Romney Talks Healthcare
Former Massachusetts governor and current presidential candidate Mitt Romney was in a diner in New Hampshire when the question of health care came up.
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Michele Griffin didn’t want to hear Mitt Romney talk about how to fight the spread of AIDS around the world.
“What about our nation? How ’bout the USA? C’mon!” yelled Griffin, who has worked for more than 12 years behind the counter of the Red Arrow Diner, a popular stop for presidential candidates.
For the next 10 minutes Romney tried to respond, describing his approach to health care when he was the Republican governor of Massachusetts, while Griffin kept interrupting him with comments such as “After we pay our huge deductibles for our insurance and our cost for our prescriptions, there’s nothing left.”
Eventually, Romney’s message — criticizing European-style “socialized medicine,” attacking Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s health-care efforts in the 1990s and praising the virtues of private insurance — got through.
It was a relatively brief exchange but an emotional one, and a snapshot of an issue that could play an important role in the presidential primaries in both parties.
Rising costs, the growing number of people without insurance and general frustration with the system are all reasons that health care keeps surfacing at candidate forums and campaign appearances. Large businesses such as Safeway and Wal-Mart, once wary of government intervention in health care, are pushing for universal coverage, as are many Republican officials, particularly California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“Health care is going to be a top domestic issue, if not the top domestic issue,” in the general election, said Dean Rosen, a health-care policy expert who was a top adviser to former Senate majority leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.).
The article goes on to say surveys show Democratic voters rank health care third, behind the economy and Iraq war as a hot button issue for them.
Conservatives don’t want socialized medicine and yet we know there are people in our country who need some kind of assistance with their medical bills.
I don’t have the answer for affordable health care for all. Please go to the article and watch the video provided by the Washington Post of Romney describing what his ideas are on health care.
Written by ~J~
Guss Says:
August 4th, 2007 at 10:29 amVisit Guss
I had to laugh because she couldn’t get him off his talking points.
University Update - Mitt Romney - Romney Talks Healthcare Says:
August 4th, 2007 at 11:54 amVisit University Update - Mitt Romney - Romney Talks Healthcare
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Michele D Griffin Says:
September 16th, 2007 at 9:28 pmVisit Michele D Griffin
I would Like to get my story out one I am no POOR I am middle case. I am married have been for 21 years. And I only have three kids my oldest has chrons see has had it for 12 years My 19 year old has Diabetes. and my 13 year old son as one kindey that wroks. My husband and I work very hard for what we do have we my not have a big house but we do have aot of love here. two years ago I had to leave work for two years not of my choice but for health reason so thing were hard here But we made it. I was trying to ask Romey how about the low income people if there force to get his healthcare plan I wanted to no how they will pay there rent. MY mother and Sistr work for the H.U.D.program and those progam go by there gross income not there net. why do you think so meny people stay on walfare that live in the H.U.D. well after they get there pay most of it goes to there rent babysiter cost Now Romey wants them to pay for a heathplan so yes I am worry about these people that might not have anythig left for food. I am sorry I worry about other people who live in the U.S.A I may not have lot but I do share wat I can See my mother raised me to treat people te way you would like to be treated. Now lets get to all those fat jokes about me I was size 8 two yars ago but The meds I need to keep my health and to keep working has put alot on me I do work out so before you make fun of people get the whole story.Now about my teeth I would love to get them done and someday I will but I have three kids and they come frist so if you have a problem with that well I feel sorry for you. I am sorry if I feel we should help ar homless family and are sick in the U.S.A before we help everyone us we are one of the richs and it sad we can’t help are own before we help others. Thank you fotaking the time to read this
~J~ Says:
September 16th, 2007 at 9:34 pmVisit ~J~
I’m not going to make fun of you, Michele. My heart and prayers go out to you and your family. Yours is the type of situation I say we should help and we could do more in these cases if we got the fakers out of the system.
Thank you for your comments.
Sue Says:
September 16th, 2007 at 9:58 pmVisit Sue
Michelle:
Your story is one that is repeated time and time again in this country.
The co-pays and insurance premiums to those who do not have a plan offered and financed by their employers are destroying many a family here in America. The additional cost many times sends financial pressure to the boiling point. When a choice has to be made between health care and food then we do have a serious problem.
You were very brave to continue to ask the difficult questions of Governor Romney. It was nice to see that an average citizen (like us) did not allow him to just continue with a pat speech on a very vital topic.
If you have been degraded somewhere for appearance on any level (your comment about your weight was troubling to me),
I am sorry for that. I know for an absolute fact that will not happen here.
I wish the best to you and your family. So many do not understand what it is like to have a child who has a lifelong illness and feel helpless due to a healthcare difficulty.
Stop back and visit and let us know how you and your children are doing. Thanks again for your courage.