Report: Mitt Romney Said He Wouldn't Repeal ObamaCare Personal Mandate

It's not on tape as far as I can find but this blogger says he asked Romney about it at a book signing.

The story is now making it's way around the rightysphere and to paraphrase Twain, I'd hate for it to be a case of incorrect information making it's way around the world before the truth gets its boots on but it seems in keeping with Romney's approach to the issue.

Remember Romney said in an '08 debate

I like mandates. The mandates work.

This is why Romney can not and must not be the Republican nominee in 2012.

Let me say upfront I wasn't a committed Mitt guy in '08 but I wasn't as down on him as much as others were either. The flips aren't a deal breaker for me (though they are the reason I couldn't embrace him wholeheartedly). Before health care passed and repeal became the imperative that it is, Romney was probably my leading candidate going into '12. I think that election will be a referendum on Obama and the candidate that appears to be the 'anti-Obama' will have the best shot at beating him. At one point, Mitt seemed to be that candidate.

That all changed when the House passed ObamaCare on March 21st.

Even if Romney does say he opposes the individual mandate, he still has said he'd take credit for Obama's health care "accomplishment". Given his background with the issue and weird statements about the law since its passage, Romney is simply damaged goods when it comes to health care.

He might still be able to come up with a convincing narrative to explain the differences between MassCare and ObamaCare as well as his role in the former. But then the debate will be about Mitt and what he thought then vs. now and whether he can be reliable going forward. Meanwhile the focus will be off Obama and the damage done by this health care scheme.

Republicans need the issue to be a clean and clear choice...we have to nominate someone who was opposed to ObamaCare from the start. Only then will the focus stay on Obama and what he has wrought.

Sorry Mitt, for all your other strengths, on this issue you simply aren't the clear cut anti-Obama we need.

Via The Corner

posted by DrewM. at 12:43 PM

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