The differences between RomneyCare and ObamaCare

There are several differences between ObamaCare and RomenyCare. Let me name a few. It is important that GOP primary voters understand the differences. People are painting Romney with a broad brush and may end up with a weaker candidate. Let me also state that Romney is not my favorite candidate, but he is in the top 3.

Differences between ObamaCare and RomenyCare.

1. State vs. Federal.

RomneyCare was a state solution to a state problem. ObamaCare is a broad one-size fits all solution that may not work in all 50 states.

2. Bi-Partisan vs Partisan.

RomenyCare had the support of both Republicans and Democrats in the Massachusetts Legislature. ObamaCare was a solidly democratic bill that did not have the support of one single republican in either the US House or US Senate. Even "RINO" Republicans like Olympia Snowe and Lisa Murkowski voted against it.

3. Popular vs. Unpopular.

84% of Massachusetts voters are satisfied with RomneyCare. 52% of Americans want to repeal ObamaCare. This is the reason why Romney does not say, "Hey this was a big mistake!" You don't backtrack on supporting a program that your constituents like.  That would be a big mistake.

4. Litte vs Big

RomenyCare was a 100 page bill. ObamaCare is a 2000 page monster, or as Vice President Biden so eloquently put it...a "Big F**@@@! Deal". The ObamaCare bill has many provisions that have nothing to do with health care.

5. Line Item Veto

A fact that the Tea Party will not tell you. Governor Romney used his line-item veto power to veto 8 provisions of RomneyCare. But that veto overridden by Democratically controlled legislature. Would President Obama have done the same if he had line-item veto power? We may never really know for certain, but my hunch is that you already know the answer to this question.

Let me comment on something else. Many have said that RomneyCare was the template for ObamaCare. Why would people say this? For one reason and one reason only. Obama's people do not want to face Mitt Romney in the General Election. They want to do what they can to push the nomination to a weaker candidate. President Obama would rather face Congresswoman Bachmann or Governor Palin or even Governor Perry than Governor Romney. Romney can claim the middle ground that President Obama has vacated. If the middle of the political spectrum is vacant, then the incumbent has a better chance at victory.

Finally. The Massachusetts health care plan that has been dubbed RomneyCare would have become law with or without Mitt Romney's signature. If he had vetoed the entire bill, an veto-proof version would have come across his desk. The writing was on the wall.  People in Massachusetts wanted it.  Chances are, if Romney would not have stepped in and fought for a more conservative bill, this law would have been less conservative than the one this is the current law of the land in the Bay State. Romney did what any good Republican governor should have done in that situation. He read the writing on the wall and pushed for a more conservative bill. If a Tea Party member had been the governor, then we would have had a larger, more liberal bill, much more like ObamaCare that what is currently the law in Massachusetts.

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