South Carolina Rejecting Romney's Smooth Talk on Health Care
August 31, 2007
During a campaign stop in the Palmetto State today, smooth talking Mitt Romney once again refused to say how he would address America's health care crisis, saying only that he would leave it up to individual states to decide. [Associated Press, 8/31/07] Yet, in the face of intense criticism from conservative activists, Romney has been working overtime to distance himself from the Massachusetts health care plan he championed and once bragged about passing.
Romney also flip-flopped this week on the question of whether his health care agenda would include tax exemptions to help uninsured Americans pay for health care. During a nationally televised debate on August 5, Romney said tax exemptions are not the way to provide health insurance to every American because many uninsured Americans don't pay taxes. But just two weeks later, he outlined a plan to use tax exemptions to expand health coverage. [Wall Street Journal, editorial, 8/27/07] Worse still, Romney's latest health care plan also rehashed President Bush's failed plan for health savings accounts.
With so much confusion and shameless political posturing, it is no wonder Romney is stuck in single digits among South Carolina Republicans. The most recent American Research Group poll of South Carolina Republicans showed Romney tied for fourth place, with just 9 percent. [Campaigns & Elections, 8/30/07]
"Smooth talking Mitt Romney's flip-flops and blatant pandering are not a prescription for the kind of health care reform the American people want," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. "While Romney is busy running from his own health care record and rehashing President Bush's failed agenda, the voters are looking for real leaders who can defend their records and tackle the tough challenges facing our country."
