Sen. Orrin Hatch says the judge who ruled the Obamacare individual mandate unconstitutional struck a victory for freedom. How things have changed in the course of 17 years. Steve Benen:
Look, I get that Hatch is worried about facing a primary challenger in 2012, and on health care policy in general, he's been a pretty shameless hack. But while he's applauding this victory for "liberty," I hope it's not rude to point out that Orrin Hatch literally co-sponsored a health care bill with an individual mandate.
It is rude Steve. If you don't believe me, come to Wisconsin and remind one of the many Tommy Thompson groupies that it was their boy who was peddling the mandate on the campaign trail just a few short years ago. In fact, he even supported one version of Obamacare that included it last year.
Tell the Tea Partiers who cheered as he decried the coming of "socialized medicine" in America an apparent reference to a national policy that mirrors the system he successfully set up in Wisconsin that it was Tommy who expanded government more than any governor in recent history, and that it was he who negotiated the state employee contracts that Republicans now say are morally impermissible.
They just won't listen. What was conservative yesterday is called socialism today.
If you want moderate Republican policy, elect Democrats.
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