Politics

‘Romney Supported the Individual Mandate…For the Whole Country’: DNC Ad Hits Romney’s Record — Accurate?

The DNC has hit Mitt Romney with a new ad purporting to show the presidential candidate both “flip-flopping” and advocating an individual mandate at the federal level.

“Romney supported the individual mandate. . . and for the whole country,” the ad says incriminatingly.  Mitt Romney awkwardly saying, “I like mandates” follows.

But many are saying that Mitt Romney has been taken out of context, and the ad is nothing more than a political attempt to make voters believe that Romney was for the individual mandate before it became Barack Obama’s signature legislation.

The Washington Post explains:

In the DNC ad, a key moment is when text declares, ‘Romney supported the individual mandate. . . and for the whole country.’ Then it cuts to a 2008 GOP debate in which moderator Charlie Gibson starts to ask, ‘Although you’ve backed away from mandates on a national basis . . .’ and then Romney interjects: ‘No, no, I like mandates.’

Looks like a gotcha moment, right? Wrong.

Romney wasn’t really answering the question about mandates on a national level. In fact, a few minutes later, Gibson comes back to the question: ‘But let me just come to one point. Yes or no? In your national plan, would you mandate people to get insurance?’

Romney’s response:

“I would not mandate at the federal level that every state do what we do, but what I would say at the federal level is we’ll keep giving you these special payments we make if you adopt plans that get everybody insured. I want to get everybody insured. In Governor Schwarzenegger’s state, he’s got a different plan to get people insured. I wouldn’t tell him he has to do it my way, but I’d say each state needs to get busy on the job of getting all our citizens insured. It does not cost more money.”  In other words, the first comment was taken out of context.

The following clip shows the unedited conversation:

Breitbart‘s Larry O’Connor explained: “This appears to be a larger strategy from the President’s allies to align Romney’s state initiative to cover Massachusetts citizens with health insurance, with the President’s unconstitutional 2,700 page monstrosity– which exemplifies all that is wrong with his left-wing Utopian agenda.”

However, the fact that it appears to be selectively edited and politically motivated has not stopped some members of the media from embracing it as fact.  O’Connor notes that Ezra Klein, CNN analyst Paul Begala, and even Wolf Blitzer seem to have been taken in.

He concludes: “We knew the likes of the Washington Post and CNN would stop at nothing to keep their guy in the White House.  We‘re just surprised they’re willing to shed their thin veneer of journalistic integrity this early in the campaign. Team Obama must really be panicking.”

(H/T: Breitbart)

Comments (69)

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  • javasport
    Posted on April 1, 2012 at 1:14am

    Are you kidding? I can’t believe people are this stupid. Telling people that govt will not pay for their emergency healthcare if they can afford to buy their own insurance is not a mandate. You still have a choice to get it or not. You will still get the emergency care you might need but you are also getting the bill. You aren’t getting a free ride. Why is that so hard to understand?

    Report Post »  
    • Abraham Young
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 8:26am

      What’s hard to understand is any government involvement at all on this matter, at the federal layer. I don’t find that in the Constitution.

      Of course if you’re a moderate Republican, I can understand your inability to cope with any restriction on the power and scope of the central overlordship.

      Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 8:26am

      if the government tells people to buy health insurance or pay a tax – that is a mandate. it is the EXACT SAME THING AS OBAMACARE. but romney goes around telling us that romneycare and obamacar are different…

      there is nothing free market about that. if romney was really free market – he would NOT force hospitals to pay for people who dont have insurance.

      Report Post » soybomb315  
  • Thevoice
    Posted on April 1, 2012 at 12:46am

    Just a observation ….As critical as this election is..For the shred of individual liberty which is going to be left….The Romney campaign is like the Hollywood mega million movie that ..Takes a crap at release because the reviews suck…….. Here we have the long hot “Summer of the commie” coming. And what will we offer in response. “The Olympic committee man”…..Great ……

    Report Post » Thevoice  
    • TeaPartyForRomney
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 2:23am

      Funny how the opponents of Romney want us to forget history and like to take clips out of context.

      First lets start off with history: If you remember Wyden-Bennett was a plan that Republicans worked on a bipartisan process with Democrats to get a plan, completely different than Obama’s forcing ObamaCare though the system. The Republicans, led by Paul Ryan opposed the mandate that was in there. Paul Ryan with many other Republicans came up with their own plan which was then used against ObamaCare when it finally came out, and guess who supported Paul Ryan getting away from the federal mandate… MITT ROMNEY.

      Now lets talk about taking people out of context. Remember the op-ed that people point to saying Romney was pushing an federal individual mandate, interesting how they took paragraph 1 and then paragraph 10 and put them together to make it sound like he was fighting for a mandate… untrue. In paragraph 1 Romney was talking about working on a bipartisan method to pass real Health Care reform. Yes, now lets blame Romney for wanting to work with the Democrats to create a plan that America likes.

      Again with history, does anyone remember that Romney had his own plan, the same one he has now, little modifications, pushing the responsibility back on the states, not a federal plan. Santorum takes him out of context over and over again, talk about negative advertisements. This is just another false attack.

      Find the truth out here: http://tiny.cc/4bp2bw

      Report Post »  
    • TeaPartyForRomney
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 4:03am

      Here is the Breitbart video explaining why the DNC and MSM message attacking Romney is completely false: http://tiny.cc/bzt2bw

      Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 8:18am

      @teaparty4romney
      you could pretend like that whole ad is spin but you are ignoring the real truth is that romney WROTE an op-ed piece in 2009 advocating the individual mandate for the entire country

      This DNC ad is a setup – they will want romney to call it false – and then they will bring out his own writings
      http://www.redstate.com/erick/2012/03/03/further-proof-romney-supported-a-national-individual-mandate-in-2009/

      Report Post » soybomb315  
  • Tallbriar
    Posted on April 1, 2012 at 12:10am

    Plug constitutionalists into the Senate and House, folks. Then we can get about the business of reclaiming our country with veto-proof legislation, and perhaps have time left over for some impeachments, trials and convictions for treason, dethroning progressive judges and lots of other good stuff.

    Report Post »  
    • Paul
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 12:12am

      Agree.

      Report Post » Paul  
    • Paul
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 12:33am

      You are not your average “Blazer.” (let him that readeth understand.)

      I read your posts.

      Good.

      Report Post » Paul  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 8:16am

      here here. it will be politics as usual for the presidency. the real difference can be made in congress

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • Abraham Young
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 8:34am

      Exactomundo brother.

      The issue is, there are so VERY FEW FOLKS who understand word one of the Constitution, look at how they treat the ONLY man on the roster who knows it front to back.

      I deplore the stupidity and unlearnedness of our RINO’s out there. They are lost. Totally and completely lost. It’s almost like in Isaiah where he talks of people who are so drunken with wine they are unable to think straight. They are divided , fragmented, and rallying the troops around a guy who is just as blind as they are.

      Report Post »  
    • HKS
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 4:48pm

      Now that could be a plan, just do it.

      Report Post » HKS  
  • Brother Winston Smith
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:41pm

    One of these things… is not like the other…

    Romney – “mandated” “purchase” of “healthcare” (Romneycare)
    Santorum (Glenn Beck supported) – “mandated” “purchase” of “healthcare” (Medicare Part D)
    Gingrich – “mandated” “purchase” of “healthcare” (Medicare Part D)
    Obama – “mandated” “purchase” of “healthcare” (Obamacare)

    Ron Paul – American free-market healthcare

    Report Post » Brother Winston Smith  
  • lukerw
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:40pm

    Remember the Star Trek episode… where a half Black&White guy was in a perpetual fight with a half White&Black guy?

    Obama v Romney!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • soybomb315
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:33pm

    First – anyone but romney
    THEN – anyone but obama

    Report Post » soybomb315  
  • justangry
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:31pm

    And he supports the NDAA and Patriot Act too. What a guy!

    Report Post » justangry  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:41pm

      let us not forget that he supports bank bailouts and the federal reserve

      he probably supports america bailing out european banks as well

      Report Post » soybomb315  
  • barber2
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:31pm

    DNC: Hail Karl Marx! Other than that, there is nothing that you can say that we will believe. ( JFK must be twirling. ) Your Party is a disgrace to America but a joy to Karl Marx adherents. Go away. Not really sure where to send you. Maybe Venezuela ? Hugo is ill and may need a replacement soon. Cuba ? Fidel is old and he just had a papal visit so he may be changing his Marxist/ Communist ( what the heck do these people call themselves these days as they are so creative with words ?? ) mission .

    Report Post »  
    • Free2speakRN
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 12:17am

      Whatever it is, you can be sure it is soft, gentle, innocent, and pleasent to the ear.

      Report Post »  
  • Shasta
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:28pm

    During the debates, Santorum brought this up and Romney said it was not true. Santorum said that Romney’s book, the hard cover version, said exactly this, and that when the paper back came out, the reference to the individual mandate was removed. There were articles all over the net showing the same paragraph from each version of the book and Santorum was right. How come everyone is surprised now?

    Report Post » Shasta  
  • KangarooJack
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:18pm

    Santorum has said it PLAIN AS DAY…Romneycare and Obamacare.

    Report Post » KangarooJack  
  • soybomb315
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:13pm

    lets see how this plays out. Romney goes around the country telling all republicans that he is the only candidate who can take the fight to obama….If romney doesnt fight back over this ad – you know he is another mccain

    Report Post » soybomb315  
    • martinez012577
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:25pm

      LOL how can he fight back. This is the point me and you have been making the whole time. The GOP again screws us. Honestly, we deserve four more with Obama if not King Obama.

      Report Post » martinez012577  
    • SPOT_OF_TEA
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:54pm

      Maybe Romney means he can take the fight to Obama toget democrat votes.

      Report Post » SPOT_OF_TEA  
  • Free2speakRN
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:10pm

    Romney, if he is or isn’t the candidate against Obama, better start getting loud and mad. If he wants to fight off Obama and Obama’s minions, he HAS to be HEARD!!! No *****-footing around. These goons aren’t playing. They already gave their souls for the world. They have NOTHING to lose. Nothing.

    Report Post »  
  • Jobarr
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:09pm

    Romney was taken out of context, he has stated over and over again that the mandate in MA was/is a soverein state issue and that he will repeal Obamacare his first day in office, (unless the SCOTUS does it instead).

    Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:15pm

      i dont think you are aware of his op-ed piece in 2009 – that was NOT taken out of context. wake up and smell the stench

      http://www.redstate.com/erick/2012/03/03/further-proof-romney-supported-a-national-individual-mandate-in-2009/

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • Jobarr
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:27pm

      The only stench I smell is the odor of a communist Marxist in the WH. Romney is going to be the Republican nominee, time to pick which side we are on.

      Report Post »  
    • martinez012577
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:30pm

      @JO

      Yeah use the “out of context” defense!!!

      If Romney is the nominee, I am calling it right now. Obama beats him by more than he beat McCain.

      WAKE UP!!!!! BROKERED CONVENTION TO SAVE OUR COUNTRY!!!!

      Report Post » martinez012577  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:35pm

      funny, i smell the stench of big government and facism. It is alive in both parties. Getting rid of obama will not solve the problem unless we remove the cancer

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • GoodStuff
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:44pm

      @Martinez

      “BROKERED CONVENTION TO SAVE OUR COUNTRY!!!!”

      Yes, because Republicans bashing each other for another 5 months is a winning strategy!

      Romney is the nominee, whether you like it or not. Living in denial is no way to live. Snap out of it.

      Report Post »  
    • Jobarr
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:44pm

      You have got to be kidding, no? A brokered convention would be an utter disaster. Romney will be the nomine so we might as well get used to it and all pull together to send the liar in chief into early retirement. Have you noticed the endorsements coming Romneys way recently? They all know he is the inevitable candidate against Obama, once the Rep. primary is decided the focus will be on the worst president in history, he has no record of accomplishment to run on and can only resort to cultural and class warfare to remain in office.

      Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 8:36am

      @jobarr
      how would it be a disaster?

      In a convention, the republicans would be able to unite behind a guy the majority (>50%) of the party supports. The media buzz surrounding it would be intense and the republicans will have historic audiences watching the candidates make speeches about what the government is doing wrong, what the democrats are doing wrong, and why they can fix it. That would be a GREAT thing. Besides, it would give the democrats only 4 months to trash our candidate – instead of 7 months

      Report Post » soybomb315  
  • NeoKong
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:00pm

    It doesn’t matter.
    Nobody who voted against Obama will vote for him in November and many people who did are having second thoughts.
    Romney didn’t cram Obamacare down their throats.
    Obama did.

    Report Post » NeoKong  
  • soybomb315
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 10:55pm

    Cant say we didnt tell you so… This is such an easy place to start that democrats arent even waiting till the primary is over. Good thing its not too late to nominate someone besides romney

    romney endorses national individual mandate in 2009
    http://www.redstate.com/erick/2012/03/03/further-proof-romney-supported-a-national-individual-mandate-in-2009/

    Report Post » soybomb315  
  • godlovinmom
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 10:54pm

    Like I’ve said before..Romney is one step above Obama..barely.

    Report Post » godlovinmom  
    • kegbuna
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 10:57pm

      I guess it depends on which side of the spectrum you are, but I don’t so at all. He is incapable of taking a stand, and has made himself out to be oblivious to the true pain of a down economy. His policies would only serve to help those who are like himself, unless of course one of his consultants advised him otherwise.

      Report Post » kegbuna  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:05pm

      @kegbuna
      You have proved godlovingmom’s point. i cant tell if you are describing obama or mitt romney

      Report Post » soybomb315  
  • Hawaii_Conservative
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 10:50pm

    Romney/Gingrich is the same ticket as Obama/Biden, we are doomed

    Report Post » Hawaii_Conservative  
  • Captain Crunch
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 10:49pm

    I don’t care if it was taken out of context or not. I cannot believe that the Republican party is acting like it is going to go with Romney. Get ready for another 4 years of Obama and a full fledged revolution in this country. UNBELIEVABLE. Another BS candidate! Weak as watered down beer with the fortitude of a wet sponge.

    Report Post »  
  • vinnymac46
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 10:45pm

    This ad won’t stand up next to the Obama ad about “…I guess there weren’t shove ready as I thought…”

    Report Post » vinnymac46  
  • michael48
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 10:38pm

    raised two sons…this child, chairman Ocommie, in the District of Criminals reminds me of conversations when they were 10 years old…dad he did it…uh uhaaaa.. he did it dad…finally I‘d tell them the puppy did it and I’m going to dicipline the puppy…unlike Ocommie , they owned up…he would have thrown the puppy under the bus…WITHOUT ANY CONCERN WHATSOEVER…

    Report Post »  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 10:33pm

    This is the main reason, but only one of many reasons why Romney is the worst possible candidate to put up against obama. Romney is a complete disaster.

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
    • Ella
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 10:45pm

      I agree.

      Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:18pm

      true – romney has so many holes in his armor that democrats will have destroyed him before we even get to the June convention

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • barber2
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 12:16am

      The only worst candidate to put up against Comrade Obama would be Joseph Stalin .

      Report Post »  
    • Jenny Lind
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 11:12am

      Really? Let’s see, should you vote for a marxist-communist or a man of businness that loves America. The difference as I see it is which one wants to destroy this country and which one wants it to be great again? One loves the country, one wants to destroy our way of life, and you think there is no difference? You need to rethink that maybe.

      Report Post »  
  • TerryDo
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 10:29pm

    I see Obama is still trying to blame someone else for his ineptness, first to Bush (who was on his way out and now blaming Romney (who is on his way in)…

    Obama wrote that his mommy taught him that whenever he got into trouble, he should just point his finger to the other person and let them try to defend their innocence… Oh the dastardly deed!

    Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:19pm

      its all about showing the other guy to be a socialist/flip flopper. That way many republicans stay home on election day

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • barber2
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 12:19am

      No Bama 2012.

      Report Post »  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 10:26pm

    Obviously, this is going to be Romney’s biggest problem.

    All the left needs to do is muddy the waters and make Mitt into to Croc.

    ———————–
    If this is the best they have so far, it is not impressive.

    Romney will out debate Obama on this.

    Report Post » MrButcher  
    • barber2
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 12:11am

      Now that we know that Obama is an anti-colonialist Marxist , like his “ Dreams From My Father ” dad, it should not be as difficult to debate Mr. Newly Transparent in the White House. Well, except for the usual Smoke / Mirrors / Lies which we have come to expect from our locally franchised International Obama Marxists . Isn’t that “global” business wonderful…..

      Report Post »  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 10:08pm

    Mitt…The Half White Obama just a little more pale when he is not busy being orange.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 10:06pm

    Oh, let me show you my shocked face…..WhaaaaaaH.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • CatB
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 10:24pm

      Yes .. lie, cheat, steal, start a race war … whatever it takes .. never let a good crisis go to waste.

      OMG 2012!

      Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:22pm

      its not like we havent been warning everyone this was coming….

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:26pm

      CATB
      Take a breath, have a glass of wine, relax. Tomorrow, take your .45 out, and relax.

      I am going to the range, with the big guns. I always feel zen afterwards. There is nothing in the world like shooting an M1 and a Tommy Gun.

      “The smell of Napalm in the morning….is……the smell of victory”

      Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
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