Smooth talking Mitt Romney continued his shameless political calculationson health care reform today. At the 10th Annual Mission Conference of theSusan G. Komen for the Cure this morning, Romney tried to position himself asa champion of universal health coverage, claiming that he will "fight to getevery person in this country health insurance." [Associated Press, 8/28/07]But, like on so many issues in this campaign, Romney's most recent rhetoricstands in stark contrast to his contrived and confusing litany of flip-flopson the campaign trail.
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While Romney sometimes brags about passing health care reform inMassachusetts, he has sought to distance himself from the program in the faceof conservative criticism by refusing to endorse it as a national model.Romney also said during a nationally televised debate on August 5 that taxexemptions are not the way to provide health insurance to every American, butjust two weeks later outlined a plan to use tax exemptions to expand healthcoverage. [Wall Street Journal, editorial, 8/27/07] Worse still, the healthcare plan Romney unveiled last week in Florida rehashes President Bush'sfailed plan for health savings accounts.
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The real goal of Mitt Romney's rhetorical contortions on health care is apolitically calculated campaign to "avoid answering questions on whether hewould require all Americans to purchase insurance -- a provision in theMassachusetts law he signed into law that might not be well received by GOPvoters." [Washington Post, 8/24/07]
"Smooth talking Mitt Romney may think he can use health care to scorecheap political points, but his blatant flip-flops and pandering are not aprescription for the kind of health care reform the American people want,"said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. "While Romney isbusy running from his own health care record and rehashing President Bush'sfailed agenda, the American people are looking for a real leader who iswilling to tackle the tough issues facing this country."
Romney Runs Away From His Own Health Care Plan
Romney Wants Conservatives to Ignore His Liberal Record on Health Care."But as the former governor of the liberal state aims to win the Republicanpresidential nomination with conservative votes, he is altering sharply hisapproach to the issue... On health-care reform, the bipartisan support Mr.Romney garnered in Massachusetts isn't likely to help him with Republicanprimary voters the same way it might in a general election, where attractingindependent voters is important." [Wall Street Journal, 8/24/07]
Romney Health Care Conflicts with New Tax Reform Agenda. "Mr. Romney's BayState legacy is now praised by liberals as a prototype for national policy.That's done a great deal to set back the kind of tax reform that he nowespouses. The issue for GOP primary voters to consider is why he went in sucha different direction in Boston... Yet his willingness to compromise inMassachusetts on core matters of principle, and then trumpet those statistpolicies as a 'free-market' solution, raises questions about how far andeasily he'd bend to a Democratic Congress." [Wall Street Journal, 8/27/07]
Romney Distances Himself From Health Care Plan. "With signs emerging thathis signature health care plan faces hurdles, former governor Mitt Romney hasbegun to distance himself from the new law... At recent political appearances,Romney has subtly lowered expectations for the law he championed asgovernor...The plan for statewide, near-universal health coverage was thecenterpiece of Romney's administration, and it has become a key part of hispresidential resume... Romney's recent comments underscore how sensitive anissue the plan is with conservative audiences, whose support is crucial to hispresidential aspirations. Many
