Romney Flip Flop: Mitt Pledges to Keep Key Obamacare Provisions in His Own Health Care Reform Bill

[malaise]

http://www.policymic.com/articles/14451/romney-flip-flop-mitt-pledges-to-keep-key-obamacare-provisions-in-his-own-health-care-reform-bill#signup-form-content
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Flip flop Mitt Romney strikes again, this time on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. Romney told host David Gregory that if elected president, he would keep portions of Barack Obama's health care law, referred to as Obamacare.

After months of Republican pledges to overturn Obamacare on Day 1 if elected in November 2012, Mitt Romney's admission comes as a major surprise, and will undoubtedly be used by the Obama campaign as fodder for attack during the upcoming presidential debates in October.

Romney told host David Gregory, "Well, I'm not getting rid of all of health care reform. Of course there are a number of things that I like in health care reform that I'm going to put in place. One is to make sure that those with pre-existing conditions can get coverage. Two is to assure that the marketplace allows for individuals to have policies that cover their family up to whatever age they might like. I also want individuals to be able to buy insurance, health insurance, on their own as opposed to only being able to get it on a tax advantage basis through their company."

Romney still pledged to repeal Obamacare, but left viewers wondering how, if at all, his health care plan would be any different, given that he pledged his support for all the core parts of the law (i.e. ensuring coverage for those with pre-existing conditions). He said, "I say we're going to replace Obamacare. And I'm replacing it with my own plan. And even in Massachusetts when I was governor, our plan there deals with pre-existing conditions with young people."

[nc4bo]

1. Am I wrong???

Romney says he will repeal the son of Romneycare, Obamacare, and replace it with provisions that are kindof like Romney & Obamacare(TM).

?????? I am confused. I am dizzy. World is spinning. Lemon wet good. Trees are the right height.

[malaise]

2. So is WilLIARd the LIAR

[uponit7771]

3. I saw that interview,...dances with Rove should've slammed rMOney on that but he didn't

...and let the hate indicator (I'll do what Obama did just don't want it associated with Obama) shit come from rMoneys mouth

[BlueStreak]

4. I thought he was going to "Repeal Obamacare on day one"

Sounds like now all Romney really wants to do is change its name.

I thought President Obama had already given Romney lots of credit for this great program, but if it would make him feel better if we agreed to call it "Romneycare for all 50 states", that's OK by me.

[MichiganVote]

5. Ok cool it DU, you're not crazy. Mitt having another etch a sketch Alzheimy moment.

[sad sally]

6. His other half can't get right either.

... The Republican vice presidential hopeful, who has vehemently spoken and voted against "Obamacare," or the Affordable Care Act, was found to have requested money for his home state of Wisconsin, which was allocated for health-center expansion under President Obama's plan, according to the Nation. The Huffington Post followed up with Ryan's campaign manager for details.

"This grant program was created by President Bush, not Obamacare. This ... type of misinformation is what you get from gotcha reporting on liberal blogs," Ryan spokesman Brendan Buck said, taking a swipe at The Nation...

It's true that former President George W. Bush and the Republican-led Congress doubled funding for community health centers in what was Bush's largest effort to address lack of access to health care for the poor.

But contrary to the response from the Romney-Ryan campaign, the money Ryan asked for would have come directly from President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act. The health care law boosts funding by $11 billion for the country's roughly 8,000 community health centers that treat more than 20 million people. That money comes on top of a $2 billion increase for community health centers that was part of the 2009 economic stimulus package.

But the response from Ryan's spokesman also raises a question about the candidate's philosophy on federal spending on health care: Why would he consider dollars approved by Bush to be a good use of money, but funds approved by Obama to be bad? (we know the answer to this one, don't we?)

http://www.theroot.com/buzz/paul-ryan-requested-obamacare-funds

[pinboy3niner]

7. CNN's Elizabeth Cohen did a good report on on CNN Newsroom today

In light of Romney's new statement that he likes some parts of Obamacare, like protection for those with pre-existing conditions, Cohen examined what that means.

Romney campaign officials told CNN that Romney would repeal all of ACA, which would eliminate its requirements that insurers cover people with pre-existing conditions. Cohen noted that Romney's planned "reforms" would provide some protection for pre-existing conditions--but only for those who had already been continuously insured. When asked what "continuously insured" meant--up to 1 year ago, 5 years ago...?--campaign officials would not explain.

The video of this report is worth catching. It aired in a CNN Newsroom segment that was hosted by Either Brooke Baldwin or Randi Kaye, but hasn't been posted yet.

Cohen also examined Romney's plan in an Aug. 30 report (video link below). Romney advisors told CNN Romney's plan would re-open the donut hole--and that seniors are "better off" with the donut hole than under Obamacare. Cohen said seniors would pay more for prescription drugs under Romney's plan:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2012/08/30/exp-cohen-and-romney-ryan-plan-and-seniors.cnn