Romney turns "Romneycare" question back on Perry: "I care about people"

Presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry once again took aim at rival Mitt Romney's record on health care, but the former Massachusetts governor was ready with his comeback: At least "I care about people."

Romney is clearly a top-tier candidate in the Republican presidential primary, but he's failed to gain widespread support, in part because the Obama administration has said the health care plan Romney implemented in Massachusetts served as a model for Mr. Obama's federal health care overhaul.

When candidates were given a chance to ask each other questions in the Tuesday debate, hosted by the Washington Post and Bloomberg at Darmouth College, Perry zeroed in on Romney's biggest vulnerability. He pointed out that one of Romney's chief economic advisers, Glenn Hubbard, said "Romneycare" was equal to "Obamacare." He also said that the Massachusetts plan drove up premiums.

"How would you respond to this criticism of your signature legislative achievement?" Perry asked.

Romney defended the Massachusetts law, responding, "I'm proud we took on a major problem in our state."

He said that his law focused on getting insurance for the 8 percent of Massachusetts without health insurance. By comparison, he said, Mr. Obama's reforms "take over" the entire health care system. He promised that as president, he would repeal "Obamacare."

The Massachusetts law resulted in the lowest number of uninsured children, Romney continued -- setting up a contrast with Texas.

"We have less than 1 percent of our kids who are uninsured," he said to Perry. "You have a million kids."

He said that the number of uninsured children in Texas went down under Perry's predecessor in the governor's office, George W. Bush, but went back up under Perry.

"I care about people," Romney said.

Perry was given a chance to take another shot at Romney when debate moderators asked Perry about health care, but he was left having to defend his own record. He said Texas passed sweeping tort reform in 2003 and said the state drove down the cost of health insurance by 30 percent under his watch.

While he didn't take anymore shots at "Romneycare" on stage, Perry's campaign sent out multiple press releases to reporters slamming Romney's Massachusetts plan.

When given the opportunity to question their rivals, most of the other candidates directed questions at Romney -- another indication of his frontrunner status.

For his part, Romney threw a softball question at Rep. Michele Bachmann, asking her how she plans to get people back to work. Bachmann has faded in the polls recently, but her presence in the primaries siphons off support from other candidates that pose a bigger threat to Romney, like Perry.

More from the debate:

Republican debate: Winners and losers
Romney says he can work with "good" Democrats
Romney: "I'm not worried about rich people"
Gingrich: Fire Bernanke, imprison Dodd and Frank
Huntsman mocks Cain 999 plan as price of pizza

Stephanie Condon On Twitter »
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.

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RespectOthersAlways says:: Great debate about an economy messed up by Republicans. The Bush-Cheney tax cuts, unfunded wars and prescription drug scheme produced almost six trillion dollar deficit that costs the nation over $100 Billion dollars in interest payments every year! But the Republican candidates, like the Republican Congress will not accept responsibility for the messy economy they created before President Obama was sworn in. Ron Paul may be the only honest politician in the pack. He admitted Republican Party culpability. Pizza magnate Herman Cain and Michele Bachman are simply out of touch with reality. Texas Governor Perry appears to be seriously confused, desperately trying to hide the terrible record of poverty and health care crisis in Texas. Huntsman and Santorum are marginal candidates. Gingrich did what Gingrich does as the one-eyed king in the valley of blind reaction recklessly throwing flames and spouting a lot of philosophical nonsense. That leaves Governor Romney the flip-flop king of all times. What a crew!; reply

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tsigili says:

I Still think government has only 2 options.

Private health care, or National health care. You can't do something in the middle that won't become a muddle.

Nor can you control costs, unless you control the program completely. Unless it is National health care, with government setting doctor salaries, and other salaries, and setting prices they will pay for drugs, and operating hospitals........they simply CANNOT control costs.


chrisbrushett replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; Look up Switzerland's system. Uneducated opinions aren't helpful to anyone.

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RobAla says:: Perry was given a chance to take another shot at Romney when debate moderators asked Perry about health care, but he was left having to defend his own record. He said Texas passed sweeping tort reform in 2003 and said the state drove down the cost of health insurance by 30 percent under his watch.

I wish someone would bring down the cost of medical care for all Americans by 30%. I wouldn't mind seeing tort reform for the entire nation. Bringing down the cost of medical care helps everyone (but the trial lawyers).

While Romney Care may not have been entirely successful, it was done on the state level and it did not seem to undermine private insurance. I think there are good ideas coming from a number of candidates, and I would like to see the best policies and practices gleaned from these debates be acted upon by the next President.

What must be done first by the next President and Congress is the repeal of ObamaCare. It is a complete disaster for this nation. The next President should allow any state to opt out of ObamaCare, the next Congress should totally repeal it - if it has not already been found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.; reply

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TellasisPatel says:: Romney said that his law focused on getting insurance for the 8 percent of Massachusetts without health insurance. By comparison, he said, Mr. Obama's reforms "take over" the entire health care system. He promised that as president, he would repeal "Obamacare."

Romney provided the best reason NOT to vote for him. He has flip-flopped over this critical issue several times depending on the voters he was facing. He cannot be trusted.; reply

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OnTheCrown says:: Romney isn't going to implement a health care bill because:
1) Its unpopular on a National level.
2) He probably implemented it in Massachusetts only because the Democrats there wanted it.; reply

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larry2012 says:

Early on I thought Romney may be an adequate choice for the nomination but after realizing that he was involved with this despicable health care bill, I've changed my mind. Obamacare MUST be revoked and reworked--Romney isn't going to do it, that's for certain. I fervently hope another candidate is revealed, one who is far more qualified to lead and who possesses a true American spirit. We've had enough lies, deceit, and greed, don't you think?