The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : In 2012 Preview, Pawlenty Takes Aim at RomneyCare

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The Spectacle Blog

In 2012 Preview, Pawlenty Takes Aim at RomneyCare

By Philip Klein on 8.3.09 @ 10:20AM

In today's Washington Post, Tim Pawlenty has an op-ed urging Washington to learn from health care reform experiences at the state level. Not surprisingly, he touts reform efforts in Minnesota, but it's also noteworthy that he takes aim at the Massachusetts overhaul that was led by Mitt Romney (though he doesn't mention Romney by name). Not that Pawlenty is a free market puritan on health care -- he supported SCHIP, for example -- but the disastrous results of Romney's health care plan in Massachusetts could prove a big obstacle for him during the 2012 Republican primaries in which at the moment, he's viewed as the very early frontrunner.

Romney has tried to have it both ways on health care. On the one hand, he points to health care as an example of his ability as an executive to get things done, yet at the same time he blames the Democratic legislature for changing his original plan (even though he signed it with changes, knowing that he wouldn't be around to oversee its implementation and that his successor would likely be a Democrat). He wants to take credit for the fact that his plan expanded coverage, but doesn't want to accept blame for the endless wait times for doctors, skyrocketing costs and the fiscal crisis that went along with that expanded coverage. He claims that his plan is a free market alternative to a government takeover of health care, and yet it's a plan that expanded Medicaid rolls, forced individuals to purchase insurance or pay a tax, and had government provide subsidies to people to purchase a government-run insurance on a government-run exchange. Anybody worried about life under ObamaCare should not be a fan of RomneyCare -- other than the absence of a government plan in the exchange, both plans are structurally very similar.

View all comments (6) | Leave a comment

J.D.| 8.3.09 @ 12:31PM

ROMNEY remains our best hope. His knowledge of economics and business will help him to DESTROY Obama in the debate.

I don't think Obama would have a chance against Romney. But with Pawlenty, I think it's a more even-handed race. They both have the same gravitas -- which is to say, not much.

But Pawlenty does seem to be good on immigration! (He opposes amnesty.)

Hunter| 8.3.09 @ 1:03PM

J.D. don't make the assumption that the economy is going to be the big issue in the next election, and that Romney will have the advantage from that. The big issue isn't even on the horizon at this point. The last election was going to be about Iraq, but ended up being about the economy. I'd say that Romney was our best hope for 2008, now, who knows!

Pete| 8.3.09 @ 1:18PM

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/US-tax-revenues-post-biggest-apf-2967547650.html?x=0

Anyone who gets elected is going to have to slash Federal "services" and undo everything the Messiah has done. I don't care who it is, they just have to have the slashing mentality and the balls to see it through.

kingsmill| 8.3.09 @ 4:50PM

If Romney is our best hope, we are in very big trouble. Mitt is not a leader. He'd be fine doing a delegated task but he is not a conservative and will not work towards conservative goals. As the song says "Please come to Massachusetts" and see the disaster that is MittCare. Mitt was at best naive in putting together Commonwealth Care with the corrupt Massachusetts Legislature filling in the gaps. More likely, Mitt needed some sort of accomplishment and damn the consequences. Mitt had zero impact on Massachusetts except setting the table for the Dems to have complete control of the state. I'd even prefer Pawlenty, he may at least have some political skills.

redasapube| 8.3.09 @ 9:36PM

romney held me close and kissed me tenderly. i love his soft hands,never have they been working. daddy's money will get you far with some boys.

Cris Worth| 8.4.09 @ 8:57AM

Romney's political resume is atrocious but Republicans have a habit in giving losing primary or general election Presidential candidates a second chance. Social conservatives derailed Romney's campaign in 2008 and now economic conservatives need a wake up call to nip another try in the bud.