Mitt Romney must feel like “Bizarro Jerry.” I reference an episode when the title character of the Seinfeld television series and his whacky bunch find that things are not as they seem, notably as Elaine discovers a group of men who are the polar opposites of her close friends Jerry, George and Kramer.
Eventually, Elaine’s new “Bizarro friends” become disillusioned with her as they discover the real “her,” and explicitly ask her to leave their somewhat normal circle.
During the months leading up to the recent Republican presidential debates, Romney’s competitors for the GOP presidential nomination exposed the similarities between the health care plan that Romney signed into law while governor of Massachusetts, and President Obama’s national health care law that has steadily seen strong voter disapproval since being rammed through Congress with little public support and even less scrutiny of the law’s implications.
Massachusetts’ health care law is arguably a failure, and Obamacare remains hugely unpopular, with a Sept. 5 Rasmussen poll showing that nearly two-thirds of American voters want the law repealed.
While that is not so bizarre, what is strange is the abrupt change that finds former contender Tim Pawlenty throwing his support behind Romney, and in the process, defending Romney’s platform for health care reform.
Pawlenty was one of Romney’s most vocal critics, particularly when highlighting the similarities between Romney’s Massachusetts health care law and Obama’s plan. Pawlenty went so far as to claim that the blueprint for Romney’s plan was used to craft Obama’s national health care law
The former Minnesota governor is famously credited with coining the term, “Obamneycare.”
Now Pawlenty, who dropped out of the race a few weeks ago, extols the virtues of Mr. Romney.
“Mitt Romney is 100 percent dedicated and committed to repealing Obamacare,” Pawlenty told the nation this morning on Fox News.
Meanwhile, Romney has said that if elected president he will issue waivers to allow states to opt out of the law, and fight for the law’s repeal.
If what he says is in fact true, then it stands to reason that he must now see the error of his ways and would readily renounce his Massachusetts plan.
Um, not so.
Actually, he still defends it, saying that the law only affected 8 percent of his state’s population. In fact, Romney’s law did and does apply to 100 percent of Massachusetts’ population, but he refers only to that 8 percent of state residents who were out of compliance and forced to comply, making it sound as if they were the only ones affected. That is like saying that traffic light laws only affect 8 percent of the population; those who get tickets for going through a red light.
Bizarre indeed.
Taxpayer subsidies for the Massachusetts plan are huge, with families earning $44,000 having the state pick up 90% of their health insurance costs.
And as with Obamacare, the Massachusetts plan does absolutely nothing to deal with the actual cost of health care in that state, which has been shown to have the highest health care costs in the nation.
In a Fortune magazine article, it was noted that, “The Massachusetts plan didn’t do anything about medical costs.”
Just a formality according to Romney. “That is the task that remains,” he wrote in his book, “No Apology,” which ironically was published less than three weeks before Obamacare got final Congressional approval, and a quick signing by President Obama.
During the Republican presidential debates held so far this month, GOP contenders are piling on the criticism of the insurance mandate law that Romney signed in Massachusetts, and his seeming unwillingness to denounce it.
At the Reagan Library debate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said that Romney’s plan is a bad example for other states to follow. Romney countered that the mandate forces individuals to take personal responsibility for their own health care.
Rep. Michele Bachman (R-MN) took off the gloves, saying that an executive order for waivers will not suffice. “This will take a very strong, bold leader in the presidency who will lead that effort. None of us should ever have ourselves think that the repeal bill will just come to our desk.”
Romney’s campaign website spells out in general what his platform is regarding health care and Obamacare. Taken as a whole, he seems to have a decent grasp of what might work to overhaul the system. However, as with other candidates, he does not address the actual cost of care.
And — and this is a big AND — he advocates repealing and REPLACING Obamacare. With what?!
Far too many confusing and bizarre messages from Mr. Romney, in what he says, in what he writes, and in what he posts on his website. When it comes to health care reform, he alludes, weaves and bobs. Who is the real Mitt Romney, and what does he REALLY think?
Sort of like the Wizard of Oz, who is found out because Toto pulls back the barrier that has separated the real man from the illusion he has created.
“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain,” he forcefully tells those who are discovering that he was is what they thought he is.
It is difficult to know exactly where Mitt Romney stands on reform, as he criticizes what the president has done and promises to undo it, but finds no fault with the debacle he has created in his own state. The man may have good ideas, but he has a poor way of conveying those ideas and seems destined to float in a sea of uncertainty regarding health care reform. Not unlike the Wizard.
When confronted by those with no way home, no heart, no brains and no courage, the Great Oz hung his head low and explained that he was not evil, just misguided and confused while trying to do what he thought was the right thing.
“I’m a very good man,” the exposed and humbled fraud claimed. “I’m just a very bad wizard.”
Pawlenty enters Romney’s bizarre world of health care reform via IFAwebnews.com .
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