Laughter is fun, but the issues are where things are decided, read on:

By Congressmen Phil Gingrey, M.D. and Tom Price, M.D.

"Over the past ten months, we have heard every presidential candidate talk about the dire need to reform our nation's healthcare system. The candidates all talk about their theories and solutions on how to cover the uninsured. But there is only one candidate running for president in either party that has actually gone beyond the talk and succeeded at leading the fight for meaningful healthcare reform. There is just one candidate who has the experience, vision, and values to fundamentally change America's healthcare delivery system for the better. That candidate is former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.



Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney shakes hands with supporters during the opening of his campaign headquarters in Sioux City, Iowa, November 13, 2007. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton (UNITED STATES)
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As physicians who have had a combined 50 years of experience in practicing medicine, we understand the need for broad healthcare reform. The number of uninsured continues to rise, families struggle to pay for the rising costs of premiums, and businesses are being forced to drop their health insurance benefits in order to stay competitive in the global marketplace. As conservative Members of Congress who face the challenge of delivering healthcare reforms nationwide, we understand how critical it is to have a president with a successful record when it comes to solving the current healthcare crisis.

Because of Governor Romney's leadership, the number of uninsured in Massachusetts has been slashed in half over the last year. His conservative, free-market reforms have brought down the cost of health insurance premiums and made healthcare more affordable for residents across the state. For the first time in the history of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hundreds of thousands of the low-income uninsured citizens have access to a choice of different private health insurance plans. And all of this was accomplished without any new taxes.

Governor Romney's healthcare reforms have begun to take shape and there are already many ways in which his plan has made a positive difference in the lives of many Massachusetts citizens. Unfortunately, some critics would prefer to ignore these early signs of success and, instead, are far more interested in writing a premature obituary of the reforms for ideological or political purposes. The reality is that Governor Romney was successful in bringing healthcare reform to his state. No matter what the critics say, more Massachusetts residents are currently covered with private health insurance than ever before.

The early signs of success are undeniable. First, over half of the uninsured in Massachusetts now have health insurance because of Governor Romney's reforms. This includes over 160,000 people who have purchased private health insurance in reformed markets that feature a variety of plans with cheaper premiums and more generous benefits. Second, the conservative, market-oriented reforms that Governor Romney instituted have made health insurance more affordable. Before Governor Romney's reforms, the average uninsured resident was paying $335 a month to obtain an insurance policy with a $5,000 deductible. Now, that same individual only pays $184 a month for a policy with a $2,000 deductible. Finally, residents of Massachusetts now have an avenue to purchase insurance with pre-tax dollars, leveling the playing field between the individual market and employer sponsored health plans, and bringing the monthly premium paid by the average uninsured resident in the state to as low as $115 a month.

Some commentators have faulted Governor Romney for providing generous assistance to the low-income uninsured, to help them purchase private health insurance coverage. What they neglect to mention is that these individuals were already being administered "free care" in hospitals and emergency medical facilities – at an expense of over $1 billion to Massachusetts taxpayers. These naysayers seem to think its better for the uninsured to have disjointed and inconsistent healthcare paid for by your hard-earned tax dollars than to make private insurance more affordable and therefore more accessible. It is unfortunate that they seem to overlook how important access to preventive healthcare is for all Americans. When you give physicians the opportunity to diagnose and manage conditions before they reach a crisis state, it lightens the load on the system and reduces long-term health care spending. Governor Romney had the foresight to realize these distinctions; he chose to lead rather than to listen to the pessimists, and the people of Massachusetts are better for it.

America's healthcare problems won't be solved by the rhetoric and partisan bickering that is happening on the campaign trail. Nor will they be solved by politicians who have talked about change, but done nothing to demonstrate that they have the courage to lead. Governor Romney faced the healthcare crisis in Massachusetts head-on. He crafted a plan, worked with an overwhelmingly Democratic legislature to get it passed, and is responsible for the success of that plan in covering the uninsured and lowering healthcare costs in Massachusetts. He is the only candidate for the presidency who has demonstrated both the vision and the will to accomplish meaningful healthcare reform. If elected president, we believe that Governor Romney will fundamentally improve our nation's healthcare delivery system – providing the necessary healthcare reform that allows for more choice, affordability and access for every American."

Wendy Kay, Huck-sucks but Romeny is worse. I'd take Norris and Flair over those clowns Phil Gingrey and Tom Price anyday!

Could you have found two bigger scumbags than those two? I don't think so either.

Huckabee never sought the endorsements of Chuck Norris or Ric Flair. He doesn't have the money that Romney, Giuliani, or the candidates do to buy celebrities, even B- or C-listers.

Of course that also means he couldn't buy the endorsements of the National Right to Life or Pat Robertson.

Hey Wendy Kay, your sister Mary's makeup looks good pancaked on Hillary ala Tammy Faye during the last debate.  Tell me, does MittWit use her hair gel? :)

All joking aside...

So Flair endorsed MittWit.  So what?  I'd be more interested in who JBL endorses.  JBL, BTW, is not only a wrestler but a very successful Wall St. investment banker.

Meanwhile, Barry Goldwater Jr endorses Dr. Paul and no coverage of a real political endorsement from a name with weight.  Sure, Barry isn't his dad, but he was a Congressman in his own right and has a good record as well.

This pool of posters is absolutely pathetic.  Every hammer-and-sickle-hugging democrat is genuinely scared of such a morally charasmatic and conservative-valued Republican candidate.  Huckabee could mop the floor with Hillary's frigid, ultra-butch character.

More and more, Huckabee is looking like leadership ( http://snipr.com/leaderlook ). Huckabee's an adroit public speaker. He is all about calling his listeners to "do something," to awaken them to their own empowerment, and summon them to action in order that "Main Street," and not "Wall Street," will prevail in guarding the values and beliefs upon which the Republic was founded.

Huckabee puts his listeners at ease, and reassures them, articulating clear concepts in a natural, easy style (no doubt something well-cultivated as a pastor). He’s not as “mechanically-scripted” as Romney, nor angry or demanding, like a Ron Paul, and his large brown eyes, peering through a humble demeanor, draw a striking contrast to a unconvincing, tired-looking Thompson. One can easily imagine sitting comfortably with Mike over a cup of coffee at the Main Street Cafe.

Most importantly, Huckabee convinces many that he is ONE with the FairTax grassroots movement ( http://snipr.com/fthuckabeeonirs ). Romney's recent WEAK response to FairTax questioning on “This Week with Geo. Stephanopoulos ( http://snipurl.com/stephanopoulosdebate )” drew a sharp contrast between Huckabee and all other presidential front-runners who will not embrace it. Huckabee understands that what''s wrong with the income tax can''t be fixed with "a tap of the hammer, nor a twist of the screwdriver." That his opponents cling to the destructive Tax Code, the IRS, preserving political power of granting tax favors at continued cost to - and misery of - American families, invigorates his campaign''s raison d''etre. “Main Street” will have to demand ( http://snipr.com/scrapthecode ) that their legislators deliver the bill to Huckabee, if elected.

Looks as if the only people to endorse this moron are the ones who've had their brains beaten into Jello!!!

Romney is the real thing. The only thing plastic about him is contained in his wallet. Phonies, don't have what he has. They don't enjoy a happy tight knit successful productive family. That is where the true test of character, commitment, honestly, hard work, compassion, & teamwork are put to the test. Within the walls of your own home. His foundation is strong, If he were not honest, their would be dirt in his personal life. If he were a true "flip flopper", he'd have flopped on his religion, for it seems to be the one thing that people have the biggest problem with.
The fact that he has not speaks volumes of his character.
He is one of the best best things that could happen to America.
I say it's Romney! Go Romney.

People who know Romney and are not hung up on hearsay love the guy. The only thing plastic about Mitt is what is in his wallet. He's not looking to make it fatter, he wants to serve his people. His whole family wants to serve us. Let them. He has brains, loyalty, and a clean slate. Well, except for the dog on his roof thing and oh I forgot.. he's mormon.


Go Romney!!! You've got this families votes.

Woooooooooooooo.  I'm voting for Huckabee now that Natch has joined him. GG

Huckabee has been gaining supporters and losing pounds while Guiliani gains wives, Romney gains "new perspectives" and Ron Paul loses HIS MIND. And Fred looks like he his ready to have his pills and a nap.

This is more for Pat Huntington, from NY, then about the article, but I really think he/she needs some more "entlightenment." I realize the concept is not to attack other comments, but I am trying to enlighten, not attack. The attack has already happened, and, obviously was approved.
1.) "This kind of endorsement of republican candidate is typical of the republican mindset out in the general electorate."
Republicans have mindsets for electorates, even "general" ones? Apparently, you know more about the Electoral College, then I do.
2.) "Light on substance and issues but heavy on corny things like who you would rather have a BBQ or Beer with." This is an incomplete sentence ending with a preposition, so I don't have enough info to respond well; however, which does Oprah prefer, BBQ or beer?
3.) "Huckabee is a creationist science denying evolution denying flat earth believing theocrat who will make us the laughing stock of the world...worse than Bush!" a.) People cannot be science, only scientists. Huckabee isn't a scientist, nor has he ever claimed to be a science or scientist. b.) You might want to check out the concept of "Intelligent Design" by the scientific community. It seems that evolutionists are quickly becoming "laughing stocks," even in the secular community. c.) You do believe in a flat earth? I would think that Hillary wouldn't want your educated, "entlightened" vote. d.) You think Huckabee wants a theocracy? Why would he even consider any political post? Do you even understand the concept of theocracy? e.) And you think Bush makes us a laughing stock?! Bizarre!
4.) "Another article posted on First Read talked about how China is out graduating us in the fields of science and how that is going to hurt us.  We will make that into a self fulfilling prophacy if we vote in another bible beating republican." Really? This is something you're just learning now? You might want to do some more research on the concept. We've been lagging in math and science for quite some time now. Many countries have out done us for graduating students interested in maths and sciences, even applied fields like engineering. You, also, might want to research the concept of "self-fulfilling PROPHECY," too. Not only did you misspell "prophecy," you also didn't put it in a sentence and paragraph in any kind of understandable context. Apparently, you've been denied a good education to understand the latest findings in evolution, the different sciences, basic comprehension skills, or enough of the mechanism in the English language to write a coherent paragraph. This has nothing to do with self-fulfilling or prophecies. As for "bible beaters," only example we've ever had as President is Jimmy Carter. May I assume that you understand that party affiliation or "bible" beating rarely ever affects the ability of a President, to-date?!
5.) "We need a more progressive entlightened thinker in the white house...and while my first choice is Hillary, I will gladly vote for Obama if he's the nominee over any republican who otherwise wants to dumb us all down to the common denominator..."
I'm thinking it might help to become an "enlightened thinker" before deciding which candidate you think is "entlightened." I sure am glad that the Founding Fathers created a republic, not a democracy. This response clearly demonstrates how far we apparently have been "dumbed down" already!

Well, who is 'The Rock' endorsing?  I heard that Satan has personnally endorsed Mitt Romney!  In contrast to my colleague from Cincinnati (above), I think Dennis Kucinich and a space-alien running mate are better than Mitt Romney.  Regarding Huckabee, I think the current-day Republican creationist know-nothingism deserves Huckabee and Rick Flair on a joint ticket.

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