Romney’s embrace of Obamacare lite is nothing new

Romney's embrace of Obamacare lite is nothing new
09/11/2012
By W. James Antle III

When a campaign spokeswoman for Mitt Romney appeared to say something nice about his Massachusetts health care plan, the solution proposed by many conservatives was simple: Fire her!

But what happens when the candidate himself keeps saying nice things about the Massachusetts health care law? Can we fire the candidate?

"I say we're going to replace Obamacare," Romney said on NBC's "Meet the Press" last weekend. "And I'm replacing it with my own plan. And even in Massachusetts when I was governor, our plan there deals with pre-existing conditions and with young people."

This is part of a larger pattern. At the same time his spokeswoman was invoking Romneycare on national television, Romney was doing so more subtly in Des Moines.

After calling for the repeal of Obamacare, Romney said, "By the way, that doesn't mean that health care is perfect. We've got to do reforms in health care and I have some experience doing that, as you know."

Oh, we know!

Romney even praised the Massachusetts plan on Fox News.

"First of all, with regards to women's health care, look, I'm the guy that was about to get health care for all of the women ­ and men ­ in my state," he told Chris Wallace.

Challenged on this, Romney replied, "I am very proud of what we did, and the fact that we helped women and men and children in our state."

Romney's transition team would be led by Mike Leavitt, the former Utah governor and Bush HHS secretary, who has been lobbying governors to implement the Obamacare exchanges at the state level.

Noam Scheiber reported in the New Republic that Romney chief strategist Stuart Stevens landed the job in part because he didn't think the former Massachusetts governor should disavow his health care record.

If Mitt Romney seems like he would rather tinker with Obamacare than repeal it outright as he has repeatedly promised to do, that's because he still likes his Massachusetts health care law.

Romneycare shares many common features with Obamacare, albeit without raising the same constitutional questions. States have police powers, the federal government doesn't.

It would be nice to leave the past in the past, because Romney has generally put himself well to the right of President Obama on health care since he started running for the White House.

But little snippets like the "Meet the Press" interview keep reminding us that we have to think of what Romney might do in the future if he is elected.

As Reason's Peter Suderman puts it, "[H]e's trying to say a lot without saying much at all, except that he likes things that everybody likes, and he wouldn't do anything that anybody doesn't."

You can argue that whatever tinkering Romney has in mind is better than Obamacare. You can argue, as some have, that Massachusetts liberals made even Romney's state-level health care reforms worse than they otherwise would have been.

What you can't argue with is that Romney is comfortable with health care policy ideas conservatives increasingly reject, some of which helped form the basis of Obamacare.

At this point, opponents of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act don't have many options.

The Supreme Court upheld the controversial federal health care law, with Republican-appointed Chief Justice John Roberts providing the swing vote.

Soon many of the subsidies will begin to kick in, helping to entrench Obamacare as a middle-class entitlement. Once in effect, such entitlements are difficult ­ though not impossible ­ to repeal.

The window of opportunity for Republicans to roll back Obamacare remains open. But who knows when it will close?

Tinkering may soon be the GOP's only option unless they win key races in November and heed the conservative base's demands to go further.

Electing a Republican president ­ along with a Republican-controlled House and Senate ­ is a prerequisite for repealing Obamacare.

But that by itself won't be sufficient. Grassroots conservatives will still have to make sure the job gets done.



http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/11/romneys-embrace-of-obamacare-lite-is-nothing-new/

Re: Florida’s Amendment 8 would allow taxpayer money to mosques, Islamic schools

There are no cries of "racism" and condemnation for a leading U.S.
Jewish businessman after he called for taxpayer-funding of Jewish
schools to prevent Jews from marrying non-Jews.

Any European, or for that matter, any non-Jewish individual or
organization making such as call, will immediately be attacked,
slandered and vilified by groups such as the ADL or SPLC as a "racist"–
but because zionist hold themselves to a different standard, the
latest comments by Ronn Torossian CEO of 5WPR (described as one of the
"top 25" U.S. PR companies) will remain unremarked upon.

Writing in the Allegmeiner newspaper, Torossian said that the U.S.
Government should emulate Australia, Britain and Canada, who all use
taxpayers' money to subsidize Jewish Schools. The reason for this, he
said, was that a higher attendance by young Jews at Jews-only schools
had been proven to help prevent marriage to non-Jews.

"Undoubtedly, if implemented, the support would make a tremendous
impact on Jewish continuity efforts," he wrote, "American Jews
intermarry at a rate of nearly 50%, assimilation is at an all-time
high – and it appears that education is the primary path to ensure
Jewish continuity.

"According to sociologist Steven Cohen, Jewish school attendance
increases a Jewish child's likelihood of marrying another Jew by 14
percentage points. Naturally it also impacts other arenas of an
individual's Jewish identity.
"What issue today poses a larger threat to the American Jewish
community than the sweeping tide of assimilation?

"In years past, certain Jewish organizations argued about the
importance of a separation of church and state.
"Clearly, this concern pales in comparison to the fact that American
Jewry is voluntarily withering away," Torossian wrote.
"Government aid for Jewish schools is a cause which anyone concerned
about the future of American Jewry must universally advocate for," he
added.

On Sep 11, 8:42 am, plainolamerican <plainolameri...@gmail.com> wrote:
> as if catholics, jews and xians don't get the same money
>
> On Sep 10, 7:59 pm, Travis <baconl...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > **
> >   creeping posted: "As if enough of our tax dollars don't illegally go to
> > Muslims over seas. But like war, public education is a racket and there is
> > a lot of money at stake in Florida. via Florida Amendment 8 | Americans
> > United. The goal of Amendment 8 is to allow taxpayer "     Respond to this
> > post by replying above this line
> >       New post on *Creeping Sharia*
> > <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/author/creeping/>  Florida's Amendment
> > 8 would allow taxpayer money to mosques, Islamic
> > schools<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/floridas-amendment-8-s...>by
> > creeping <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/author/creeping/>
>
> > As if enough of our tax dollars don't illegally go to Muslims over seas.
> > But like war, public education is a racket and there is a lot of money at
> > stake in Florida. via Florida Amendment 8 | Americans United. The goal of
> > Amendment 8 is to allow taxpayer money to flow to religious schools [...]
>
> > Read more of this
> > post<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/floridas-amendment-8-s...>
> >  *creeping <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/author/creeping/>* |
> > September 10, 2012 at 11:25 AM | Tags: Creeping
> > Sharia<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=creeping-sharia>,
> > Education <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=education>,
> > finance<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=finance>,
> > Florida <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=florida>,
> > Life<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=life>,
> > Media <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=media>,
> > News<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=news>,
> > Random <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=random>,
> > Sharia<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=sharia>,
> > travel <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=travel> | Categories:
> > Alerts <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=10378>, Creeping
> > Sharia<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=4115925>,
> > Florida <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=1657>,
> > Legal<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=2283>,
> > Media <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=292>,
> > News<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=103>,
> > Politics <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=398>,
> > Religion<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=116>,
> > Sharia <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=29069> | URL:http://wp.me/pbU4v-cx9
>
> >   Comment<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/floridas-amendment-8-s...>
> >    See all comments<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/floridas-amendment-8-s...>
>
> >   Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage
> > Subscriptions<https://subscribe.wordpress.com/?key=16c852fa80c6a4109f03a115cc25d3d2...>.
>
> > *Trouble clicking?* Copy and paste this URL into your browser:http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/floridas-amendment-8-s...
> >     Thanks for flying with WordPress.com <http://wordpress.com/>

--
Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum

* Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/
* It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
* Read the latest breaking news, and more.

Epic Failue: DNC Honors US Vets with Video of Russian Warships

Scotty Starnes posted: "Democrats have never cared much about our military might or our the men and women who serve in our military.   From NavyTimes, via Gateway Pundit: On the last night of the Democratic National Convention, a retired Navy four-star took the s" Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Scotty Starnes's Blog Epic Failue: DNC Honors US Vets with Video of Russian Warships by Scotty Starnes Democrats have never cared much about our military might or our the men and women who serve in our military.   From NavyTimes, via Gateway Pundit: On the last night of the Democratic National Convention, a retired Navy four-star took the stage to pay tribute to veterans. Behind him, on a giant screen, the image of four hulking warships reinforced his patriotic message. But there was a big mistake in the stirring backdrop: those are Russian warships. While retired Adm. John Nathman, a former commander of Fleet Forces Command, honored vets as America's best, the ships from the Russian Federation Navy were arrayed like sentinels on the big screen above. These were the very Soviet-era combatants that Nathman and Cold Warriors like him had once squared off against. "The ships are definitely Russian," said noted naval author Norman Polmar after reviewing hi-resolution photos from the event. "There's no question of that in my mind." Naval experts concluded the background was a photo composite of Russian ships that were overflown by what appear to be U.S. trainer jets. It remains unclear how or why the Democratic Party used what's believed to be images of the Russian Black Sea Fleet at their convention. Continue reading>>> Scotty Starnes | September 12, 2012 at 7:30 AM | Tags: Democratic National Convention, DNC, Russian Federation Navy, Russian warships, US Veterans | Categories: Political Issues | URL: http://wp.me/pvnFC-88u Comment    See all comments Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://scottystarnes.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/epic-failue-dnc-honors-us-vets-with-video-of-russian-warships/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

--
Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
 
* Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/
* It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
* Read the latest breaking news, and more.

Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches are raaaacists!

DCG posted: " Schools beat the drum for equity Portland Tribune: Verenice Gutierrez picks up on the subtle language of racism every day. Take the peanut butter sandwich, a seemingly innocent example a teacher used in a lesson last school year. "What about Somal" Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Fellowship of the Minds Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches are raaaacists! by DCG Schools beat the drum for equity Portland Tribune: Verenice Gutierrez picks up on the subtle language of racism every day. Take the peanut butter sandwich, a seemingly innocent example a teacher used in a lesson last school year. "What about Somali or Hispanic students, who might not eat sandwiches?" says Gutierrez, principal at Harvey Scott K-8 School, a diverse school of 500 students in Northeast Portland's Cully neighborhood. "Another way would be to say: 'Americans eat peanut butter and jelly, do you have anything like that?' Let them tell you. Maybe they eat torta. Or pita." Guitierrez, along with all of Portland Public Schools' principals, will start the new school year off this week by drilling in on the language of "Courageous Conversations," the district-wide equity training being implemented in every building in phases during the past few years. Not a fan of "white privilege" / Jonathon House: Tribune Photo Through intensive staff trainings, frequent staff meetings, classroom observations and other initiatives, the premise is that if educators can understand their own "white privilege," then they can change their teaching practices to boost minority students' performance. Last Wednesday, the first day of the school year for staff, for example, the first item of business for teachers at Scott School was to have a Courageous Conversation — to examine a news article and discuss the "white privilege" it conveys. Most of the staff are on board, but there is some opposition to a drum class being offered to middle school boys of color at Scott School. Fifty percent of the students at Scott are Hispanic; another 15 percent are black and 9 percent are Asian. Eighty-five percent are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Chuck Barber, who also offers boys' drum corps at Vernon and Faubion schools in Northeast Portland, approached Gutierrez last year to start up a lunch-time drum class for black and Latino boys once a week. This year, it'll expand to two classes a week, to accommodate new boys as well as those with experience. At least one parent has a problem with the class, saying it amounts to "blatant discrimination and equity of women, Asians, whites and Native Americans. This 'club' was approved by the administration, and any girls who complained were brushed off and it was not addressed," the parent wrote anonymously. Gutierrez denies that any students were turned away from the drum corps, and vehemently rejects any suggestion that it is discrimination to offer a club catering to minority boys. "When white people do it, it is not a problem, but if it's for kids of color, then it's a problem?" says Gutierrez, 40, an El Paso, Texas, native whose parents were Mexican immigrants. "Break it down for me. That's your white privilege, and your whiteness." Like many if not all of PPS' leaders, Gutierrez has gone through California-based consultant Glenn Singleton's "Coaching for Educational Equity," a weeklong seminar on race and how it affects life; she's also become an "affiliate," certified to teach the equity curriculum; and she serves on the district's administrative committee to address systematic racism, a group that meets every other week."Our focus school and our Superintendent's mandate that we improve education for students of color, particularly Black and Brown boys, will provide us with many opportunities to use the protocols of Courageous Conversations in data teams, team meetings, staff meetings, and conversations amongst one another," Guitierrez' letter to staff reads. Equity training aside, Scott School must teach the same number of students with fewer teachers and resources. Down five full-time positions this year, including two reading specialists, Gutierrez is trying desperately do more with less."My first year as principal, I looked at the data and found that the eighth-graders that year, a third of them were going to Madison (High School) at about a third-grade level," she told the Tribune. "I said, 'This is completely unacceptable.' "That led to her adopting what she calls the school's "Big Hairy Audacious Goal": that every student will make two years' growth in one year's time in reading, writing and math. Last year, teachers set out to tackle that goal, meeting in teams to look at data and coming up with creative ways to target their instruction."We want to teach them to be critical thinkers," Gutierrez says.The results, by the end of the year, were promising, she says. The biggest achievement was among the kindergarteners: All but three of the 63 students met their benchmarks at the end of the year. Among the other grades, there was "tremendous growth in pockets," she says. "Now we need to make it happen school wide."Despite that year of work, Oregon's Department of Education just last month identified Scott as a "focus school," one that performs among the state's lowest 15 percent. Harvey Scott's website says, "Focus is placed on achievement in reading, writing, science and mathematics for all children".  Better add "critical race theory" to that list. DCG DCG | September 12, 2012 at 5:00 am | Tags: Harvey Scott K-8 School, racism | Categories: Children, Education, Insanity | URL: http://wp.me/pKuKY-h6p Comment    See all comments Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/peanut-butter-jelly-sandwiches-are-raaaacists/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

--
Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
 
* Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/
* It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
* Read the latest breaking news, and more.

On 9/11 anniversary, Obama sends greetings to Arab group

Dr. Eowyn posted: "On December 7, 1952, the 11th anniversary of Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Harry S. Truman spent the day sending his personal greetings of thanks and praise to a Japanese group. No. That didn't happen. But Obama did the equivalent of th" Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Fellowship of the Minds On 9/11 anniversary, Obama sends greetings to Arab group by Dr. Eowyn On December 7, 1952, the 11th anniversary of Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Harry S. Truman spent the day sending his personal greetings of thanks and praise to a Japanese group. No. That didn't happen. But Obama did the equivalent of that yesterday, on the 11th anniversary of 9/11, by sending his personal greetings of thanks and praise to an Arab group, the Arab Forum on Asset Recovery that's having its first meeting today in Doha, Qatar. Among the meeting's attendees is Eric Holder. The Arab Forum's goal is to recover assets stolen by formerly autocratic regimes, including Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. Joel B. Pollak reports for Breitbart, Sept. 11, 2012, that Obama is "using the day to issue greetings to the Arab Forum on Asset Recovery, seemingly oblivious to the importance and solemnity of the day, as well as the context of his message." In his greeting, Obama makes no mention of 9/11, the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood, or the role of Qatar-based Al Jazeera in broadcasting radical anti-American propaganda. But the POS does give thanks to the Emir of Qatar--"His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani"--and praises the inspiring democratic example of the Arab Spring, which happened to leave the absolute monarchy of Qatar untouched, as well as led to Muslim extremists taking over governments, most notably in Egypt. Breitbart News also points out Obama's hypocrisy. To honor the day, both Obama and Mitt Romney had pledged not to campaign today. So what did the POS do? He's having Bill Clinton campaign for him in Florida! ~Eowyn Dr. Eowyn | September 12, 2012 at 4:00 am | Tags: Arab Forum on Asset Recovery, Bill Clinton, Eric Holder, Harry Truman, insensitivity, Pearl Harbor, Qatar | Categories: 2012 Election, 9/11, Islam, Liberals/Democrats, Obama, United States, US Presidents | URL: http://wp.me/pKuKY-h6b Comment    See all comments Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/on-911-anniversary-obama-sends-greetings-to-arab-group/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

--
Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
 
* Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/
* It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
* Read the latest breaking news, and more.