I love the fact that Ed Stein gives commentary along with his comics. Here’s the commentary for this one:
Once upon a time, Republicans could have original ideas, could differ from others in their party on substantive issues, and could come up with creative pragmatic solutions to problems. That was then. Now, it is required that all candidates adhere to the right wing dogma of the day. Policy has become religion, and one dare not veer from the proper path for fear of offending the papacy of the new conservative order. Newt Gingrich, who not long ago strongly supported a health insurance mandate, now calls it fascism. Poor Mitt Romney, whose Massachusetts health care overhaul (virtually indistinguishable from Obamacare in its basic structure) made him a strong candidate for the Republican nomination a few years ago, now finds it necessary to twist himself in knots explaining why Obamacare is abhorrent while remaining proud of his own plan. Oh, for the long-ago days when a self-described maverick could win the nomination. Then again, that old maverick did a Romney in order to win re-election to the senate, embarrassing himself with his zeal to repudiate most of his former positions while genuflecting to the new orthodoxy. It will be amusing to watch the parade of candidates try to distinguish themselves from each other while simultaneously affirming their devotion to the identical creed. Sad, but amusing.
UPDATE: Romney tries really hard to distinguish Romney-care from Obama-care, and earns himself a “Pants-on-Fire” Lie rating from PolitiFact.
One Comment
Gingrich said he supported the individual mandate and also went against Paul Ryan’s REALLY REALLY RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME BUDGET or whatever it is called.
Afterward, he walked back both comments.
I reckon the Republicans are taking the “wide is the gate that leads to destruction” notion quite literally, as this year they are going to be required to adhere to a very narrow doctrine and walk in lock-step. DIFFERENT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!