Romney Urged Obama To Embrace Individual Mandate In 2009

Talking Points Memo:

In July 2009, Mitt Romney called on President Obama to require Americans to buy insurance as part of his health care plan, using "tax penalties" as a backstop - in other words, the individual mandate that Republicans virulently oppose.

Read the whole story at Talking Points Memo

Comments

[Walter Mason]

02:31 PM on 03/06/2012

We spend more than twice per capita than the average spent by all nations in the industrialized world for healthcare. America deserves better. That’s why I’ll be voting for Rocky Anderson in 2012. Visit voterocky.org

[madHenry]

01:17 AM on 03/05/2012

And, betond health care finance and service delivery, Willard Mitt Romney, born March 12, 1947, will hit the magic age 65 in exactly one week. Will he begin receiving social security? Is he eligible?

[madHenry]

12:52 AM on 03/05/2012

I have recently begun to embrace the idea that Romney could win. I hope very much that it does not happen, but he could win. Santorum is a spasm that will fade this summer, though he may influence the GOP platform (which, from my perspective, would be a good thing). Still, as TEAGOPers are also just waking up to idea that they should lose, given the crop of candidates they have running. They know, in Romney, they have a nag that looks like a thoroughbred, a man who once claimed prowess for his hunting of "small varmints, if you will." They will work hard to get this critter across the finish line first, and through their efforts Romney might win. That dismal thought in mind, I have been searching for a likely cast in a Romney administration. Anyone else given thought to his likely cabinet members?

[Countess]

02:15 PM on 03/04/2012

I don't understand why democrats are so proud of having adopted this right wing approach to health care when it is obvious we need a single-payer universal system that would truly make health care a right and bring down costs at the same time. They make right wing ideas their own and then complain that the right wing hates them anyway. They are looking for love in all the wrong places.

[sjj734]

12:47 AM on 03/04/2012

He was for it before he was against it. Republican strategy: If Obama proposes something, we are against it, even if it was our proposal in the first place.

[jbeachboy32]

12:08 AM on 03/04/2012

who is everyone here voting for? is it mostly liberals here cause i see both sometimes

[opiniongirl18]

06:01 AM on 03/04/2012

OBAMA

[jbeachboy32]

02:30 PM on 03/06/2012

are you in a swing state?

[ghelm92160]

09:39 PM on 03/03/2012

Romney is full of it just like all the current contenders for the Presidency including the one thats holding the job. His claim to repeal Obama care is B.S. as he knows that if the Supreme Court upholds it the possibility of repeal goes out the window and the Congress will not let him do that on his own anyway!

[GARY IN INDIANA]

10:49 PM on 03/03/2012

Even though that may be partly true (if the Supreme Court decides it that way....it's still a 50 - 50 it could go either way), as president, he can request amendments to the policy, which includes, removing the mandate. I may be wrong but I think the president can issue requests to congress and assuming that a republican beats Obama, I would naturally assume that a push of republicans for all political positions, would increase the amount of Congressmen and Senators. Therefore giving the republicans the majority in the House, Senate and White House. At that point, it's a given.

[lornejl 3]

09:25 PM on 03/03/2012

Don't be discouraged Paul, if you don't win any state primaries or caucuses this year you will surely win one in 016 !

[lornejl 3]

09:31 PM on 03/03/2012

Wrong thread, someone delete that for me will ya ;)

[chuckgoodcat]

09:06 PM on 03/03/2012

How odd is that Mr Romney will probably lose this election based on the only good idea he ever had ?
GIngrich wrote a column in 2007 urging the same mandate adding those who choose to remain uninsured be required to post a cash bond in lieu of insurance.

[ghelm92160]

09:40 PM on 03/03/2012

Can you say they are all full of it!

[sjj734]

12:50 AM on 03/04/2012

Romney might have had a chance in the general if he would have been more like he was as governor, but in order to win the nomination he has to abandon that. Problem is with such a flip flop, nobody except GOP partisans and Obama haters are going to believe anything he says anyway. You can't sell your soul and then claim integrity.

[mqracing]

09:47 AM on 03/04/2012

Before the primary Romney did not read the teabags well enough and then had to scoot to the far right (as you state above) to secure the nomination. Problem is that he has now abandoned any plausible "middle ground" and has become known as the flip-flopper and just another politician who has his finger in the air and whose mouth moves in the direction of the prevalent winds.

[Molly D]

08:29 PM on 03/03/2012

I wonder how Getty Images indexes its photos. Do they have... Mitt Romney:
Smiling
Frowning
Chagrined
with Wife
with Kids
with finger up nose?

But seriously, the Karma gods are so all-in for this election, how can you not believe in them?

[cop2122]

08:28 PM on 03/03/2012

46-48 State Landslide for BHO.

[GARY IN INDIANA]

11:04 PM on 03/03/2012

BHO may do it again but he will have to do way more than give a good speech. Nationwide polls are showing a trending loose streak with independents and some liberals not to mention some hard core democrats that are being pushed away. BHO is gonna have to do something big and in a big way and in a very short time. What are BHO's options. Another Stimulus, another bank or auto bail out, oh did I mention Another Stimulus? Cancel another oil pipeline from Canada? Pork spending for projects like turtle tunnels in Florida so turtles can get to the other side of the road without getting squashed or pork spending on understanding the mating habits of praying mantis? This is what BHO is supporting. Did I mention "ObamaCare"? Like I said, he will have to work for it this time. This is from a person that has voted democrat practically all of my life. I just can't do it. I guess I am an independent now for I see myself voting for Mr. Romney.

[sjj734]

12:51 AM on 03/04/2012

I wouldn't go that far. I think he'll win but it will be closer than last time. However if the GOP candidates keep self destructing anything is possible.

[Dennis Higgins]

08:08 PM on 03/03/2012

They were all for it...before they were against it. I guess if McCain had won they would still be for it.

[08Voter]

01:34 AM on 03/04/2012

And Obama was against it before he was for it. I guess if McCain had won, he would still be against it.

[obamathegreat235]

08:03 PM on 03/03/2012

Romney Urged Obama To Embrace Individual Mandate In 2009"---Actually what Romney needs to do is urge himself to release his birth certificate and I don't care HOW much money he has.

TEAM OBAMA 2012!

[pabound2]

07:43 PM on 03/03/2012

You want to talk about death squads the republicants want to get rid of medicare and give you credits to buy health insurance well insurance companys have to show investors BIG profits and how do they make those profits?by denyieing health care for illnesses they just say thats not covered go home and die.

[mike3845]

06:58 PM on 03/03/2012

If Republicans were smart (ha ha) they would embrace the the Republican /Romney health care plan and run with it and take credit for it........But........the keyword is smart.

[Christopher Stewie Jones]

10:21 PM on 03/03/2012

Wouldn't be the first time they took credit for something they had no part in.