The American Spectator

Romney is trying to deflect criticism from a number of opponents about his healthcare reform and releases this. His basic argument: we enacted universal health care without taxes and the courts made us pay for abortions. Well, there are arguments on the other side. He quotes Club for Growth as saying he "deserves credit" for a plan encouraging individually-owed health care. But the Club for Growth also noted: "To be sure, Commonwealth Care is a far cry from free-market healthcare. Besides the individual and employer mandates, the program expands Medicaid, does not deregulate enough, and will likely cost more than the current system, which despite all its flaws, does, after all, already provide universal healthcare on demand. Most of the blame for the deficiencies in the Massachusetts plan lies with the liberal Legislature which, absent the resistance of Governor Romney, almost certainly would have enacted a major tax increase while moving healthcare reform in the worst possible direction. Nevertheless, given its massively regulatory nature and likely high cost, the Massachusetts healthcare plan is not a model upon which a national plan should be built." As for abortions, one of the quotes Romney uses actually support the argument made by Thompson: Massachusetts was only legally required to pay for "medically necessary" abortions but Romney's plan paid for ALL abortions. Romney also argues," Hey not me, it was the independent Connector Authority which did it." Despite his argument that the Connector Authority was "independent" of the Romney, he in fact appointed key members of the board and the executive director was chosen by Romney's Administration and Finance Secretary. Plenty of fodder for everyone in this one.