Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman’s new line on health care only makes sense if you ignore reality altogether.
Huntsman told ABC News that Mitt Romney “has little credibility” on health care. […]
“If you’re talking about free market health care, the kind we did in Utah, and the kind that is needed in this country, then he has little credibility,” Huntsman said. “Little credibility based on the model that was created in Massachusetts.”
Huntsman doesn’t appear to have faced any pushback on this from ABC, perhaps because the reporters weren’t briefed on the relevant details, but if we’re going to talk about candidates, health care, and credibility, Huntsman needs to hope folks aren’t paying any attention.
First, the “model” Romney “created in Massachusetts” has been a terrific success. That’s not a credibility killer; that’s the opposite.
Second, when Huntsman pursued health care reform in Utah, he endorsed an individual mandate. In other words, he and Romney have been on the same page.
Third, the plan “we did in Utah” hasn’t been particularly effective — after Huntsman was forced to drop his support for a mandate, the result was a policy that’s done little to bring coverage to the uninsured.
Huntsman must know all of this, meaning that he’s falling into some dishonest habits as he makes the transition to national candidate.
