President Obama praises Mitt Romney’s health care plan

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

2 hrs 36 mins ago
President Obama praises Mitt Romney’s health care plan
By Holly Bailey

In a moment that will no doubt resurface again during the 2012 GOP primary, President Obama praised the health care plan Mitt Romney passed while serving as governor of Massachusetts.

"I know that many of you have asked for flexibility for your states under this law. In fact, I agree with Mitt Romney, who recently said he's proud of what he accomplished on health care in Massachusetts and supports giving states the power to determine their own health care solutions," Obama said in an address to the National Governors Association today. "He's right. Alabama is not going to have exactly the same needs as Massachusetts or California or North Dakota. We believe in that flexibility."

It's the second time in the past several weeks that the White House has gone out of its way to praise Romney, who is expected to launch a bid for the GOP nomination. In January, Obama adviser David Axelrod said the administration had gotten "some good ideas" from Romney, who has come under fire for the plan, which, like Obama's bill, mandates that individuals must have health insurance.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_theticket/20110228/pl_yblog_theticket/president-obama-praises-mitt-romneys-health-care-plan

[customerserviceguy]

1. Well, we now know who he's afraid of running against

Only Jon Huntsman has the bigger kiss of death from President Obama!

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Romney will trip all over himself trying to outrun this praise.

:rofl:

[LevelB]

3. Oh, snap!

That is just too funny. Mittens will be furious. :)

[BenzoDia]

4. I'm still waiting on Romney to explain how RomneyCare is different from Obamacare.

And saying "states should have the power to control it" is not an adequate explanation.

[Submariner]

5. Romneycare still sux

Individual policy: $492/month with a $4000 annual deductible is what it would have cost me if I bought into this scam. I told the state to shove it where the sun don't shine. One state is too small a pool of insured to make it cost effective. A 50 state pool has to be more affordable.

[Ikonoklast]

6. First shot across the bow.

It would seem that Democratic political advisors to the President feel Mittens will be the sacrificial lamb in 2012.

[Samantha]

7. I found this hysterically funny -- thank you, I really needed a laugh

Talk about the great political equalizer! I couldn't help but wonder as I read your thread if Obama's tongue was firmly planted in his cheek as he spoke.

Sam

[krispos42]

8. Bwa ha ha ha! n/t

[derby378]

9. That's because our much-discussed "reform" package IS Romneycare

Yes, it's been rechristened Obamacare by the teabaggers and the Koch Brothers, but we all know where it came from.

[howmad1]

10. Hey, here's an idea:

How about an Obama/Romney ticket in 2012, and that makes everybody happy.

[katnapped]

14. Don't give them ideas!

Probably do it in the name of making the WH more bi-partisany

[shaayecanaan]

11. If that's the case, why did Obama strike down the Kucinich amendment

that would have allowed states to establish their own single payer systems? Presumably he would not have done so if he truly believed in allowing states to make their own choices.

[Lorien]

16. +1. nt

[sofa king]

12. Driving in the stake now is the best way to keep him in the coffin.

[Imagevision]

13. I'm hoping there will be an alternative to voting for Obama, like Kucinich or somebody else...

[Volaris]

15. hahaha thats awesome...

throwing the reddest of raw meat to the GOP primary voters...yeah Mittens will be pissed. =)

[liskddksil]

17. Mandate Mitt can't win on this issue

[Vinee]

18. Mitt probably can't win on any issue without a conservative base to support him.

[dflprincess]

19. Not surprising given that, rather than fight for actual reform & access to care,

Obama decided Romney Care was the answer.