Legal Commentary

Obama v. Obama On Mandates

By Big Tent Democrat

Of course this has nothing to do with the actual merits of the current health proposal in the Senate, but I see that some blogs think it is relevant that Howard Dean's position on the regulatory aspects of the Senate bill may have changed. In the spirit of comity, I would ask then that the President of the United States' change of position on the individual mandate from his stated position in his campaign for the Presidency be considered:

The argument about the evil of the individual mandate is all wrong. It was wrong during the primaries, when Obama unfortunately used it to demagogue his rivals [. . .]

Now that is from Paul Krugman arguing for passage of the Senate bill. Krugman does not consider Obama's flip flop on the issue relevant. Neither do I. (d-day does. He's wrong imo.) Some people apparently see Howard Dean's alleged change of position as relevant to the substance of the bill. I do not.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on December 17, 2009 (boomark / email).