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Reason Magazine Associate Editor Peter Suderman on why Romney’s latest book said his health-care plan should be a model for the entire country.
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Tonight on the docket forget about Florida.
The coming days ahead -- be a reminder that tax which is its governor Mitt Romney is not exactly heading for a walk in the park.
Indeed he is probably walking toward the first brokered convention in modern times.
You gonna forget about Newt Gingrich -- becoming irrelevant he's hurting for cash is not even on the ballot.
And some of the upcoming primary states.
He's been kept alive by our friends in the media who love is -- Congressman Ron Paul could very well -- the next three nominating contests in Maine.
In Nevada and in Colorado.
Giving him 88 delegates over the course of a week.
That would of course handily beat Romney's fifty from Florida and it would turn the race once again on its head.
Congressman Paul are still raking in cash including nearly a million bucks to a -- Paul super -- courtesy of venture capitalist and freedom march guests.
Peter feel.
As for governor Romney still faces a credibility gap with conservative voters.
As big as the tax hikes and fees he imposed on Massachusetts.
Or as large as the spending increases he made.
-- it was the governor of that state are as wide as the cost overruns.
Associated there today with the remnants of Romney care.
Today -- on -- wants to have it both ways he insists that Massachusetts Health Care program he created.
Is not an epic failure is not responsible for new taxes skyrocketing costs and -- soaring premiums.
We -- -- Romney care is not appropriate as a national model the flip flop or is also a runner from his own failures.
Our first guest tonight -- governor Romney's book no apology.
And the first spreading of the hardcover version of that book.
Clearly states the governor's thoughts about -- -- -- Before the governor had to -- conservative voters here's what he said quote.
We can accomplish the same thing.
For everybody in the country he was speaking about government mandated health insurance when the paperback version of his book came out.
That lion was gone.
When he was running for governor he called himself a progressive.
When he's running for president he tries to sound like Barry gold.
Water taken us.
President Obama and I have very different visions of America.
President Obama wants to grow government.
And continue to -- trillion dollar deficits.
I will not just slow the growth of government I will cut the spending get government I will not just three government share.
I will reduce it.
Were rated -- first guest tonight.
Wrote a brilliant -- -- and that running and the latest edition of the latest issue of reason magazine.
Recalls the former governor quote a master technocrat.
Masquerading as an economic conservative.
We happily welcome back as we always do reason magazine's Peter -- Peter welcome back it's a dynamite piece it's the -- strategy.
You did tremendous research on it and you're really uncovered some remarkable things.
-- we know peer.
Which Mitt Romney would show up for work.
On January 20 1913.
If he should be elected president the one who governed Massachusetts.
The one who ran can add Bain Capital -- the one now tries to sound like Barry Goldwater.
You know I don't think you really can't know I think the important thing to remember.
About Mitt Romney is that he's been on both sides of just about every major controversial Politico political issue today.
So what -- time you're talking about him he's probably on the most convenient side at that moment and so whatever's most convenience is what Mitt Romney is gonna do when and if you look at his record he has always just sort of played in you -- played to whatever group is whenever interest group he's trying to please and right now he's trying to please some Tea Party people.
And some Republican only cities trying to sort of split the difference between the two and -- we have such -- -- sort of internally contradictory.
Incoherent campaign that seems to lack principal.
Well let's talk about Romney care because it to me it would be extremely troublesome that the Republicans nominated someone who stands for the one thing that the president has -- that unites Republicans against the president.
And may actually take health -- off the table.
If Mitt Romney is that Canada but one shortly after was governor.
In August 2007 he said the following quote we have to have our citizens insured.
And one -- do that by tax exemption.
Exemptions because the people that don't have insurance aren't paying taxes he also said in the same year what you have to do nationally.
Is what we did in Massachusetts.
Is there any question in your mind -- that as recently as 2007.
He was still defending the concept.
Of the government.
Micromanaging.
Health care and compelling you to purchase health insurance.
Out he was -- he's been defending it even even more recently he continues to defend the Massachusetts plan.
At the bare minimum as a good plan for Massachusetts and though he's backed off -- and his -- argument that it should serve as a model for the nation.
He still says that other states -- can learn a lot for Massachusetts what can they -- well it's not entirely clear.
Maybe maybe they're they should have a mandate maybe they shouldn't.
-- but absolutely when this plan was put in place.
He was looking to make -- national.
To make a national name for himself to get a national presence.
And this was gonna be the centerpiece.
Of his run for president was you know that he got.
You know universal health -- done.
And he got it done it through a mandate through that the plan that was proposed and and endorsed by by conservative foundations like -- Heritage Foundation.
By a lot of conservative policy walks Peter in Europe really thought that this was the best thing for the country.
In your peace and reason magazine.
You argued that he may have had this presidential race and mine went in October 2007 he said the following quote.
I think will be successful nationwide.
My plan by the way allows every citizen in America.
To get health insurance and almost sounds as if this really want to speak version of the precursor.
Of the affordable health care act that those of us that don't like it call Obama care.
Yet you know listening to Romney defend.
And that a Romney care.
And attack Obama care it's it's really sort of I I I mean you feel like you're listening to it to somebody with a split personality because all of the things that he says there are so great about Romney care.
Are also true.
About obamacare and the defense he makes of of Romney care could basically be a defense of obamacare in fact there's have been some video is going around.
That show that he's basically repeating the president's arguments about obamacare he's making the exact same arguments in defense of Romney care.
They are virtually the same plan.
Got it Peter -- -- -- peace and reason magazine it's the cover story if you're looking for the magazine and we thank you very much for joining us.
Thanks so much for having -- all bets are off as the candidates head for.
