Mitt Romney was out there trying to look presidential after the health care ruling yesterday, but it’s a hard thing to pull off with egg all over your face. Here’ what he had to say via CNN:
“Let’s make clear that we understand what the court did and did not do,” Romney said. “What the court did do today is say that Obamacare does not violate the Constitution. What they did not do is to say that Obamacare is good law or that it is good policy. Obamacare was bad policy yesterday. It’s bad policy today. Obamacare was a bad law yesterday. It is bad law today.”
In no time, video of Romney discussing the mandate was popping up all across the internet; just not the one he would have preferred. Here’s Mitt discussing how great the mandate is – before he hated it*:
And there are quotes as well as videos. National Journal reports that Jonathan Gruber, an MIT economist who helped Mitt Romney design his health insurance program in Massachusetts, says:
“…then-governor [Romney] used reasoning and language very similar to that of Chief Justice John Roberts in arguing for the necessity of an individual mandate.”
“It’s a penalty for free riding on the system. That’s the way Gov. Romney talked about it.”
Gruber explains how, in the early 2000s, he:
“…demonstrated to Romney with computer models that, absent an individual mandate, one-third of Massachusetts’ poorest and sickest would remain uninsured (and drive up costs for everyone)…the governor jumped on the point, instantly converted…
“He’s completely disingenuous,” Gruber contended. “There is a total disconnect between who Romney was in Massachusetts and what we’re seeing now.”
The Wall Street Journal has recovered some emails that survived Romney’s attempted Massachusetts records purge. In one email, according to TPM, Romney thanks one of his aids, Tom Trimarco (my emphasis):
“Quite a day! You deserve a great deal of credit for making today happen,” Romney wrote. “You have made a huge difference, for me and for hundreds of thousands of people who will have healthier and happier lives. Thanks Tom. Best, Mitt.”
At a town hall in March, Romney was asked about his statements that Massachusetts could serve as an example for expanding coverage nationwide; he denied it, saying:
“Very early on, we were asked — is what you’ve done in Massachusetts something you would have the entire government do, the federal government do? I said no, from the very beginning.”
Think Progress however, has Romney’s own statements which expose him as a liar yet again:
2006 — Q: Is this something you think Washington should consider for the whole country? ROMNEY: Well, there are some aspects of what we’re doing that could be applicable to the rest of the country.
2007 — ROMNEY: Our program is based on a private model health insurance program and that model will work for the nation.
2008 — Q: Although, you backed away from mandates on a national basis…? ROMNEY: No, no, I like mandates. The mandates work.
2009 — Q: Should the President be looking at Massachusetts as a model for lowering health care costs? ROMNEY: Massachusetts is a model for getting everyone insured.
Now Mitt claims:
“What the Court did not do on its last day in session, I will do on my first day if elected president.”
And yes, it is possible, but according to the Washington Post, David Frum thinks:
“…the incentive might not be so strong after all. Don’t forget, he reminds us, that if the Medicare donut hole is re-opened that you’ll have seniors angry at Romney and Republicans in Congress — just as young people will be angry if they’re kicked off their parents insurance.”
I think the Republicans are so over the edge at this point, they’d do anything to deny Obama a victory; and voters be damned.
* This post originally had 2 videos, but my boss found one for me that better highlighted how much Romney used to love the mandate.
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