Mitt Romney will soon move to the center. So far that means he’s focusing his lies and distortions on women issues. (Good luck, Mitt. If women are paying attention, you’re losing.)
Here’s the problem with Mitt Romney’s center. He has everything he needs materially for him and his family. He’s already turned his back on his greatest achievement. What does he have to lose, except the presidency?
Until he stops running for President, you can find Mitt Romney’s center wherever Karl Rove, Roger Ailes and Pat Robertson decide it need to be.
UPDATE: Here’s a good video from the Obama Truth Team about the anniversary of RomneyCare:
