Posted on 06/25/2011 7:02:53 AM PDT by rabscuttle385
Washington (CNN) - With the Republican base largely unified in its contempt for President Obama's health care law, Sen. Jim DeMint, an icon of the tea party movement, has been forced to explain his early support for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's health care plan, which was a model for reform on the federal level.
The South Carolinian cited the "innovative" Massachusetts health care plan when he endorsed Romney's 2008 presidential bid, saying the plan leveraged "good conservative ideas" like bringing private insurance companies into the process.
DeMint told CNN over the weekend at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans that he supported Romney's campaign in 2008 because he admired the then-governor's attempt to fix the broken health care system.
"At the time I was very interested in any governor who took that on, because I knew if states didn't, we'd end up with something like 'Obamacare,'" DeMint said.
(snip)
"I have never supported a mandate," DeMint said. "It's just not a good way to make things work in our country, to require somebody to do something. There are different opinions on that but I have always appreciated anyone who had the courage to take it on."
(Excerpt) Read more at politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com ...
I’m not seeking ideological purity from the GOP. But it is obvious that many of the Democrats that have changed parties in the last few years, did not change their values.
Also, since many GOP establishment types support programs and policies that are obviously unconstitutional and direct attacks on liberty, I suspect either they stand to profit from said programs, or just crave more power over their fellow citizens. Only a socialist, liberal or a politician that has been in DC too long could look at Obamacare or Romneycare and think it is a positive for America.
I would think at the very least, the GOP could unite over smaller government, lower taxes and a strong defense. Obamacare does not equal smaller government. Nor does cap and trade. Having a $14 Trillion debt and growing probably will not lead to lower taxes. Fighting wars with no national interest and no specific objective weakens the military. And yet there are GOP folks that are on those bandwagons.
Obama has pushed the bar so far left that the Conservative center looks radical and Obama-lites appear moderate. In a saner world, would T-Paw, Huntsman, Romney or any other of the GOP crumbs that have been pushed on us be serious GOP contenders?
I think it is instructive to note that Barky said they used Romneycare as the model for Obamacare even after it was clear to evrybody that it did not work.
“Your constant tirade against Palin is beyond reason. I hope you step in it like pissant did.”
He stepped on his cr*nk a long time ago whether the boss boots him out or not. Remember Clarabelle from Howdy Doody?
His McCain
on the brain
may drive
him insane
per Capt. Queeg from the McCain(e) Mutiny
I’m disappointed that he didn’t frame his rebuttal in the context of the Tenth Amendment. Every state should be free to make or break their civil societies as they see fit.
That said, I have yet to see DeMint himself back away from the core principles of conservatism in either word or deed.
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