CNN's Spitzer: Mitt Romney is 'Very Conservative'?
CNN's Eliot Spitzer on Monday's Parker-Spitzer bizarrely labeled former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney "very conservative" on Monday's Parker-Spitzer as he cited the prominent Republican's support for legislation similar to ObamaCare: "I think it was interesting...that Governor Romney, a very conservative Republican, embraced the notion of the individual mandate as a governor" (audio available here).
Spitzer and co-host Kathleen Parker brought on Congressman-Elect David Schweikert just before the bottom of the 8 pm Eastern hour to discuss congressional Republicans' aim to pass a repeal of ObamaCare during the upcoming session. During most of the interview, the former Democratic governor of New York pressed the Arizona Republican about the individual mandate. Midway through the segment, the CNN host asked, "But wasn't the idea behind the individual mandate basically saying to people who do not buy insurance, since you're going to get the care, we're going to charge you something so that when you get it...you've paid for it. Isn't- is that a notion you think is fair at its root?"
[Video embedded below the page break]
Schweikert replied, "No, because at some point, you have the right as an American to be dumb and not carry insurance. But you should also have the responsibility to deal with the cost of that action." He continued moments later that "you provide the urgent care that's needed, and then you also have to have that individual understand- because they chose not to participate in insurance, they chose not to be responsible- that they're going to have a cost that's going to follow them around, sometimes for years." This answer stunned Parker: "Wow, that's pretty punitive, I have to say."
Later in the segment, Spitzer used his "very conservative" label for Romney in a follow-up question to the incoming representative:
PARKER: Well, when I said it's punitive, I mean, not everybody can afford to buy insurance. Not everybody is employed, and therefore, can't get it through an employee, and costs are astronomical, so I don't know how you-
SCHWEIKERT: But that's why we have our-
PARKER: Go ahead.
SCHWEIKERT: No, no- and I'm sorry, I didn't mean to step on you. That's why in Arizona we have something we call AHCCCS (pronounced "access," the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System). In other parts of the country, it's Medicare, and there's huge populations in there. There's also creative things we, as the new Congress, need to be doing working with states to provide more flexibility, and also provide some graduation for those very populations you're talking about that can't afford it straight-up today, but maybe could afford parts of it.
SPITZER: Look, Congressman, there's no question about that. We want to come up with alternatives that are less expensive, but I think it was interesting- or, at least, certainly interesting to me, that Governor Romney, a very conservative Republican, embraced the notion of the individual mandate as a governor, understanding that that was really the best way to get people to pay their fair share. Certainly, as the governor- when I was the governor of New York, I agreed with that notion. I think most people who look at insurance think that that is the best way to get participation.
SCHWEIKERT: But once again- and one of the things I love about states being allowed to go out and experiment and try new things, but look at the numbers coming out of Massachusetts. It's not working. So we're going to have to sort of learn from their experience, go back to the drawing board, and see if we can find a more market-based, freedom-oriented solution.
This isn't the first time the CNN host has used harsh labels for conservatives/Republicans. On November 16, Spitzer introduced Tim Phillips as "the president of Americans for Prosperity, a right-wing group who Barack Obama claims was at the center of questionable Republican campaign spending in 2010." During the same program, the Democrat referred to liberal hero Rep. Anthony Weiner as merely a "Democratic representative from New York."
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Comments
Most normal people who got caught doing what Client #9
Submitted by virginia republican on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 8:54pm.
did, especially given his position, would be too ashamed to show their face on national TV. That's the nice thing about being a lib who gets caught, whether it be Barney's Frank, Charlie Rangel, Bubba Clinton, Marion Barry, or this flamer. You just march around, your head held high, as if nothing happened. Must be nice.
Here comes the
Submitted by dmaley1714 on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 8:56pm.
Media trying to hoist RINO's as very conservative look for fawning press for Mitt and Huckabee. they do no twant a conservative republican running at all. Sarah Palin would destroy Obama in a debate.
the maximum occupancy for this room is....
Submitted by MidAmerica on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 9:11pm.
Think about it. If everyone has equal access to healthcare with no personal responsibility for their own health because healthcare is a right then the only result is going to be an overloaded healthcare system that no country can afford. The only way to make universal healthcare work is rationing. But who decides? How do you keep out corruption? How do you keep medical records private? If you post on Newsbusters will it affect your access to healthcare?
According to Spitzer
Submitted by CobraMan on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 9:50pm.
According to Spitzer, Gorbachev would have been considered "very conservative." That's the problem when you consider "Centrist" to be somewhere in between Stalin and Mao on the political scale.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
oh geez
Submitted by GregE on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 9:38pm.
Let the media labeling begin.
Label Romney "very conservative" so that a Constitutionalist is perceived as a nutjob.
Oh wait a minute, the Left already perceives that.
Hey Spoozer
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 9:49pm.
The closeness of Mitt's health care to Obamacare is perhaps the greatest obstacle to his getting the request to run against that "Centrist".
But you have you mind elsewhere and apparently can't look up long enough to figure that out.
Yeah, Mitt has to take little conservative steps all right...
Submitted by Dave. on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 10:09pm.
...because that 400 lb albatross called RomneyCare hanging around his neck has got to be a heck of a burden to haul around.
This is just the MSM angling to select our candidate for us yet again. If we are stupid enough to fall for it this time, we deserve what will come next.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
The One (and only one) Funny Liberal Joke
Submitted by Chris Norman on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 10:41pm.
Some liberal analyst said during the 2008 GOP presidential primaries that, "Mitt Romney looks like a BMW salesman". There must be a grain of truth in that appraisal because it made me laugh.
Chris,
Submitted by Dave. on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 10:42pm.
Actually, Romney impresses me more as a Ferrari salesman than a peddler of the products of the Bayerische Motoren Werke.
After all, you know what they say about Ferraris: if you buy one, be sure to by Japanese as a spare, as Ferraris have a hideous tendency to spend an inordinate amount of time at the dealership - post delivery. :-(
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Dave
Submitted by Chris Norman on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 11:55pm.
I don't know - Ferraris sound a little too euro-trash "Armani" for Romney - he's more preppy. I see him coming out of the showroom at an Orange County CA BMW or Mercedes dealership, RL Polo attired, hair poofed just right, white teeth gleaming, as he bears down on a couple just walking onto the lot. It just struck me as somehow right... :)
Chris,
Submitted by Dave. on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 12:15am.
Now that you mention it, I see him the same way.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Too true, Dave
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 9:46am.
Just ask Hugh Grant.
I laughed when I read your post, oh my...it's bad enough to have the car break down, but after forking over that kind of coin, it must really be annoying.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Whether the Republicans can
Submitted by MidAmerica on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 11:18pm.
Whether the Republicans can win the Whitehouse is now in the hands of the congress. They have got make some noise and toot some horns. They will have to steal some of the democrats playbook and get out there in front of the cameras everyday. The days of the disasterous New Tone have to be over to end the isolation of Republicans from the public. Sarah Palin is a good guide to surviving the daily onslaught of negative media. You shrug it off and throw it back. But you don't back down.
I am starting to think
Submitted by mostlymoderate on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 12:12am.
I am starting to think "conservative" is code-word for "Christian". Really, because all the "fiscal conservatives" seem to be members of the "Tea Party" now. Spitzer basically has something wrong with Romney because he is a Christian and a mormon. Go ahead Spitzer, say what you mean!
Code Word - Christian
Submitted by Agnostic on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 12:18am.
You may not be far from wrong because I don't know how many times I've heard the phrase "I thought you were a conservative" when people I'm conversing with find out that I'm not a Christian.
I just find it odd that he
Submitted by mostlymoderate on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 12:38am.
I just find it odd that he labeled Romney "very conservative". Would he label Pelosi a "very liberal". How about Harry Reid, is he a "very liberal"? I never hear these MSM talking heads call someone like Eliot Spitzer VERY LIBERAL.
Ah, but Romney is "very conservative". What does that mean to Spitzer, is a "conservative" someone that wouldn't cheat on his wife with whore's in the double-digits? Triple digits? You know, like ELIOT!
Gosh I despise this weasel.
Romney will never be elected
Submitted by jdhawk on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 12:39am.
Romney will never be elected for president after he pulled a boner like romneycare. The program is running MA into the ground. It east up 30% of the budget, has increased wait time to see a doctor, and is running the states insurance companies out of business. But, other than that, it was a great success. And, the genius, Romney put this all in place without increasing the number of doctors in the state and got the hell out of there having served only one term of office.
By the way, when he signed the legislation he noted that it would do all the things he said it would and save money too. A couple of years later in a CNN interview, he stated that it is doing all the things he said it would, but that it is not saving money and was never designed to do so. Huh?
We need conservative leadership in the Republican party. We need to repeal duhbamacare. We can't get either by electing Romney as a candidate for president. Besides, we tried Mcpain, the RHINO, last time and he sucked . . .
We need old school
Submitted by mostlymoderate on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 12:48am.
We need old school conservatives. Someone with the economics of Ronald Reagan and the social philosophy of Pat Buchanan. No more people like McCain, Lindsey Graham or Orrin Hatch.
mm, At one time, Orrin
Submitted by Chris Norman on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 12:55am.
mm,
At one time, Orrin Hatch was considered the epitome of a conservative. What happened to him is what happens when they stay in the Senate for far too long. Having said that, I'm not sure just who is conservative enough for some here. I mean, if one dug around Sarah Palin's record, I'm sure she has said or done things before she became nationally famous that might have her immediately tagged as a RINO these days.
I agree
Submitted by MidAmerica on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 1:02am.
Ronald Reagan was once a democrat.
Reagan - Democrat and
Submitted by Agnostic on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 1:07am.
Union Boss - but some people can learn.
MA, I've said before that
Submitted by Chris Norman on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 1:10am.
MA,
I've said before that there are zealots who would tar Reagan with the RINO label. It's been used so indiscriminately that it's beginning to lose it's meaning.
I think the MSM wanrs a RINO to run...
Submitted by etc67 on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 12:43am.
I think the MSM wants a RINO to run. They are scared to death of a real conservative regardless of gender. They will do everything in their power to promote the canidate they know will lose against the "one" when he does runs again. It's a sneaky strategy for them. The question is will American voters see right through it?
I just hope McAmnesty doesn't
Submitted by mostlymoderate on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 1:24am.
I just hope McAmnesty doesn't waste everyone's time again. He will always be a heroic POW that turned out to be a lousy politician.
mm, I hardly think he'll
Submitted by Chris Norman on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 1:35am.
mm,
I hardly think he'll run again. If he wasn't already a little too old before, he'll be way too long in the tooth to run in 2012.
By the way, I've asked you this before, but don't you think your political views have evolved enough for you to consider updating your screen name? :)
HAHA! Yea, I really do need
Submitted by mostlymoderate on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 5:41am.
HAHA! Yea, I really do need to change that screen name. I remember when I thought I was 'middle of the road'. :) Then I started seeing how democrats were destined to screw the country up. In my opinion, Bush wasn't no "Mr. Perfect" but compared to what we have now, that guy was a Saint! Oh, plus I stopped watching television a few years back, including the news.
Sheesh
Submitted by HockeyKid on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 6:56am.
Is Kat Spit still on? I guess there hasn't been time to develop a replacement, and the syndication costs for The 3 Stooges are beyond CNN's dwindling budget.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
If they think a guy that
Submitted by Thoreau on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 11:42am.
If they think a guy that funded socialized healthcare is conservative, I don't even know where to begin.
Romney has been quaffing his hair and not talking about his record for longer than I care to remember. He isn't an option.
He's another yapping dog with no teeth, and it's too late in the game to pretend we aren't bleeding to death. We need a bruiser, not some bedwetter that spends more time on his looks than his character.