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Subscribe to RSSAs we noted in First Thoughts, Newt Gingrich on Meet the Press acknowledged his past support for an individual health-insurance mandate:
“I agree that all of us have a responsibility to help pay for health care. And I think that there are ways to do it that make most libertarians relatively happy. I've said consistently, where there's some requirement you either have health insurance or you post a bond or in some way you indicate you're going to be held accountable.”
But now Gingrich is walking that back. In a video posted on his Web site, he says:
"I am completely opposed to the Obamacare mandate on individuals. I fought it for two and half years at the Center for Health Transformation. You can see all the things we did to stop it at HealthTransformation.net. I am for the repeal of Obamacare and I am against any effort to impose a federal mandate on anyone because it is fundamentally wrong and I believe unconstitutional."
This is the latest in apparent flip-flops by Gingrich -- from his position on intervention in Libya to his support (or lack thereof) of Rep. Paul Ryan's fiscal plan.
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Watch out Callista!! Newt gets horny when he has a lot on his mind!! He's getting ready for another FLIP IN THE FLOP HOUSE!!
So far I've counted at least 3 people replying to their original comment in order to clarify that what they said should NOT be confused with their support of newt.
Apparently a few moderate citizens who want to make darn sure they are not connected to this man's candidacy under any circumstances, whether they are democrat or gop. That doesn't happen here a lot. I don't think that bodes well for the man.
You silly people..Obama is a republican, conservatives throw all these clowns out there just to keep their man in office.
Who the heck could ever trust this scoundrel. Another wind bag that likes to hear himself speak. He should have an egoectomy and he might be a rather normal guy. On second thought it would just grow back. Forget about it.
Who is surprised the slithering newt changed his mind? His former wives aren't. Maybe he was just lying about how he felt before, or maybe he is lying now trying to attract more poliTRICKal donations. He resigned as Speaker in disgrace having been fined hundreds of thousands of dollars for ethics violations, and now he wants higher office?! Today he asked Americans to take him seriously - "Don't judge me on my past" - he has got to be kidding!
Nurse Lisa, I'm not saying Newt doesn't have some skeletons in his closet, which he does. I wouldn't think he would get the Republican nomination because of some of his past but everyone should take anything the media has to say with a grain of salt. You being a nurse, I'm sure are much smarter than the average person.
Flip-flip. Flip-flop. Let's remember what Gingrich said to the Des Moines Register back in 2007:
"Personal responsibility extends to the purchase of health insurance. Citizens should not be able to cheat their neighbors by not buying insurance, particularly when they can afford it, and expect others to pay for their care when they need it."
And let's look at what Gingrich said in Real Change, "Finally we should insist that everyone above a certain level buy coverage (or if they are opposed to insurance, post a bond.) Meanwhile we should provide tax credits or subsidize private insurance for the poor."
I might add that the GOP plan for privatizing Medicare involves forcing all senior citizens to buy health insurance. Those who don't must pay a fine of $ 2,500. I realize that Gingrich says that the Ryan plan is too "extreme," but what will he decide when he gets elected.
Truth told. We can't believe a word Newt says. What flip-flops is he going to foist on us tomorroeCan we trust him to run this country? Can senior citizens trust him with their Social Security or Medicare? Once elected, we can be sure that he'll pull the plug on grandma.
So to rephrase that popular Tea Party Slogan. Newt lied, and grandma's gonna die.
Now he sounds like Iowa's Grassley who panned the healthcare reform hither and yon, voted against the bill, than had the nerve to make speeches taking credit for the good parts in it. Americans are paying attention to hypocritical family values candidates.
The more I hear from Gingrich, the more concerned I become that he may not be playing with a full deck. That, or he's very confused, or am I confused?
The answer is blowing in the wind for Newt.
This is what the GOP can muster? I guess every electable repub is going to wait till 2016. Heck, by then Obama may have pulled the economy outta the ditch so if a repub is elected he can rape it for rich cronies and drive it back into the sh1tt3r.
Obama has started campaigning two years early, that should tell you something. The Republican party nomination probably won't throw their hat in the ring until late fall. President Kennedy didn't get in the race until December of the year prior to the election and Reagan didn't get in until November. It's a little early to tell who Obama will be running against.
charles, in case you hadn't noticed, the republican candidates have started campaigning now too...you know, that is what this article is about, newt who has already announced. What does that tell you?
That tells me they aren't a sitting president whose economy is stagnant at 9% unemployment and seemingly clueless on how to create good paying middle class jobs. Don't even get me started on the under-employed rate, the price of gas and now three wars to fund.
charles: yawn. The economy has problems. Anyone who calls libya a "war" and tries to lump it in with iraq and afghanistan is just a mindless obama hater who is stealing fox talkng points. And don't get me started on how presidents have almost no control over the price of gas. :)
He says what he says. then says what he's told or paid to say
The BIg Fat ,Loud Mouth, Hairless Cat named Donald was burried in his own poop!
Way to go, Sal E Mander.
Who cares what Newt thinks these days, he isn't even a good opiniontainment entertainer anymore...
Typical, vote against what they know is best for the county, for whats best for the teapublican party. How many examples of this have we seen now ( have been proven). Hypocrits....
"Nutty Newt" is just an Alzheimers patient stumbling around either forward on one issue, and mentally backwards on others. Now somedays old "Nutty Newt" thinks that he a great intellectual. Other days he thinks that he is a great health care reformer, and then he can not remember. This is another one of his many "Alzheimer's Moments." Depending on the amount of Alzheimers Medications old "Nutty Newt" goes into huge mental mood swings. One minute old "Nutty" is chasing skirts, and the next minute he is trying to remember what he just said. Now when he is in full "Alzheimer's Mode" he is calling everyone a Nazis, and then he puts on his SS Uniform. Now after many emotional moments old "Nutty Newt" stumbles down and then Goose Steps to the "Nazi News Network." AKA. FOX News. Now after taking another dose of Alzheimer's Medication the starts developing mixed spewing messages of "Madness and Misinformation." Now how will "Nutty Newt" leave the Alzheimer's Wing at the hospital to go on his "Clown Campaign??" Maybe "Trampy Trump!" Who was a recent mental patient himself. Could hire the Navy Seals Team 6 to break him out! Will "Nutty Newt" have to keep his many doctors around when with the "Carnival Of Clowns Tour??" This "Alzheimer's Victim" is just scary America!
Professor Gingrich is the closest thing the republicans have to an intellectual. Wow.
Flip flop? Can you say Gitmo and the lidt goes on and on. Dems!
Obama has 2 years to clean up his leftist agenda for election time. Hmmmm i guess its mabo ok to drill again.
The hiproacy! (no suprise havent heard much complaining about that!)
get ready for the libs "squirmfest"...gotta LOVE it!
What squirmfest? Seems to me it's the Republicants that are squirming!
yeah, squirmfest? So far, the most capable challenger, huck, has dropped out. Romney, palin, bachmann, newt...let them run. Any of them would be good news for the dems.
I think Newt stands by his statement that there should be some sort of mandate for people to be somewhat responsible for a portion of their health-care costs. He says the mandate should be a state issue not a federal government issue. He opposes a mandate by the federal government and would support some type of mandate enforcement through each state. Now that you guys have the facts straight continue to beat Newt up on his infidelity.
lol, but if a mandate is illegal at the federal level you think it can be legal at the state level? I don't think so. And its ok to make everyone be 'somewhat responsible' (lol) for a part of the costs, that is somehow constitutional but making them pay more isn't? If that is what newt is saying its almost funnier than a true flip flop.
And yes, we WILL continue to beat up newt on being a "family value" person who attacked clinton about adultery while doing the exact same thing at the same time. :)
That's his statements not mine. I didn't say one was better than the other. My point is people jump on board anything without knowing any factual information. That's why I said continue to beat him up on his infidelity, that we know is true.
charles, thanks for permission to keep beating him up on infidelity. :)
and his statements on the mandate are pretty flip floppy, dont you agree? He feels a federal mandate would be unconstitutional...so what would make a state mandate consitutional? that's a distinction without a difference, because if you can't impose a mandate at the federal level because it violates the US constituation, you can't impose it at the state level, since state laws can't violate the US constitution.
So it sure smells like either a flip flop or just a desperate attempt to squirm by playing with words.
Agreed. That's why Obama-care is just as unconstitutional. Just to put the record straight I'm not a Newt supporter nor am I an Obama supporter. That being said I wouldn't say anybody but Obama, but it wouldn't take a whole lot to be better than what we have.
DelFairchild-1968594, you got that wrong. Republicants don't like Hispanics, blacks, or women that are more successful than they are. Shame on you for calling the President a Republicant! Are you one?
Yeah the Democrats like to keep them all in poverty so they can throw them a few crumbs for their vote. Most blacks, Hispanics and women who have made it out of poverty and become successful aren't Democrats anymore. Wake up!
charles, got some facts about "most blacks, hispanics, and women who have made it out of poverty and become successful aren't democrats"? You mean obama was elected by people below the poverty level or something?
Once again, the slime bucket of the republican party can add something else to his resume. Along with lying, cheating, and overall sleazy demeanor, we can now add flip flopping to his most impressive resume. How dare he call our President the "Food Stamp" President. What the hell did he expect our President to do with the 8 million people that the Bush administration threw under the bus. Please people, tell these liars to go to hell along with their so called "family values". They may call themselves Christians but I am sure Christ is in tears at the thought of how these guys have manipulated the term. Shame on them all.
Another firm decision.
The healthcare mandate will work because it spreads cost across the board...Newt is such a complete joke. The GOP party have been flip flopping on this issue. All they want to do is defeat our President "Mr. Obama.
OH! Trump's a joke as well.
We in Massachusetts have universal healthcare, with a mandate that works pretty good. It's not perfect, but at lease the majority of the population is covered. Leave it up to the GOP, then states will get screwed out of care.
Anybody who is for anything in the Obama Care plan has no right to be running for president.
Really, do your kids,or grandkids or anyone you know wear a helmet when they ride a bike or motorcycle, Its law ( to save their life ) Do you or everyone you know wear a seatbelt Its law ( also to save you & your loved ones lives ). 1993 every republican loved the idea of healthcare for all, but again couldn't get it done,Obama did, another win for this president. Lets be truthful he gets things done & we would all be better off if he got JUST alittle help from the republicans who claim to only want the best for our country. Make healthcare a law & save us all from the insurance companies, just like our congress has.
Burgundy,
Here's a CRAZY idea. How about you save your money and buy your own damn policy. That way if you want to smoke 3 packs a day YOUR cost goes up if you can even get a policy. If you want to put me in with a pool of buyers at least put me with the healthy ones. Then take all the high risk people and put them together.
I guess your not good enough to get what your congressman or woman has!!!!!!. FYI I pay $745.00 a month for my healthcare,& people like you are the reason why,you go to the emergency room without ins. and we all pay,so why would you want a mandated healthcare system, You get it all free,& don't lie. And by the way i don't smoke, to bad you can't say the same thing.Don't be jealous now but Obama 1 more time in 2012,NO Doubt.