Mitt Won't Own Up, but Dems Just Passed RomneyCare

In yesterday's press briefing, Robert Gibbs couldn't resist tweaking the GOP by noting that the health reform bill opponents like to call ObamaCare looks a whole lot like RomneyCare. "I'm sure Gov. Romney hates it every time I say that," he joked. Mitt Romney wasn't laughing— the once and future presidential candidate called passage of the bill an "unconscionable abuse of power" and called for its repeal, Politico notes.

Romney notwithstanding, the bill—in its market-driven, responsibility-based approach—has conservative DNA, David Frum points out on his blog, bemoaning the fact that the Republicans chose to oppose rather than try move it farther in their direction. But expect silence from the GOP, writes Brad DeLong for The Week. "Republicans working against the bill have been unwilling to say 'It's RomneyCare!' because they would then face the awkward question of why they did not support it." With 2012 on the horizon, that is an awkward question indeed. (More Mitt Romney stories.)