Romney won’t apologize for Massachusetts health care plan

Mitt Romney declared Thursday he would not apologize for the health care plan he passed while governor of Massachusetts.

"It wouldn't be honest," Romney insisted, in his first extensive comments on the subject ahead of his long-anticipated 2012 bid. "I, in fact, did what I think was right for the people of my state."

But his remarks, delivered in a longer defense of his plan versus President Obama's health care law, are unlikely to quiet his GOP critics.

In a rehash of an argument he's made previously, Romney insisted his plan is distinct from Obama's, in spite of the fact they both require individuals to obtain health insurance or be forced to pay penalties.

Romney did not defend mandates, but rather argued his plan was crafted to meet the needs of his constituents. He said he wasn't being hypocritical in calling for a repeal of "ObamaCare," because he insisted the federal government "shouldn't impose their will on everyone else."

"I know… that explanation is not going to satisfy everybody," Romney admitted.

It was an odd venue choice for Romney. The ex-governor delivered his remarks before a mix of students and supporters in a classroom at the University of Michigan's Cardiovascular Center in Ann Arbor. Romney, who seemed nervous at times, came off more like a college professor than a presidential contender, speaking behind a lectern and referencing PowerPoint slides to make his case.

At one point, Romney noted that his health care plan had been viewed as "an asset" to his presidential bid in 2008.

"That's not the case now," he laughed. "You'll note that despite the fact it's gone from being seen as an asset to a liability, the plan is still the same."

(Screenshot of Romney via C-SPAN)