Romney's Gary Johnson Problem : The real loser and winner from the Obamacare decision
Pundits were musing about the "losers" and "winners" of potential decisions the court might make. If the court upheld Obamacare who would be the "loser", who would be the winner and vice versa. Most commentary on the subject was given on the assumption that Justice Kennedy would be the deciding vote in a five to four decision. However, it was Justice Robert's decision to to uphold the individual mandate that changed the winner-loser dynamic. Romney was the loser and Gary Johnson was the winner.
Romney had said repeatedly that he would nominate to the court justices in the mold of John Roberts. On June 28th Justice Roberts sided with Justices Kagen, Sotomayor, Ginsburg, and Breyer; a decision that left conservatives and libertarians asking, "Et tu Roberts?" Brent Bozell of The Media Research center called Justice Roberts, "a traitor to his principles". Unfortunately for Republicans, they now find themselves with a nominee who wants to nominate more "traitors" to the high court. Whereas Governor Gary Johnson has said that he would nominate judges in the mold of Andrew Napolitano, Romney says on his own campaign website that he would nominate judges similar to John Roberts.
The decision to uphold the affordable care act ensures two things: 1) That healthcare will be the major issue in the 2012 presidential election, and 2) That Mitt Romney will have no legs to stand on when debating President Obama on healthcare. Republicans find themselves with a nominee who supported and signed into law a healthcare mandate as Governor of Massachusetts and promises to nominate more judges like Roberts who believe such legislation on the federal level is perfectly constitutional. In a debate on healthcare what must Obama do apart from saying I defer to my colleague Mitt Romney on this one?
It is important to remember, apart from holding up Judge Andrew Napolitano as the man embodying his preferred jurisprudence Governor Gary Johnson never signed into law an individual healthcare mandate while serving as Governor of Arizona. Republicans, libertarians, and all liberty minded folks need to consider what happened on June 28 and realize there is a pattern here.
Pundits were musing about the "losers" and "winners" of potential decisions the court might make. If the court upheld Obamacare who would be the "loser", who would be the winner and vice versa. Most commentary on the subject was given on the assumption that Justice Kennedy would be the deciding vote in a five to four decision. However, it was Justice Robert's decision to to uphold the individual mandate that changed the winner-loser dynamic. Romney was the loser and Gary Johnson was the winner.
Romney had said repeatedly that he would nominate to the court justices in the mold of John Roberts. On June 28th Justice Roberts sided with Justices Kagen, Sotomayor, Ginsburg, and Breyer; a decision that left conservatives and libertarians asking, "Et tu Roberts?" Brent Bozell of The Media Research center called Justice Roberts, "a traitor to his principles". Unfortunately for Republicans, they now find themselves with a nominee who wants to nominate more "traitors" to the high court. Whereas Governor Gary Johnson has said that he would nominate judges in the mold of Andrew Napolitano, Romney says on his own campaign website that he would nominate judges similar to John Roberts.
The decision to uphold the affordable care act ensures two things: 1) That healthcare will be the major issue in the 2012 presidential election, and 2) That Mitt Romney will have no legs to stand on when debating President Obama on healthcare. Republicans find themselves with a nominee who supported and signed into law a healthcare mandate as Governor of Massachusetts and promises to nominate more judges like Roberts who believe such legislation on the federal level is perfectly constitutional. In a debate on healthcare what must Obama do apart from saying I defer to my colleague Mitt Romney on this one?
It is important to remember, apart from holding up Judge Andrew Napolitano as the man embodying his preferred jurisprudence Governor Gary Johnson never signed into law an individual healthcare mandate while serving as Governor of Arizona. Republicans, libertarians, and all liberty minded folks need to consider what happened on June 28 and realize there is a pattern here.
