Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is not equipped to make an effective argument against Obamacare. Governor Romney and his campaign argue that while Obamacare is unconstitutional, Massachusetts (and each of the fifty states) has the right to impose and individual healthcare insurance mandate on its citizens. But Romney is wrong.
In support of my argument, let me quote Attorney General Rob McKenna, from a speech delivered at an Olympia rally on March 27, 2010. The rally, held a few days after Obama, Pelosi, and Reid pushed Obamacare through Congress, was held to support McKenna's action in joining other AGs in brining a lawsuit against the individual mandate in Obamacare. McKenna, of course, was not addressing Romney or Romneycare, but his remarks are nonetheless pertinent:
"The Constitution means something, the words in the Constitution matter. It isn't something you just look at selectively when it's to your convenience. It matters all the time.... Amendment 10 says that the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitutiuon nor prohibited to it by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people! Let me be the first to say that we are not bringing this case to defend the states' rights to impose an individual insurance mandate on us. We're bringing this case to defend your rights from having it imposed upon you. This isn't a states' rights case, this is an individual rights case - that's what this is about." (video available online at http://youtu.be/2gobG5tYb8k - scroll to the 4:28 point)
Obamacare is unconstitutional, and it will be a central issue in the 2012 presidential campaign. Obamacare is wrong for many reasons, but a major reason is its unconstitutional violation of individual liberty.
Government - all levels of government - exists to protect and secure liberty, not to violate it. No level of government - city, county, state, or federal - has the right to violate individual liberty. No level of government - city, county, state, or federal - has the right to force its citizens to purchase a product or service. No federal or state mandates forcing people to buy healthcare insurance!
The effort to repeal and defund Obamacare will be a central 2012 campaign issue. In order to maximize the chances of winning against President Obama, The Republican Party needs a presidential candidate in 2012 who can persuasively, articulately, and effectively lead the effort to repeal Obamacare. We need a candidate whose candidacy would convincingly embody the citizens' opposition to government-run healthcare.
Comments
Romney Care
You are absolutely correct, Steve. Thanks for the reminder. Also, don't forget that all of our 'leaders' swore to Uphold the Constitution and at the end they stated "So help me God." Thus by swearing God could pass judgement on them for not adhering to the Constitution as written. You have just scratched the surface of this argument.
Laboratories of Liberty
Steve,
Gov. Romney and MA legislature decided to enact a health care system that they felt was right for their state. Obamacare is a national mandate and is against the Constitution. What Romney did is what states are suppose to do, have an issue and handle it their way. Other states can observe and decide if it works for them.
Laboratories of Protecting, not Violating, Liberty
Todd, the states are laboratories for protecting liberty, not for violating liberty.
State and local governments are not above the people, and it is not up to individual states whether or not to violate the liberty of its citizens.
The right to bear arms is not optional at the state level. Freedom of worship is not optional at the state level. The right to free speech is not optional at the state level. The right to a trial by a jury is not optional at the state level. "Innocent until proven guilty" is not optional at the state level.
Individual liberty for the American people is higher than the authority of any level of government - judicial, executive, or legislative; federal, state, county, or city. It is unconstitutional - against the U.S. Constitution - for any level of government to force its citizens to purchase a product or service.
Governor Romney still believes that the state of Massachusetts had the authority to force its citizens to purchase healthcare insurance. That such a view is part of Romney's governmental philosophy is worrisome. And, in comparison to the more conservative candidates (Gingrich and Santorum), makes Romney less equipped to take on President Obama on the issue of Obamacare.
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