Comments on: Romney’s Achilles Heel

By: Eleanor

Eleanor — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 01:07:08 +0000

Mike,
Once more, I stand by my assertion that ORIGINAL INTENT is against any form of socialism. Davey Crockett when a member of the House (or was it Daniel Boone? I can’t remember which one.) refused to give governmental money to a naval widow. Instead he donated his salary to her and called for the other members of the House to do so and they did. I’m not trying to make a case for any of the other candidates, what I’m trying to do is educate as to original intent of the Founders and to point out that elected officials need to be honorable in not allowing their constituency to demand things that are not in our Constitutions. Romney has not said he made a mistake in signing Romney Care, and I know there have been add ons to it since he left office. This is how we get into the messes we are in. One law leads to another which leads to another. I’d be very happy with only 10 laws. If they were good enough for God, 10 are good enough for me.
The individual mandate is what the lawyers against Obama Care have decided to go after but they could have gone after so much more in that law, it’s mind boggling to think of it all. I think they chose the individual mandate because without that, the whole law falls apart.
Yes, Romney can argue that his bill only included the uninsured but there were already several programs in place for people, such as medicaid. Shrug, we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one, Mike.
Eleanor

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:13:08 +0000

It does have a bearing because it’s not a cut and dry constitutional issue. To make the argument against an individual mandate on a constitutional basis takes some pretty serious understanding of and conversance in the constitution. That’s why this is going to take several days of arguments before the Supreme Court because it’s not a straight-forward matter at all. While I believe a mandate is unconstitutional, it’s going to take a very skilled legal mind to make the argument. As for the constitutionality of transfer payments which I think is what you meant by “taking from Peter to pay Paul,” then all the GOP candidates including Ron Paul have in one way or another voted for or signed some sort of government transfer of one type or another. That isn’t unique to Romney. As an aside, Romney’s assertion that Romneycare only applied to the uninsured and not every single person whether insured or not is not a bad argument.

By: Eleanor

Eleanor — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:43:05 +0000

The fact that no court was petitioned when Romney Care was passed has no bearing on it’s constitutionality. Both constitutions are clear in their Original Intent that Peter cannot vote to take from Paul the fruits of his labor. Understanding that point is the point of the article. To address your contention that Romney will win on this issue if he takes your tack, I will agree. The other point of my article was to point out that elected officials have to be honorable and adhere to the Constitution of not only the Federal Govt, but the State Govt. We elect our leaders to lead, not to blindly give to the electorate what they want. If the electorate is so upset with what an elected official has done, they have the option of voting him out. Honor and character do mean something in the public forum.
Thanks for your comments! Please keep coming back to my articles when I post them!
Eleanor

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:08:35 +0000

Eleanor, I can’t agree with your reasoning here on several levels. First, at the point when Romney got Romneycare passed, there were no direct court rulings striking down the individual mandate as unconstitutional. There are of course several now, but that was well after the passing of Romneycare. We’ll see what the Supreme Court has to say. My personal opinion is the individual mandate is unconstitutional. And hopefully if the Supreme Court rules that way Romney will acknowledge that Romneycare therefore was in error. But when it comes to repealing Obamacare, Romney has made it very clear he will do just that. I trust his word on that because if he doesn’t he’ll be a one-termer just based on the conservative votes he’d lose. Also, his argument that the people of Massachusetts wanted this law but the people of the nation as a whole do not is a valid argument. Using your argument that a governing official has an obligation to do what the constitution states, not what’s merely popular, Romney can justify any attack on Obamacare by saying it’s becoming increasingly clear from the various court rulings that this is an unconstitutional law and also that the people of the nation have made their voices heard that they do not want this law. Who do you think will get the anti-Obamacare vote in this scenario? Romney or Obama? Let Obama attack Romney on the issue. I welcome the opportunity for Obama to draw attention to the sheer awfulness of his bill by going after Romney on Romneycare.

By: Eleanor R. Infantino

Eleanor R. Infantino — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 02:31:50 +0000

Elise,
Thanks for the compliment! I have said a dated dictionary is needed to understand the words of the founders as well as the Federalist Papers and the writings of the founders. Most people don’t delve into history because they think it’s all dates. History came alive for me when I read Samuel Adams biography by Ira Stoll. From there it was all a roller coaster ride for me!
Many people think we need to amend the constituiton to take rights away from people to have equality, but egalitarianism is a collectivist ideal and we as humans are not capable of acheiving it. This is inherent in many of our laws now, and it’s leading us to slavery. Hopefully, people will learn and wake up.
Eleanor

By: Elise

Elise — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 02:23:19 +0000

Thought provoking and well written article. Would that everyone read the constitution in light of “original intent”. Have we as a people “evolved” to the point that we do not realize the gift we have of freedom, and now long for a world in which the government takes care of us? Thanks for the words of enlightenment and reminder of where it all started. Hopefully its not too late to get back there.

By: Eleanor R. Infantino

Eleanor R. Infantino — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 00:57:25 +0000

David,
Thanks for the kind words about my article and what I’m trying to do. I try to educate and many who have made comments to me about the article, here and in my personal e mail, have said they didn’t think in the terms I employed in this piece.
I think one of the most important things to aide in understanding the Constitution is not only a meaning-dated dictionary, but reading the Federalist Papers and the writings of the Founders themselves.
Eleanor

By: David

David — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 03:58:30 +0000

Great article Eleanor, It is a sad thing that most Americans dont fully look at our Constitution and really see what the founders put down. I have over the years looked at this amazing document to try to educate myself to fully understand its true content.The most frightening thing that happens is when legislators and judges, whos job it is to uphold our Constitution, begin to inject or misread things into it that are not there. Eleanor, thank you for trying to open peoples eyes and making them really “look” at what is in front of them.

By: Eleanor R. Infantino

Eleanor R. Infantino — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:11:05 +0000

Renee,
Thanks for the kind words, and I appreciate you “getting it”!

By: Renee Reedy

Renee Reedy — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 07:34:25 +0000

Eleanor~ Very well written article, informative, and understandable in a whole new way. Thank you for taking the time to write it. BRAVO! Renee Neigh

By: Eleanor R. Infantino

Eleanor R. Infantino — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:56:49 +0000

Amy,
Thanks for the kind words about the article. I won’t comment on my preferences but they run along the lines of ABO and OMG (OBAMA MUST GO)and I will be voting GOP for the first time in almost 20 years. Previously, I have voted for the Libertarian Candidate and did so in 2008 as the state I resided in was overwhelmingly polling for McCain, and he did win that state. I don’t like giving out a lot of personal information here, however, what I posted is true.
I, like you, wish Romney had at least said, I made a mistake. The state of Mass certainly must have had some medical care in place prior to his signing that bill into law. I know for a fact they have and had Medicaid which can be obtained through a food stamp program. I know there are Charity Hospitals in Mass. There were other options, I believe, that could have been taken.
Also, I think I’m much more concerned about his honor.
Eleanor

By: Amy Weavil

Amy Weavil — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 03:34:40 +0000

I read with great interest “Achilles Heel,” by Eleanor R. InFontino dated March 1, 2012.

As a previous reply to this article says, this is not new. To us it isnt new; but unfortunately to many Americans it is new news. Look how many people are so ignorant and/or lazy that they actually voted for Mr. Obama the first time. Many still support him and will again vote for him.

Our country cannot survive another Obama term! His second term will give him a completely free four years to COMPLETELY destroy everything good about the United States.

I agree with Ms Infontino. I have issues with Governor Romney’s state run healthcare. His reasons for signing it into law, don’t explain his actions to me. I wish he had just said, “I made a mistake. Today, I would NEVER sign such a bill!”

Unfortunately, I will vote for whomever the GOP nominates and I am not pleased with the selection. However, voting for Obama is NOT an option – and me not voting won’t help our country. If Governor Romney is nominated as it appears he will be, I will vote for him – but i certainly am not happy about it.

By: Eleanor R. Infantino

Eleanor R. Infantino — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:49:03 +0000

Joe,
This was not intended to sway anyone’s opinion of Romney or Obama. It was intended to educate about the 9th and 10th Amendement to the Constitution as well as the Original Intent of that Constitution and the one written mostly by Samuel Adams for Massachusetts. It is not an attack on Romney, per se, it is to show there should have been more thought on his part before he signed that bill into law. There are other solutions to health care rather than a government solution. And I’m sure Massachusetts has access to Medicaid and other charity programs to suppliment or replace a trip to the ER to avoid costs.
I am not promoting anyone in this race in this article. I am trying to educate those that say the States are the laboratories for experiments in governance which they are clearly NOT according to Original Intent.
Eleanor

By: Eleanor R. Infantino

Eleanor R. Infantino — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:40:44 +0000

Robin,
Thanks for the comment. My intention is not to sway voters for or against any candidate, just to educate, and this article was to educate specifially for the 9th and 10th Amendments in accordance with Original Intent. I think my analysis was well thought out and supported by my research. Thanks for your continued readership.
Eleanor

By: robin

robin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:02:18 +0000

excellent article eleanor, hopefully romney has seen the disdain americans have for government interference into their lives and has seen the error of his ways. he promises to appeal obamacare and i pray he keeps that promise should he win the white house.