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Subscribe to RSSSpeaking in Virginia, Mitt Romney offered his first public response the Supreme Court decision on Arizona's immigration law saying the Court had to weigh in because President Obama "failed to lead."
SALEM, VA -- Mitt Romney said Tuesday that President Obama will have "wasted" much of his first term if the Supreme Court decides Thursday that the president's health reform law is unconstitutional.
Amid a flurry of politically important rulings by the high court this week -- including yesterday's immigration decision -- Romney positioned himself in anticipation of Thursday's scheduled verdict on "ObamaCare."
"If Obamacare is not deemed constitutional, then the first three and a half years of this president's term will have been wasted on something that has not helped the American people," Romney told a crowd of some 1,500 supporters here today. "If it is deemed to stand, then I'll tell you one thing. Then we'll have to have a president, and I'm that one, that's gonna get rid of Obamacare. We're gonna stop it on day one."
Romney has long been forced to wrestle with conservative skeptics, who see Romney's health care reform law in Massachusetts -- including the requirement that individuals to purchase health insurance or face a penalty -- as a model for the president's reform. Romney's pledge to repeal the national law is a daily part of his stump speech, but takes on added meaning as the clock ticks down toward Thursday, the final day on which the court has scheduled the release of opinions.
If the entire law (or just the individual mandate) is struck down, Romney's comments today suggest he will use the ruling to batter the president for wasting his time and political capital on a law that was ultimately wiped out, rather than focusing on the economy.
Romney also used his rally here today to respond for the first time publicly to yesterday's Supreme Court ruling on Arizona's stiff immigration law, elements of which Romney praised during the primary campaign.
The former Massachusetts governor described the court's involvement in the Arizona case as an example of a presidential failure in leadership, saying that had the president and a Democratic congress just passed immigration reform, immigration issues would not be the "muddle" they are now.
"The Supreme Court had to step in because states had to step in," Romney said. "States looking to find a way to solve the problems he didn't address, tried to address it in their own ways, and now the Supreme Court's looked at it, and what we're left with is a bit of a muddle, but what we know is the president failed to lead."
Romney also addressed the immigration case at a private fundraiser yesterday, in which he pledged to pass his own immigration reform plan -- which revolves around simplifying legal immigration and placing strict limits in place to prevent the hiring of illegal immigrants -- within one year of taking office.
In neither appearance did he clearly state whether or not he agreed with the Supreme Court's ruling, focusing instead on each state's right to address immigration issues if the federal government fails to do so.
Today's rally took place in the Roanoke media market, which NBC's First Read reported this morning is the second most active media market for political advertising in the country this week with Romney and his GOP allies narrowly outspending Obama and Democrats. With that focus in mind, the presumptive GOP nominee said today that he would take back the Old Dominion this election, after the once-reliably Republican state flipped into the Democratic column in 2008.
"We're going to win in Virginia," Romney said as he wrapped up his remarks. "We're going to win in November."
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Poor Will-tard, still thinks he stands a chance in November.
As for Obama's first term being "wasted"? I think not. Or does no one remember the low 4-digit stock market days? Or the global opinion of America? Or how about Florida's unemployment rate... oh, that's right - Will-tard asked them not to talk about that any more.
Will-tard has wasted an entire year campaigning for a job he'll never have.
Indigo-Did you read the other headline? The poll that has it too close to call? How do you know the economy wouldn't have gotten better on it's own with out the trillions Obama spent? You don't.
Watt, you can argue opinions, but you cannot argue FACTS.
The FACT is that the stimulus created and saved jobs. That has been proven by many economists and experts over and over. We know for a FACT that the economy has done better because of the stimulus. FACT.
@Watt : Ever heard of "media bias"? Or how about something even simpler: Biased polling. Happens every single day.
Mitt Romney's recent ad:
"Can you believe it? He wants MORE police, MORE firemen, MORE teachers! Didn'the get the message?"-------(what a horrible thing for a president to want, more police, more firefighters, more teachers...terrible for a president to want that)
Scenario #1
911: What is your emergency, please?
Caller: I just heard gunshots outside!
911: The policeman's next appointment will be Tuesday at 10am
Scenario #2
911: What is your emergency, please?
Caller: My house and garage are engulfed in flames!
911: We will have the fireman at your home within 72 hours
Scenario #3
Child: Daddy, there are 30 students and only 1 teacher in my class
Dad: Wait until Romney is President, you will have 88 students, 1 teacher
35 textbooks, and 40 desks.
Excellent point....the DNC will be having a field day with that statement. Is it any wonder why Romney is trying to be President by almost exclusively talking to Fox "news" and other right wing sources? Even his prepared remarks get him in trouble.
I think Romney is trying to become the first President that never really had an opinion about anything.
Whatever happened to responsible journalism? Why wouldn't journalists be pounding his campaign's door down with questions like....."If health care was stricken, does that bring Osama Bin Laden or the other Al Qaeda leaders back to life?".......or "If health care was stricken, does that bring us back to losing 800,000+jobs per month?"......of "If health care was stricken, does that cause the auto industry to fold?"
It is a patently ridiculous statement. There once was a time where candidates of BOTH parties were held to account for what they said...it seems that since the right controls much of the media (TV and radio) that isn't the case anymore.
Romney probably already knows what his Republican buddies on the Supreme court have done but then again maybe not! Romney has nothing to run on but is banking(pun intended) on us WHITES voting for him because of his skin color & voting against Obama because he is BLACK. Well sorry to tell you Mr Willard Romney- Its "Hell to the No!!! as Madea would say. Stop telling us you are not like Obama because we know that! Tell us who you really are & to use language you understand, "Show us the Money"
White Floridian
I’m hoping that someday before the election we will see Willard do interviews where he answers real questions. I remember he did a face the nation interview and in this case, he dodged the questions. Of course he has had many of the Fox friendly interviews they even went bad. Come on Willard, please do real interviews, such as the ones Rick, Newt, Michelle, John and the others weren’t afraid to do.
So Willard, don’t be afraid. You have to do them sooner or later, because America needs a good look at who they may be voting for to serve in the office of President. Hint, it want be you!
Unfortunately, many people believe that a President Romney could overturn the Health Care Act. Presidents cannot just overturn laws passed by the legislative body. There are many parts of the health care act that had bipartisan support. Romney is simply pandering our economy to get elected.
Romney's pandering is nothing next to Obama's...
WAtt....suppose, instead of just a simple statement, you provide some facts....we'll wait.....DUH
yes - a first term wasted by the GOP! A party that tried to block the entire package and a party that has NO contributions or ideas on how to reform a broken health care system. Will the party of NO extend its reach to the Supreme court? Odds are that they will. A sad day for America and sick Americans everywhere. Paying the greedy healthcare CEO's will remain a priority, while the low income and illegal continue to put a strain on our tax deficit by going to the County hospital for free care (instead of paying anything). I'm sure Mitt will fix it with his solution. Oh wait - I almost forgot - he doesn't have one!!!
Illiminating "Obama Cares" to be followed by what happened in Stockton california:
Stockton cal fiiles for bankruptcy
Stockton's budget would also cut spending on employee compensation and retiree benefits by $11.2 million. About $7 million in savings would come from cutting retiree medical benefits for one year and then phasing them out, an idea that stuns John Skaff, a retired police officer.
But wait! He's Super-Mitt, job creator, debt reducer, state health care reformer!
Oh wait, scratch that last one.
The Democrats did a very poor job of promoting the AHCA and most people in the country are too lazy to understand the benefits of the program and sift through the Republican lie-campaign. It's the voters in this country that create the issues by not informing themselves and vote in idiots.
Wasted, really ? If the Court strikes down the Affordable Health Care act what will happen is history will be very harsh on Justice Roberts and his Court history will also show President Obama's policies stopped the Great Rescission from turning into the second Great Depression America experienced and he did so with very little help from a Teapublican/GOP House. Obama 2012 !
Mitt, guess it would also mean your tenure as Govenor of Mass. was a waste, right? What an idiotic statement. Also, please stop calling it Obamacare---it is the Affordable Health Care Act passed by Congress. As usual for the Mittster, no details about what he would do for healthcare reform or jobs...just slam President Obama and promise the world with zero details. Anyone who buys Mr. Bain Capital's vague claims deserves the screwing they will get.
Illiminating "Obama Cares" to be followed by what happened in Stockton california:
Stockton's budget would also cut spending on employee compensation and retiree benefits by $11.2 million. About $7 million in savings would come from cutting retiree medical benefits for one year and then phasing them out, an idea that stuns John Skaff, a retired police officer.
The CRITICAL POINT Romney missed here, is that 50 million American Citizens will be without CRITICAL HEALTH CARE COVERAGE!
The first term was not wasted, it was an HONEST EFFORT to provide HEALTH CARE COVERAGE for ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS, which incidentaly is what EVERY developed nation provides for their citizens, except the U S A!
Illiminating "Obama Cares" to be followed by what happened in Stockton california:
Stockton's budget would also cut spending on employee compensation and retiree benefits by $11.2 million. About $7 million in savings would come from cutting retiree medical benefits for one year and then phasing them out, an idea that stuns John Skaff, a retired police officer.
Mittens is a waste!
Obama's first term wasted?...I think not....If the Supreme Court strikes down the entire HCA then the President should come out with a plan to gradually expand the Medicare eligibility age down from its' current 65 years over a period of time until eventually all of the population is covered by Medicare for all. Expand the FICA tax to cover these individucals and I can guarantee you it will be cheaper than most people are paying now for their "employer sponsored" health insurance with some premiums being over $1,000 a month for a family plan. Enough of this BS with Republicans who just want only certain people to have expensive private health insurance. That's the Republican way.....exclude as many as you can from the benefits of America.
Wasted ---Really? Lets take a trip down memory lane to 3.5 years ago. Country in two wars. One by choice still vcosting Americans billions every month started by Bush
losing 750,000 jobs per month due to GOP/Bush policy
Auto industry heading for bankruptcy and
banking industry total collapse due to deregulation a GOP talking point for years
Today: gaining jobs every month
auto industry in best shape in 20 years
banking industry stable and
housing starting to make a come back and oh yea, the latest news:
Illiminating "Obama Cares" to be followed by what happened in Stockton california:
Stockton's budget would also cut spending on employee compensation and retiree benefits by $11.2 million. About $7 million in savings would come from cutting retiree medical benefits for one year and then phasing them out, an idea that stuns John Skaff, a retired police officer.
Yea and Zombie Romni wants to take us back down that road with pride, hmmm sounds good to me
Obama doesn't consider his first term wasted. He did manage to give away $billions of taxpayer money to huge companies that didn't need it. He bailed out many billionaire investors. He sacrificed thousands of American soldiers trying to 'win hearts and minds' in Afghanistan. He has managed to get free vacations for himself and his family -- and 40 of Michelle's 'closest friends' -- to Europe on Air Force Special Air Mission aircraft. Taxpayers picked up the bill, so Obama doesn't consider any of his term wasted.
Mathhuin....You want to discuss the usage of Air Force One? Sit down, cause this will cause your magic underpants to bunch up real quick:
1. Who started the war in Afghanistan? I believe that was George W, right?
2. Who spent more time on vacation than any other president in history? I believe that was George W, right?
3 Those who criticize the cost of Obama's vacations don't want you to know that George W. Bush spent at least $20 million taxpayer dollars just on flights to his ranch in Crawford.
The problem is that W. wasn't thrifty. He was the most expensive vacation president in US history. Not only did Bush spend more days on vacation than any other president, but he used Air Force One more often while on vacation than any other president.
Tell us, how does crow taste????
What would you call the last GOPer presidency? Yes all 8 years of it.
1) took a surplus economy and turned it into the worst performance of ANY PRESIDENT IN US HISTORY
2) Started two wars that continue to cost Billion each month for 10 years now
3) cut taxes at a time of war/s ( single handedly considered the most irresponsible act in a US presidency) causing trillions in revenue shortcoming causing a national crisis that has now put life saving programs such as social security on the cutting table
4) Cut dividend taxes by 60% causing large corporations to stop investing and hiring while sending wealthy investors huge dividend checks at 15% rate instead of 35% or more
5) Took his eye off the ball in Afganistan to start a war for his fathers reputation and to get re-elected and then caused all the gains made in Afganistan to be lost and the war to basically be re-faught. Never finding the chief culprit Osama Bin Laden
6) policies caused wages to be flat for all 8 years causing the housing bubble burst and caused job losses of up to 750,000 jobs per month and the eventual collapse of the auto industry
Obamas first 3.5 years has been spent on fixing W's/GOP mess.
Under Obama:
1) Jobs, gaining every month even though GOP caused a negative jobs groeth of the only thing they could control which was public sector jobs. Thats why Obama said the private sector is fine as it is gaining jobs every month while the GOP tried to kill public sectort jobs growth simply to get elected
2) Auto industry healthy once again, best profits in 20 years Zombie Romnie said "let them fail"
3) Osama Bin ladin and 25 other major player terrorsits killed
4) Ecomomy growing instead of retracting once again even though GOPers have tried to further slow growth for election purposes
Can you imagine where we would be if he had inherited what the GOP/Bush did. We would make China's economy look week
Wasted? I'm beginning to think Mitt Romney is abusing drugs.
The economy of this country has improved greatly since Bush and company left it in a shambles.
Wasted?
The Iraq war has ended.
Wasted?
The Afghanistan war is finally being wound down.
Wasted?
The Arizona bigotry law was challenged by the US Department of Justice, and yesterday the Supreme Court struck it down.
Wasted?
Oh, and onthe subject of immigration, you might want to google SHAUNA FORDE to see what Romney and Republicans think immigration policy should look like.
Insurance companies can no longer cancel your policy because you get sick.
Wasted?
Your children can stay on your insurance coverage up to age 26 now.
Wasted?
Anyone stupid enough to vote for Mitt Romney better be prepared for four more years of the policies of G.W.Bush and Dick Cheney - the policies that caused most of the problems the country faces today!
Tom...don't you love the 31 Republican senators emanding a special investigator to work on the leaks, but when Agent Plame was outed during Bush's watch, none was required. Let's spend some more money on something that is already being handled.
Obama/Biden 2012
There was a special prosecutor assigned on the Plame thing and he spent 18 months on it. Holder won't allow a special prosecutor and instead he himself appointed two people to check into it. All the Republicans are asing for is the same degree of investigation on this serious breach that was given to that silly one back then.
Waterloon! No, there was not a special prosecutor on the Plame case! When any of the 31 Repuke senators was questioned about why there was not, the best they could come up with is "this is different".
And you really think the outing of an agent was "silly back then"?
Put down your beer, go take a good Mitt, you will feel better.
Eventually Romney is going to have to say what he's going to do differently, and not in a vague, general way. Yelling from the sidelines at the people actually playing the game doesn't count much with most people.
Romney forgets about the healthcare he passed when governor of Mass. And he hopes we're as dumb as him, and that we'll forget about it too. But I don't forget. And he's such a hypocrite about this legislation, that I'll never fathom the man, unless I compare him to Nixon. In that light, I can understand Romney - he's Nixon II.
He was working in cooperation with a legislature that was 85% Democrat so it was not entirely the healthcare that Romney passed. It does show that he, unlie Obama, can work with the other side of the aisle and who can not like that?
Waterballoon....Can you remember way back to Jan 2009, when the Republicans took the mic and said "Our ONLY priority is to make him a 1 term president".
You might notice they did not say "One of our priorities" or "An important priority" or even "a Major priority"...no, they said "ONLY" and have worked to defeat every positive action attempted.....don't give me the BS "he had both houses of Congress, we all know it takes 60 votes in the Senate, the Dems never had 60 seats, so that holds, (pardon the pun) less water than your water-logged skull.
Romneycare is so similar, especially the part about the mandate. That mandate in Mass. should be declared unconstitutional if the mandate in Obama's program is declared that way.
By the way, Moonie, what do the Repubs have lined up to replace health care for the millions of kids, millions of people with pre-existing conditions, women, elderly, infirm? Romney's stance has been eliminating what is there, but putting nothing in its place.
Take good care of your prostate, you got more getting shoved in there f your man in the magic underpants should steal the election.
To the Republicans who are upset because Bush keeps getting blame for the problems, let me simplify it for you:
Your dog sh*ts on the floor. You get rid of the dog and get a cat..
You gonna blame the cat for the sh*t on the floor?
Are you bright enough to substitute Bush for the dog and Obama for the cat? No? Here:
Bush sh*ts on the USA. You get rid of Bush and get Obama.
Now, I guess you are gonna blame Obama for the sh*t on the USA?
Better to use the example propery. Under Bush before 2006 when he had some cooperation with Congress there was no @!$%# on the floor. In 2008 when Bush was a total lame duck and the government was controlled by Obama and the Democrats - both Houses of Cngress - the dog @!$%# on the floor.
Now use your analysis with facts based on the real world. And you add the elephant that has been @!$%#ting on the floor since January 2009.
And of course, the Republicans have co-operated in every way to get the costs of the 2 wars (which Bush sh*t on the floor), Medicaid Drug Plan (More Bush sh*t), the saving of the auto industry....etc etc. Did the wars start after 2006, you boob?
Watermoon, are you the satellite circling Kolob? You certainly have no idea of what is happening on Earth.
Went to the doctor yesterday and asked if he was keeping check on my prostate poblem since my PSA reading was higher than 4.0 on the last check. He said that unfortunately Medicare only allowed one test a year and it has only been 6 months. I reminded him that I was on Cigna and not Medicare and he said "Oh - then let's do it right now." It turned out to be 4.7 and we are working on the reasons.
So, we don't have to wait for Obamacare to set up "death panels" as we already have it in Medicare to some degree at least.
Take the "some degree" and shove it up your a$$ and see how much benefit you get from it.
The president is fighting the repub's on 3 fronts 1. the bishop 2.the pepub house/senate 3. the supreme court. The Bishop an empty suit with on ideas and losing in the polls by 8 pts. The congress repub's do nothing but, investigate the president 8% in the polls. The court the lowest rating of any court. Put all there poll rating togeather and it will not equal that of the president. They are trying to define the president for a cable news cycle, this is a 4G world and in a 4G world he is TPOUS,The leader of the free world and the most popular and admired leader in the world!! This is not old school media where people wait to see or hear what is happeningn through sound bites and he said sh.t. This is real time Youtube-google-facebook and in this world he 's Mr President. Google it
MITTMUTT your entire campaign is wasted, why? You have the opportunity to spell out in detail exactly what you think is needed for this nation and what your priorities are. To date I have heard nothing but diatribes against Obama. I do not want a "hater in chief" as my POTUS. I want someone who will understand that the middle class taxpayer can not afford gunboat diplomacy and handouts to the rest of the world. We need to take care of our own legal American Middle class first. If not then you 1%er's will no longer have the "fatted calf" to feed on - you can not get milk from a stone.
If you can not understand this fundamental desire then you are entirely unfit for any elected office.
This goes for Obama as well so everyone in the left wing and right wing don't bother responding unless you have something to ADD to this post that is constructive.
If it is shot down it is because of you Mitt Romney and your Republican party who lie about the change in the health care bill. You have alot of say about President Obama and what he is trying to do for this county but you have nothing to say about what you would do and that is becaue you have nothing to say and would only lie to the public just to try to get votes. You and your party are a waste of time for the American people with all your time wasted trying to get a Democratic President out of the whitehouse. I am sick of it and will not vote for any Republican.
Isn't it interesting that EVERY major player in the Republican ranks, have stated they do not want to be considered for Vice President? Yesterday, Condie Rice joined the list, Colin Powell, Newt Gingrich (who said in the debates there is no worse candidate than Mitt), Rick Santorum (who said if you are going to consider Mitt, you might as well vote for Obama), Rubio said no, Pawlenty said no, Christie said no.
Can you blame them for not wanting to go down in flames in November?
Say What - I did not realize that. I think that is something every voter in this country should consider very carefully.
Are we getting a McCain/Palin part 2 kind of Repteallian ticket? Will SCOTUS have to determine who is President again? Tune in this could be the soap of all soaps.
There are probably many others besides the ones I listed.. Perry for one...don't know about Michelle Backmann, and he would not dare choose Cain...the church would not allow it. Ron Paul would also refuse it.
I do believe there is a shoe salesman in Salt Lake City who said he might consider it if Romney would give him the "air-tight container mounted on his car to allow his dog to get fresh air" (another Romney flip-flop)
Someone will finally realize that if they accept, they might actually end up looking pretty good standing next to a cardboard manikin. Of course they all know that once the public actually recognizes how disgustingly wealthy he has become by shipping jobs overseas and that he keeps most of his wealth in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands...the public will recognize what a shallow man he is with no real prinicpled compass, no moral core values as far as the nation goes - he says whatever needs to be said in the moment he is in, can't remember what he said, but is sure he would agree with it! What a shadow of a man! President Obama needs to be cautious when the debates do come...it will be "shadow boxing" - there's nothing of substance and what appears to the eye will change a moment later. The sad part is that the American people are too stupid to pay atttention - they're lemmings! They'll end up voting based on ONE 30-second ad they see the day before election day or a bumper sticker they see on the car ahead of them as they drive into their polling place. Sad! Pathetic! Embarrassing!