Romney fleshes out health care plan

FOX News ^ | September 9, 2012 | Associated Press

[Psalm 144]

“Am I a traitor to the cause if I think the replacement might contain large chunks of what we know he is so proud of in his Mass plan?”

I believe so. Also: DUmmie, troll, child, sicko, purist, coward, idiot and various other ephithets and obscenities that would usually get the reviler zotted, but not when wielded in the service of Willard Mitt Romney, The Only One Who Can Save This Country.

[Jim Scott]

Ah, Geez, not this crap, again.

Unlike many of us, Mitt Romney is obviously buying all those polls claiming he's 'neck and neck' with Obama so he believes he has to show a leftist tilt and supposedly woo the vaunted independent/undecided voters to his side with this waffle on Obamacare provisions that the entitlement people seem to like. That the Republican base (us) will look askance at this latest Romney switcheroo doesn't concern Mitt because he must realize that he has us locked in out of our very real fear of an Obama second term. All we can do is (a) let Romney know his waffling is unwelcome and, (b) that we will work hard to elect a conservative congress that will be an obstacle to any Romney administration plans to 'go left' once in office.

However, if, as some believe, this is simply an attempt by the media to draw conservatives away from Romney it will fail as most of us are 'ABO' voters (like me) that may not consider Romney a conservative in any sense of the word but next to Obama, he almost looks Reaganesque. Almost being the key word.

Let's see Romney's reaction to this story.

[katiedidit1]

Surely you were aware that Romney plans on keeping some of Obamacare? He never hid that fact and said as much during his campaign and I hope everyone is not expecting an end to socialized medicine whether it is a form of Romneycare or not...we will never go back to the era when the feds didn’t have their paws into healthcare and I mean up to the elbows. It may be state imposed but you can bet the feds are going to keep some control too.

[ncpatriot]

I’m going to smail that boy a letter via his donation office and let him know how I feel about this. I told him when I donated that I want ObamaCare repealed! Now he does this. Sorry

[katiedidit1]

Check this out

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2830048/posts

[piasa]

'ABO' voters (like me) that may not consider Romney a conservative in any sense of the word but next to Obama, he almost looks Reaganesque. Almost being the key word.

Romney reminds me a lot of Bob Dole.

[flaglady47]

There isn’t going to be a repeal in any health insurance plan of the future for coverage of people with pre-existing conditions. Most Americans want it, period. Now, how Romney achieves this is another thing, but he will. Probably via high risk pool insurance, which is doable. And by being able to choose policies intra-state. Or by other cost effective methods. Not as a giveaway. But if any of you think that any politician would say no to coverage of people with pre-existing conditions, including Gingrich, Santorum, Cain, Perry, any of them, you are deluding yourselves.

As to letting young people stay on their parents’ policies, who gives a hoot. So what. There’s no coercion involved, in fact it is highly capitalistic. If the parents want to keep their kids on their policy, it’s their money they choose to spend, no one is forcing them, the insurance companies make money, the hospitals don’t have to worry about treating someone who has no insurance coverage, and the young person has some peace of mind. A win win, from my perspective. I couldn’t care less if parents put a son or daughter of theirs even if 50 years old on their policy. As long as they are paying for it, and not the state or federal gov’t, so what? They can also choose not to, to say no to their kid, go out and get a job and pay for your own It’s the parents’ choice. You don’t have to pay anything out, they are. It’s the parents’ money to do with what they want, whether it be a smart move or a dumb move from your perspective. It’s their business, not yours.

And it’s perfectly capitalistic. They are choosing to do with their money what they want. Not you, not the state, not the federal gov’t, so where’s the beef? I think it is just because the idea started under the Obama Admin, therein lies the rub. Well, it was one of the few ideas that doesn’t gouge Joe Sixpack with a mandate, more of that kind of thinking should be encouraged. It leaves the expenses of who to insure for whatever reason up to the consumer, as it should be.

[elkfersupper]

People are going to be all mystified, despite the fact they were warned numerous times.

Mind-numbing isn't it?

[BfloGuy]

I’m suspicious of AP’s motive for writing the article.

Well, you can be sure that its motive was evil. But, sigh, Romney just can't shut up about health care. In Bizarro-world where the press was conservative, this wouldn't be reported because it would hurt him.

Alas, such is not the case.

[elkfersupper]

“You knew what I was when you picked me up.”

"It was on fire when I laid down on it".

[Santerno]

Don’t blame the AP. Romney has not disputed AP’s report.

[gotribe]

You really thought there was a “choice”?

Sorry, the banksters have both of these guys in their pockets. Healthcare is but a trifle.

[dfwgator]

McCain II

[katiedidit1]

We don't know exactly what Romney intends to do...other than the two stipulations you mentioned. What we do know is that there are mixed perceptions on Romneycare in Mass and that Romney did support an individual mandate.
Romney is the nominee..not Santorum, Perry, Newt or Cain. Romney is the ONLY candidate that introduced socialized medicine into the USA. Repeal of Obamacare was a high priority among republicans and we went with the ONE candidate that introduced socialized medicine into the USA.
My point was that during the campaign Romney never denied that he did like parts of Ocare. My other point is that I can't think of any programs the feds get their hands on that don't end up costing the taxpayers. No delusions here.

[flaglady47]

“What we do know is that there are mixed perceptions on Romneycare in Mass and that Romney did support an individual mandate.”

How many times do both Romney and Ryan have to say that they are not for any federal healthcare mandate before you choose to believe them. Sounds like never.

[katiedidit1]

This was on Rush Limbaugh in regards to Romneycare and the individual mandate. Read what happened to this Mass. couple. Romney tried to say it only affected 8%. No, it affects everybody in Massachusetts, everybody had to. "In an earlier debate, Newt Gingrich underscored the point when he described a Massachusetts couple fined $3,000 by the state." Now, listen to this. I remember this, but this is true. This is factually correct. "Newt Gingrich underscored the point when he described a Massachusetts couple fined $3,000 by the state. They had health insurance, but it didn't meet the state's specifications. Lauren and Nick Destito had owned a tree and landscaping business for 25 years before the economy collapsed in 2008. They were forced to declare bankruptcy but still tried to abide by the state's health-insurance mandate, purchasing a policy that cost them $750 a month." They still tried to abide by state law while filing for bankruptcy. "No dice -- according to a government official, the amount of health insurance they can afford is determined 'not, unfortunately, from your perspective but from the state agency's view.'" You don't get to determine what policy you buy based on what you think you can afford. You have to buy what we at the state tell you. "After garnering national attention for their plight, the couple won on appeal. Mr. Romney's attempt to contrast his plan with Obamacare wasn't convincing. 'I don't like the Obama plan,' he said in Thursday's debate. 'His plan cuts Medicare by $500 billion. We didn't, of course, touch anything like that. He raises taxes by $500 billion. We didn't do that.' "These are bogus boasts: States have no authority over cuts in the federal Medicare program, so cutting Medicare never was an option with Romneycare. Massachusetts didn't raise taxes to finance its plan because it relied on previously enacted health-insurance taxes and an infusion of federal Medicaid money to finance its coverage expansion. The state simply passed a big share of its costs to federal taxpayers." Romney got to pass that along to taxpayers across the whole country. "Mr. Santorum challenged Mr. Romney on his claim that Romneycare is 'very different than Obamacare,' citing a new study that lists key features the two plans have in common, including the Medicaid expansion, an employer mandate and the individual mandate. The study is from the liberal Families USA, which credits John McDonough and explains he 'was deeply involved' in developing both Romneycare and Obamacare." This is one of Romney's advisers that we have mentioned to you that went to the Oval Office to help Obama put together Obamacare after helping Romney write Romneycare. John McDonough. "Among the key checkpoints showing the similarities between the two plans --" Are you sitting down for this, folks? Are you? Look at me. I want you to listen to this. "Among the key checkpoints showing the similarities between the two plans: 'Romney care authorizes "tiers" of insurance coverage, which are called Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Young Adult.'" http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2012/01/30/santorum_was_right_about_romneycare

[CharlesWayneCT]

He’s always said “repeal and replace”. He’s saying what he’ll replace it with.

We weren’t going to just repeal Obamacare and not do anything (as nice as that would be). And we aren’t going to do the smart thing by unbundling health insurance from employment, and making it something individuals purchase.

[flaglady47]

“No, it affects everybody in Massachusetts, everybody had to.”

Look, I have no desire to get into some futile debate with you on this. Romney was long gone from MA when this couple had their problems, and Duval Patrick, a Dem, has been in there ever since. He has made extensive and expensive changes to Romney’s original healhcare plan for MA.

However, if you are so sure that Romney/Ryan are going to somehow establish MA Romneycare on a national basis, then don’t vote for them, vote for Obama/Biden and see if you will do better. Fat chance, and it will annoy the heck out of me that you will be taking me down with you, but it’s a free country, at least until you re-elect Obama.

[katiedidit1]

There are many strong conservatives that do not like socialized medicine whether it is in Mass or America. Romney did sign into law a health care program that included an individual mandate.
You helped make one of my points on the govt getting involved in such matters. You said that Romney's plan has been changed and believe me once the govt extends their reach into any program..it snowballs and changes and seldom if ever for the better. In the end we all pay.
As for Romney..I will vote for him but it will not be with any zeal or zest. I have to suck it up and vote for a moderate or liberal but the GOP wants to toss Todd Akin ..a strong conservative to the winds. This nation has moved so far to the left that today's republicans are more liberal than yesterdays democrats.