Romney attacks health care law similar to his own

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By GLEN JOHNSON

CHICAGO (AP) - Mitt Romney has a problem with Obamacare. It looks a lot like Romneycare. The prospective Republican presidential candidate's vulnerability on the issue was evident this week, when he was interrupted during a tour for his new book by a woman upset with the Massachusetts health care law Romney signed as governor in 2006. That law has some of the same core features as the federal law President Barack Obama, a Democrat, signed on Tuesday.

And that's creating an uncomfortable straddle for Romney as his party makes attacking the new health care law its main message this midterm year.

"We are up to here with Republicans not being conservative enough," Dr. Sharon Sikora, a local dentist, said as she raised her hand over her head. "And with all due respect, governor, your health care in Massachusetts is not the be-all and end-all, and there are significant problems with that, and I wouldn't embrace that today, either."

Romney conceded the Massachusetts plan "isn't perfect" and is "a work in progress," but he put part of the blame on Democrats who overrode vetoes he believes would have improved the original plan.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100326/D9EMF53G0.html

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Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney acknowledging the crowd before speaking at the Chase Auditorium in Chicago, in this photo taken Wednesday, March 24, 2010. None of the potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates has been more aggressive than Romney in criticizing the new health care overhaul. Then again, none shares his vulnerability on the issue. The new law bears striking similarities to one the former Massachusetts governor signed in 2006, and that's creating an uncomfortable straddle for Romney as his party makes attacking "Obamacare" its primary message this midterm year. (AP Photo/Charles Cherney)

[midnight]

1. Unbelievable. Now the guy who's own program is similar to law Obama signed is complaining,

I hope President Obama pulls a secret chess move and wipes the board clean of the Romney care, and gives us all universal health care....

[panzerfaust]

2. I agree with you "... universal health care ..." is what we need.

What we got is simply a subsidy to the insurance industry.

It likely will be even less of a subsidy than seems generally thought.

The potential coverage of many of the xxx million more Americans will only become actual if those eligible for a subsidy of their healthcare premium (vs those who will qualify for free) are actually willing to part with a substantial sum of money to buy the insurance in the first place.

If I were a twenty-something year old, I doubt that I would see the need to spend money on insurance when it could be better spent on a car. Especially since I know that if I get hurt in that car, I will still get needed care.

We are still going to have many millions of uninsured - and many of them will be those who are eligible for the current insurance industry subsidy scheme.

A basic national health coverage would not leave it up to the individual.

[chelsea0011]

3. And never forget that the MassCare plan was started by $750 milliom

that was socked away by Massachusetts for health costs to jumpstart the program. And he complains about any start up costs associated with Obamacare. He is for a state by state decision for health care but how many states have $750 million lying around for start up costs?

[Vinca]

4. And Romney says, "What Massachusetts health care plan?"