Trying to seize on the collective anger and depression amongst conservatives who have campaigned against health care reform over the past year, Florida GOP Senate candidate Marco Rubio announced today that he wants people to sign a petition to repeal the health care bill passed by the House of Representatives last night.
“Yesterday’s vote puts our great nation on a path away from the limited government principles that have America exceptional,” said Rubio. “Earlier this year, I pledged to support legislation to repeal any federal health care takeover that eventually passed. I reiterate my strong support for repealing it when I get to Washington and offering alternative reforms to make health care more accessible and affordable.
“Kendrick Meek was wrong to vote for this policy, and Charlie Crist was wrong to believe it should not have been scrapped weeks ago,” added Rubio. “I urge Floridians to join me in supporting the repeal of this flawed plan. We cannot allow this debate to end now, and today I renew my pledge to undo this legislation and start over with common sense health care reforms.”
Rubio's call to petition for repeal echoes the statement made by one of his biggest national supporters in Congress, South Carolina's Jim DeMint, who announced last night that his plan to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
"The battle for health care freedom is not over and I will introduce legislation this week to repeal this health takeover. "Unless this trillion-dollar assault on our freedoms is repealed, it will force Americans to purchase Washington-approved health plans or face stiff penalties. It will fund abortions, raise taxes and insurance premiums, while reducing health care choices and quality."
Rubio's criticism of Kendrick Meek is noteworthy. Unlike his chief nemesis, Governor Charlie Crist, Meek actually voted for the bill, and in two different polls published last week, showed that he could give Rubio a serious run for his money in the general election this fall.
This article appears in Mar 17-23, 2010.