We do provide care for people who don’t have insurance. If someone has a heart attack, they don’t sit in their apartment and die. We pick them up in an ambulance, and take them to the hospital, and give them care. And different states have different ways of providing for that care.Mitt Romney • Reversing course on one of the biggest reasons he has previously cited for for signing off on “Romneycare” while during his time as governor of Massachusetts. Romney has pointed to the fiscal responsibility of eliminating the “just go to the ER” mentality, on numerous occasions, when questioned about his choice to sign off on the now semi-controversial measure. He even told Glenn Beck that such a system was tantamount to socialism, though his opinions on that matter have clearly changed. Again. source
“Where IS my power cord?”
The undecided voter: Providing unadulterated laughter since 2012.
$313 spent at Chic-fil-A by Mitt Romney’s campaign in August
$152 spent at Dunkin’ Donuts by President Obama’s campaign the same month
Normally, we’d chalk an article like this up to a slow news week, but it hasn’t really been a slow news week. Anyway, if you’re interested in the fast food spending habits of the two major parties’ presidential campaigns, Politico has you covered. source
Newton to the rescue: Embattled Missouri Senate Candidate Todd “Legitimate Rape” Akin may have been abandoned by the Republican establishment, but he’s not entirely without friends: Akin is getting an assist from failed presidential candidate and “Definer of Civilization“ Newt Gingrich, who will be attending a $500-a-plate fundraiser for Akin’s candidacy this Monday (Photo credit: AP). source
The Massachusetts Senate race is shaping up to be one of the closest races of 2012, with Brown and Warren consistently running within just a few points of one another. If you missed tonight’s debate, here are two recaps.
Mother Jones has released another snippet from the secretly-recorded video of Mitt Romney’s remarks during a May 17 fundraiser. In the latest clip, Mitt Romney explains why he believes the pursuit of peace between Palestine and Israel is pointless, and his lack of belief in a two-state solution. Instead, Romney believes the United States should “hope for some degree of stability, but [recognize] that this is going to remain an unsolved problem.” The Republican presidential nominee’s problems just seem to have a way of compounding, don’t they? source
Yes, he can! After failing to win the hearts of Republican primary voters, former New Mexico GovernorGary Johnson will appear as the Libertarian Party’s presidential candidate on 47 states’ ballots this year. While we feel confident that Johnson won’t win the presidency, it’s not unfeasible that he could have an effect on the outcome. As Politico points out, 2008 Libertarian candidate Bob Barr received over 25,000 votes in North Carolina last cycle. John McCain lost the state by less than 15,000. (Photo credit: AP).
I’m moving back to New York in a few days. Unlike past...
OMG. I got so...
In this week’s Newsweek, a little...
Tumblr this morning. [h/t anne]
#@#$%!.tumblr.com
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Watch: PCB gets a visual shout out on GMA’s Yahoo/Tumblr...
Dear Paul Ryan,
Would you please explain to Mitt Romney why he’s wrong about mandating coverage for pre-existing conditions. Please insist to him that he stay strong for a full repeal of Obamacare.
growing weary,
The American People
from TPM:
itt Romney said Sunday that he likes parts of ‘Obamacare’ and will keep key provisions involving pre-existing conditions and young people.
“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,” he said on NBC’s “Meet The Press. “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.”
The remarks could have huge implications as they signal a marked shift from Romney’s strong, unequivocal support for full repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which he has consistently held since the Republican primaries.
Politically, the pivot risks drawing the ire of conservatives, who have been adamant that Republicans repeal the law in its entirety if elected. It’s a major gamble that could reflect Romney’s need to win over more independent voters, who support those provisions.
From a policy standpoint, however, the coverage guarantee for pre-existing conditions is economically untenable without other provisions of ‘Obamacare’ — most notably the individual mandate that requires Americans purchase insurance, which experts say is necessary to broaden the risk pool and prevent an upward spiral in costs.
The author here is right. The individual mandate is the only mechanism that makes guaranteed coverage work. The two are inseparable. You cannot mandate coverage for pre-existing conditions without also mandating that all Americans buy health insurance. To do so would with 100% certainly bankrupt the American healthcare system.
And why in the world would he continue the mandated freeloading of 26 year olds on their parents health insurance?
These things have already raised the cost of healthcare premiums. Premiums will not go down until they are repealed.
Hopefully Romney will come out and clarify his remarks by saying that health insurance companies are allowed to do so if they can negotiate it but not that they’re mandated.
Fellow conservatives, I would encourage you to contact Mitt Romney and make your voice heard.
I hate to break it to everyone against Obamacare, but these provisions are here to stay. Every year they stay in place public support for them grows, and Republicans are already having to adjust their positions as a reflection of this. The only possible stumbling year will be 2014, but after that the window of opportunity even for staggered dismantlement of the system closes. This was our Social Security fight, for better or worse (I say better), and it will become equally as entrenched.
The American People: Made up of people who agree and disagree with the ideals behind the Affordable Care Act. When painting in broad strokes, keep in mind that what makes the U.S. great is that there isn’t across-the-board agreement on everything.
Tumblr: The home of millions of people under the age of 26 that might benefit from having health care as they’re searching for a promotion at their retail job or first job out of college. Of all of the things you’re going to go after in this act, why that one? That’s the least controversial part of the whole thing.
The Words They Used At The National Convention
I’ve pointed out “women” because one of the bigger impressions I got from the DNC was that the Democrats clearly think they can use the divide on women’s rights (see: Akin, Todd) to their advantage. One of Obama’s biggest rhetorical flourishes last night involved a girl growing up to be president. Almost every speaker spoke to the issue of gender equality as it related to choice and occasionally as it related to equal compensation. I was surprised at how much they seem to feel they have the advantage pressing the attack there. The only thing that surprised me more (at least as far as speech content was concerned) was the repeated, frank mention of voter suppression — maybe a bit cynical on my part, but I assumed that was an issue the media would complain about but would not be spoken about on a national political stage.
- Jason
This chart also includes a nice list of excerpts where some of the words were used. Pretty rad.
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