Paul Ryan: Romneycare 'Not that Dissimilar to Obamacare' (Mar 2, 2011)

Weekly Standard ^ | Mar 2, 2011 | JOHN MCCORMACK

[SoConPubbie]

This morning at a breakfast meeting sponsored by the American Spectator, Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan talked about what he's looking for in a Republican presidential candidate, reiterated he won't seek the White House, and left the door wide-open to accepting a vice presidential nomination.

Ryan said that in recent weeks he's talked to Governors Haley Barbour, Tim Pawlenty, and Mitch Daniels, but is keeping his mind open about a potential endorsement. “I don't really have a strong preference right now," Ryan said of the prospective 2012 field. "I want to wait and see what these people are made of and what they're going to talk about.”

“To me, what matters most is someone who really has conviction in their heart and mind on these core principles," he continued. "We can't just give it to the next person in line or [have] a personality contest. We will lose a personality contest. We will win an ideas contest.”

Asked about the Massachusetts health care plan signed into law by Mitt Romney, Ryan said, “It’s not that dissimilar to Obamacare, and you probably know I’m not a big fan of Obamacare. I just don’t think the mandates work … all the regulation they’ve put on it.”

“I haven't studied in depth the status of it," he continued, "but I think it’s beginning to death spiral. They’re beginning to have to look at rationing decisions. I don’t think this health care system works. That’s why I’m a believer in a consumer-based medicine, in consumer-based patient-centered reforms health care reforms.”

Asked if he would rule out running for the presidency himself as emphatically as Chris Christie did by threatening to commit suicide, Ryan replied, with a laugh, "I guess I wouldn't talk in suicidal terms."

[SoConPubbie]

And the Un-Masking of Mitt Romney, the left-wing, Progressive Liberal, continues . . . "If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams

[Gay State Conservative]

MITT ROMNEY IS SATAN'S EVIL TWIN!

[flintsilver7]

Hey, thanks. I must have somehow missed the first 8,000 threads you posted about Romney.

[ObamaMustGo2012]

God, I’m so sick of this RomneyCare, ObamaCare comparison.

Bottom line:

RomneyCare was legal and what the (Liberal) constituents of Romney’s state wanted.

ObamaCare is ILLEGAL and isn’t wanted by 80% of Americans.

There is NO equivalency here. Move on.

[flintsilver7]

Go check the OP’s history.

His page is about how evil McCain was.

His posting history is no less than 99% Romney-bashing, often posting the same article multiple times. He has a disturbing obsession and is probably a plant.

[Gay State Conservative]

God, I’m so sick of this RomneyCare, ObamaCare comparison.Bottom line:RomneyCare was legal and what the (Liberal) constituents of Romney’s state wanted. ObamaCare is ILLEGAL and isn’t wanted by 80% of Americans. There is NO equivalency here. Move on.

And another important fact is that,like some other states (and unlike others),Massachusetts has an initiative petition process.The only such process we have against OsamaObameCare happens in November of years divisible by 2.

[Magic Fingers]

Obsession: “The domination of one’s thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc.”

[Lazlo in PA]

He has a disturbing obsession and is probably a plant.

What type of plant? Potted?

[Starboard]

“He has a disturbing obsession and is probably a plant.”

Good way to put it. His obsession level is so off the charts you gotta assume there’s a hidden agenda.

[flintsilver7]

Sadly, as I waded through the disturbing mess that is his posting history, it looks like others were put off by his obsession months ago. It’s only gotten worse since then.

[flintsilver7]

Well, if his page was dedicated to encouraging people not to vote for McCain in 2008 and his current posting is nothing other than encouraging people not to vote for Romney in 2012, what kind of plant do you think he might be?

[flintsilver7]

If he really is a conservative, he needs help.

[OlagJohnson]

Ron Paul!

Right?

[Lazlo in PA]

I would guess a pot plant.

[CharacterCounts]

RomneyCare was legal and what the (Liberal) constituents of Romney’s state wanted.

Abortion is legal and a lot of people want it. Does that make it a good thing?

[SoConPubbie]

Sadly, as I waded through the disturbing mess that is his posting history, it looks like others were put off by his obsession months ago. It’s only gotten worse since then.

I see the usual Romney supporters were smoked out by this latest post of mine.

If I'm a plant, what does that make all of you willing to ignore Jim's directive concerning promoting Romney on his site?

Furthmore, why does posting the truth about Romney bother you so? He's your boy, you support him, you own him and his record.

Finally, why, when there are 46% of the remaining delegates to be won, are you promoting a lying, left-wing, Progressive Liberal on our site that is devoted to the promotion of conservative principles and also devoted to the defeat of the lying, left-wing, Progressive Liberals like Mitt Romney?

If you were sincere in your conservative principles, given that there were still 46% of the delegates still to be won in the GOP Primaries, then the last thing you would do is even whisper support for somebody whose record confirms everything I have been saying, that he is a lying, left-wing, Progressive Liberal. This is doubly so since there still is a conservative in the race, Newt Gingrich.

Concerning the charges of obsession, maybe you should look at your own posting histories supporting Romney before you start accusing other posters. Kind of like the Pot calling the kettle black.

A short list showing how Mitt's record compares quite nicely(or horribly depending on your perspective) to Obama while Newt's record diverges almost completely, as a real conservative would.

[SoConPubbie]

Ron Paul!

Right?

Do you think Ron Paul effectively reflects conservatism?

The answer should be obvious to anyone truly conservative: The only viable conservative still in the race is Newt Gingrich.

[SoConPubbie]

RomneyCare was legal and what the (Liberal) constituents of Romney’s state wanted.

ObamaCare is ILLEGAL and isn’t wanted by 80% of Americans.

There is NO equivalency here. Move on.

I can see why you support Mitt Romney, you have the same political mind-set.

Both ObamaCare and Romney care are perfect examples of Socialized Medicine.

Both have individual Mandates.

Both force taxpayers with insurance to pay for the insurance of others.

Both have ways of determining appropriate care.

In short, both are a no-go on a conservative website like FreeRepublic.

Whether they are implemented at the state or federal level is immaterial to the discussion of conservative principles because given the comparisons above, fundamentally, they are anti-thetical to conservative principles.

In short, if something is evil, even if it passes the 10th Amendment muster, it's still evil.

[SoConPubbie]

Hey, thanks. I must have somehow missed the first 8,000 threads you posted about Romney.

Get Used to it, as long as Romney is in the race, articles showing the truth of Romney's lying, left-wing, progressive record will be posted.

[GeronL]

lol.

Apparently its okay when an R does it.

That is literally the ONLY difference these days I guess.