From the Associated Press's write up of the political document the Republicans are dressing up as a policy statement on healthcare:

The bill is 230 pages long, compared with Democrats' 1,990-page measure. Unlike the Democrats' legislation it has no requirement for people to buy insurance and no prohibitions against insurance companies denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions.

To get an idea of just how courageous this stance is by the Republicans, look at how massively unpopular their positions are:

Pew Research Center Poll. Sept. 30-Oct. 4, 2009. N=1,500 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults).

"Now I'd like to ask you about some of the specific proposals being considered to address health care. Would you favor or oppose [see below]?"

"Requiring that all Americans have health insurance, with the government providing financial help for those who can't afford it"

Favor: 66 percent
Oppose: 30 percent

"Requiring insurance companies to sell health coverage to people, even if they have pre-existing medical conditions"

Favor: 82 percent
Oppose: 14 percent

The Republican stance on the mandate is only very, very unpopular, with under a third backing their position and two-thirds opposing it. At least here, the GOP commands the support of its base.

But you have to hand it to the Republican leadership. In their healthcare reform document, they take a position on pre-existing conditions that is held by just 14 percent of the country, with a whopping 82 percent holding the opposite stance. It takes real courage to step out in front of the cameras to face that type of polling!