REUTERS/Mike Segar
Mitt Romney.
The Boston Globe's Taryn Luna quoted Romney praising the late Staples founder, Thomas Stemberg, for pushing him to expand healthcare reform in Massachusetts.
"Without Tom pushing it, I don't think we would have had Romneycare," Romney said of Stemberg, who died earlier in the day.
Romney added, "Without Romneycare, I don't think we would have Obamacare. So, without Tom a lot of people wouldn't have health insurance."
Political observers widely found that to be an eyebrow-raising comment. During the 2012 election, Romney criticized US President Barack Obama's signature healthcare bill, which is one of the most reviled pieces of legislation among conservative activists.
But as Romney's critics pointed out at the time, he pushed for a relatively similar healthcare overhaul in his state, including the controversial insurance mandate.
Friday afternoon, Romney clarified on Facebook that he still opposes the Affordable Care Act:
Getting people health insurance is a good thing, and that's what Tom Stemberg fought for. I oppose Obamacare and believe it has failed. It drove up premiums, took insurance away from people who were promised otherwise, and usurped state programs. As I said in the campaign, I'd repeal it and replace it with state-crafted plans.