ruh roh! Old video emerges where Romney appears to endorse federal (!) mandates

[Lunar]

Coming to a campaign attack ad near you.

Sargent makes a smart point about this conforming to the narrative of Romney being a say-anything pol


http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/did-romney-endorse-federal-mandate/

[fezzyfestoon]

Yeah, his recent stuff has forced even me out of his camp.  This I can't reconcile.  I'm done.  Very disappointing.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Haha, Willard is such a two-faced slimeball.

He's the worst possible candidate in the GOP field. Even Palin would end up doing better than Romney on election day, after a full campaign of shredding Romney and his laundry list of flip-flops that make John Kerry look like a man of conviction.

[Lief 🗽]

This is why I'm pretty confident Obama will win re-election.

[Bo]

Hey, flip-flopping is OK. Reagan did it. Then again, that was before Bush Jr. made it a crime

[Lunar]

Hey, flip-flopping is OK. Reagan did it. Then again, that was before Bush Jr. made it a crime

The age of YouTube has REALLY changed what it means to flip-flop.  Now every statement someone ever says is potentially recorded in video that can be used against them, not just the big speeches and debates. 

Actually seeing someone say two opposing things has a lot more of an emotional impact than simply hearing "In such and such interview with this newspaper, the candidate said X, but in a different interview he said Y!"

[Lunar]

Yeah, his recent stuff has forced even me out of his camp.  This I can't reconcile.  I'm done.  Very disappointing.

The federal mandate USED to be backed by parts of the conservative movement, not just RomneyCare, but also the Republican counter-proposal to Clinton's healthcare plan in '94, hell, even the Heritage Foundation used to support the federal mandate back in the late 80's. 

[fezzyfestoon]

Yeah, his recent stuff has forced even me out of his camp.  This I can't reconcile.  I'm done.  Very disappointing.

The federal mandate USED to be backed by parts of the conservative movement, not just RomneyCare, but also the Republican counter-proposal to Clinton's healthcare plan in '94, hell, even the Heritage Foundation used to support the federal mandate back in the late 80's. 

I know!  The Republican Party (if it hadn't already) proved to me that it's useless.  All it's interested in being is not the Democratic Party.  Our political system is in a sad state when an entire party flip-flops out of sheer partisan bitterness.

[Lunar]

Fezzy, what's your position on the mandate?

[fezzyfestoon]

Fezzy, what's your position on the mandate?

It's probably one of the most important aspects of reform.  More important than the individual mandate is a mandate similar to the one Romney put on businesses.  Once you reach a certain size, you have to cover your employees.  I assume it would work similarly to the car insurance mandate we have in New Jersey and eventually become such a given we can't imagine someone not having insurance.  Most of the effect of the mandate would be on the super rich who don't care, which could also help generate a little bit of revenue should they choose to pay an income-relative penalty.

Then again my judge of importance in healthcare reform is not exactly mainstream.  Other than the mandate I see regulation of junk food commercials during children's TV programming as one of the most important areas in need of reform.  And amnesty for illegals.

[The Age Wave]

Fezzy why aren't you a Democrat?

[fezzyfestoon]

Fezzy why aren't you a Democrat?

They make me feel icky.  I'm not about to switch parties when I have such a negative view of both.  May as well just stick where I am if I'm gonna be in a party at all.

There's also the social aspect in the rare occasion it comes up.  When I support the positions I do as a Republican, it makes me a compassionate, reform-minded independent.  If I were a Democrat I'd just be seen as a flimsy-spined pansy, poor coddling, hippie.

[ScottM]

Romney just takes whatever side of whatever issue is politically convenient at the moment. I never have been able to stomach the guy because of that.