Romney did it First

     Conservatives have been almost universally outraged over the passage of Barack Obama's signature healthcare legislation, "Obamacare." However, many of these same conservatives enthusiastically (or not-so-enthusiastically) support Mitt Romney, not realizing or not caring that Romney's signature healthcare legislation "Romneycare," is, according an adviser who held a leading role in designing both programs, the same in every major aspect. Obama did it, but Romney did first.

     Further outrage has been expressed over the HHS mandate in Obamacare, which requires hospitals to provide free access to contraceptives, including abortifacients. In Massachusetts, Romney first vetoed then lobbied aggressively for, signed, and praised a bill doing essentially the same thing. Whatever the motivations behind this somewhat odd series of actions, the fact remains that Romney did it first.

     Obamacare also provides public funding for abortion on demand, but, as you might have guessed, so did Romneycare. Romneycare provided for copays of between $0 and $100 for any abortion at any time. Romney did it first.

     One would be hard put to not to have noticed the numerous scathing attacks on Obama for his fiscal incompetence. His critics point to slow job creation rates and high unemployment as evidence that Obama has failed economically. Similarly, Massachusetts during Romney's time in office ranked 47th out of 50 states in job creation, while post-Romney Massachusetts has recovered rapidly. Job growth over that four year period in Massachusetts stagnated at 0.9%, far behind other states with similar economies such as California (4.7%), New York, (2.7%), and North Carolina (7.6%). By the end of his term the state experienced a net increase in payroll jobs of only 1%, compared with a national increase of 5.3%. Unemployment fell during his tenure, but only because people left the workforce in droves. Obama may have damaged the economy, but Romney did it first.

     Others have criticized Obama for his expansion of government. What they miss is that the non-partisan Cato Institute gave Romney an "F" in entitlements and government growth. Once again, Romney did it first.

     Still others point out that Obama favors increasing taxes and allowing tax cuts passed during George W. Bush's tenure to expire. Romney, however, received another "F" from the Cato Institute on taxes (incidentally, his other grades were: a  "D" in spending, an "F" in job creation, an "F" in health insurance costs, an "F" on cap and trade, and an "F" on Wall Street bailouts). During his time as governor he increased taxes and fees (the later as a clever way to increase the citizenry's tax burden without raising "taxes") by $740 million. Romney did it first.

     Romney has again and again proven himself a leader, unfortunately he hasn't been going in the right direction. Conservatives who vote for Romney must assume that he will be the opposite of what he has been on abortion, spending, the role of government, the economy, marriage, taxes (and fees), and a host of other issues. I'd rather not make that bet. Instead, I'll take Tom Hoeling, a proven conservative who has been active in support of the sanctity of life and a multitude of conservative causes. The records of both men are proven, but only one is acceptable.

For a new birth of freedom!