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A 2006 memo penned by Newt Gingrich praised the health reform law Mitt Romney piloted as governor of Massachusetts, and threatens to undercut the former House speaker's criticism of that plan.
A memo (first unearthed Tuesday by the Wall Street Journal) distributed through Gingrich's Center for Health Transformation credits Romney and his state's health reform law as a positive development.
"The most exciting development of the past few weeks is what has been happening up in Massachusetts. The health bill that Governor Romney signed into law this month has tremendous potential to effect major change in the American health system," Gingrich wrote. "We agree entirely with Governor Romney and Massachusetts legislators that our goal should be 100 percent insurance coverage for all Americans."
That would seemingly temper Gingrich's criticism of the Massachusetts plan as the "forerunner of Obamacare."
Gingrich has similarly criticized the individual mandate contained both in Romney and President Obama's health reforms, despite having supported a similar model for health reform in the 1990s. He's since disavowed such a plan.
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That's a great picture of Newt to go with this column. Looks like he just got a whiff of that 2006 memo in which he praised Romney for Romneycare. Looks like he's saying "Whew, that stinks. I didn't really write that, did I?"
Oh yes you did, Newtski, oh yes you did!!
..." O what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive". The bard must have known his share of politicians.
trazmo
I cant stand Newt....he is such a filthy piece of sh*t! When he speaks....He LIES!
If Newt was to win the presidency...i'll move to North Korea, Nigeria, Iran....anywhere else would be better!!!! He will only make things worse!
mqira: Why are you still here; that's exactly what we have in office now.
Why don't you pack your crap and get on with it-don't let anything smack you in the A$$ on the way out-matter of fact-leave your crap and just go now ! And-Have A Nice Day !!
Brewsky, I think you've had too many..and Mqira..you should think real hard before you make remarks like this. I can't stand the lying hypocrite myself, but I sure don't want to leave the U.S. If someone started a website to promote a good, hard-working, honest, and compassionate person, who would love to run for office, then we could all contribute to the cause and give this person the money to run against the greedy sob's who make up our Congress. We all could write-in their name at election time. I'm surprised this hasn't happened.
I think you all took me a little too seriously.....i was making a joke on how bad Newt would be for America! Noticed i picked terrible places...(jokingly) claiming how these ridiculous places would be better. I love this country and would never leave. I find it scary if Newt gets in....
Brewsky....i was saying it would only be worse (its not good now). It would only be worse with Newt.
Richard....you need to relax. Take a walk or something...
CfromMI...I do believe there is one person is running for office that is compassionate, honest, promotes hard work, and is the ONLY candidate who cares for the American People....That man is Ron Paul! If he is not on the ballot, i will write him in.
Gotta love this one !!! LOL!!
Perry and Bachmann should be out fairly quickly with umm... a response...
It's only going to get better !!
A real circus isn't it k12...how about the one where bill clinton called obama on playing the race card...remember that one...that was a hoot!
He was for the plan, before he was against the plan.
He was against marriage fidelity before he was for marriage fidelity.
Who can keep up with this moral flip-flopper??
What a great race; a political opportunist, a guy who wants to be president so bad he will abandon his own greatest achievements and a Texas gynecologist turned revolutionary who wants to destroy the federal government.
jkh
Jim, are you comfortable that obama kept to his morals...
gitmo still open
tax cuts for the rich etc..
do i need to continue on...
It's okay if you're a liberal.
mark,
Please continue on. Most top 25 lists go 15 kept 6 broken 1 in the works 2 compromise 1 stalled. Broken Cap and Trade, repeal Bush tax cuts,foreclosure prevention fund, Closing Guantanamo, restrict lobbying by former federal employees including Congress, provide internet base for voters to find info. I would say in the main these should be not yet done because things like repealing the tax cuts at least in part have been blocked. The only issue of morality I see is Guantanamo and the main reason it remains open is the unwillingness of Congress to house them as individuals in Federal Supermax facilities. Yes so please go on and find me equivalents of Gingrichs infidelities and ethics violations and stated desires to murder opposition scientists and establish child labor brigades, Mitts new denial of his own past 20 years or Pauls racist, sexist and misenthropic publications his Libertarian presidential runs and endorsement of a fundamentalist loon for president.
jkh
Relax folks...this is not new news...
Romney called him out on this during a debate...newt and the heritage foundation wrote a piece about mandates that romney called him out on...
so relax...this is the primaries...it gets ugly...once we get through this then the national will be the big story...remember BILL CLINTON CALLED OBAMA OUT FOR PLAYING THE RACE CARD ON THE CLINTONS...REMEMBER THAT ONE!
I don't know what it is about liberalism that makes someone think they are entitled, and I mean ENTITLED!! as in DEAMAD!!...that someone else MUST take care of them.
Somehow liberals feel they have a legitimate claim over the knowledge, skills and services of a private individual, or corporation. You do NOT!!
If you want health care, you pay for it.
There is not one liberal here who can name ANY other period in the whole of American history, or any other instance or product, where the government forces someone to purchase something simply because they exist. None.
And it will be for that reason, and that reason alone that the individual mandate will be overturned by the SCOTUS. As well it should be!!
conserv...you are 100 percent correct!!!!!!!!!!
I would be okay with anyone needing medical attention who doesnt have insurance, prepay on site or be denied care. Then the mandate is gone and everyone has insurance. However the problem still hasnt been addressed, which is healthcare cost are around 17% of the entire GDP and that wont work.
Interesting because the individual mandate was once a conservative principle! Now that a Democrat has implemented it, it becomes an infringement on personal rights, an "entitlement" and all the other BS. When conservatives championed it back then, it was a sensible idea. People have short memories. All this is simply partisan politics. If a Republican implemented health care reform, they would be heroes. All they are now are hypocrites...
sacredfire...stop spewing vomit...
the point that folks have to pay for their health care and be personally accountable/responsible for it, is what romney was saying....
under obama plan, everyone else will pay for them...
It's never been a good idea, no matter what party is pushing it. They need to rein in the cost of prescription drugs and the amount a medical care provider can charge first. Then tort reform. Then look at making insurance affordable.
I love you republicans. You like upward distribution of wealth. You know my definition of republican capitalism, that is when defense contractors bill the citizens of this country $400.00 for a gallon of gasoline, $40.00 for a bottle of water and $2000.00 for a toilet seat. That is when Amway Corporation gathers unsuspecting poor millionaire wanna be like you and tell you that if you invest in them you will become "Diamonds" overnight and you sit there and clap and sing "fired up" all day. We are sick of your tired old arguments. The American people want solutions not lies. For all I care, you can bring George Bush back to destroy what is left of his conservative wreckage, but please get your face out of Rush Limbaugh's behind and smell the coffee. Let us have an honest debate about how you can provide health care for hundreds of uninsured Americans. The individual mandate may not be such a wonderful idea, but what is your solution. Insurance is all about increasing the pool of the insured, the so call "spreading the risk" and eventually reducing the cost. Remove your ideological blinders and you will see that we are all in this together. Have a wonderful holiday.
Chucks, why would we need to mandate everyone buy insurance when there are and have been programs in place for years to take care of those who cannot afford care on their own. The problem is that many of these people are still too lazy to go to whatever county or state agency that is charged with the federal program to even apply. Why re-invent the wheel when a feasible solution was already in place.
The libs want to keep making it easier and easier for people to stay on the government trough for generations. If they ever attempt to make people accountable and independent, they would lose their constituency.
Media spin, media spin, media spin. Does the media ever get tired of telling half the story? Deception on purpose is nothing more than lying. The writer of this article should be censored and labeled a not trust worthy source.
This explains the fundamental flaw that Obamacare was patterned after Romneycare. Mitt has admitted the flaws in such a plan. Then one should also consider the large Liberal presence in Massachusetts and the fact that Mitt was catering to the majority. Of course this does not sit well with me as I prefer a politician who stands for a belief and not because of a poll. Newt was merely supporting the positions of Romney for president, and this also bothers me. However, it should be noted that these types of endorsements are not uncommon in politics. Look at those who supported or did not support Obama for president. My point is if making an effort to write an article do not skew the truth, and anyone who does should held up to the public for scrutiny and banishment for lying.
Please forgive Newton Leroy Gingrich. He is now 68 years old and a grandfather. Since becoming a 68 year old grandfather, he has lost his appetite for big whoppers. He has also lost his mojo for young blondes. If only you will give him a chance, he will get rid of this Kenyan impostor and he can regain is appetite and mojo back.
I agree with the people who responded from a non partisan perspective. They all, in washington, have carved out a lifestyle and position of power out of OUR tax dollars. WE, The People, need to get on the same page. Watch the growing power of D.C. closely.
Having Newt Gingrich in the W-H would be a hazard!
He will spread STD's all over the place
Not even female dogs are safe when nasty Newt is around
At least we had the assurance that Bubba was clean of HIV. Selective memory from the left. How unusual.
How I wish Newt will debate himself on TV. He sure has enough materials.
Well I see the "haters" are out of bed. So many of you don't know what you're talking about. Please remember: your opinion doesn't make it a fact. Bye, I have to get to work.
The earlier version of the brainy Gingrich could praise RomneyCare as being good for Americans.
Today, he must run a campaign with big $$ and must cater to the millionairs.
I could just see Newt in a Santa Clause suit with his boot stomping the poor and the elderly and with his hands stealing candy from a baby.
So it basically comes down to, are you happy with Obama, Pelosi, Biden and the rest of the liberals in charge?
Typical republican hypocracy, they really are a bunch of lying dishonest hypocrites who will do and say anything to get elected.
I'm telling you all that all we have to do is get obama to say the words "the republican party has my complete and total backing and support" and then the entire right will implode.
Who the heck knows WHAT Newt believes? That was what he said in 2006, he will say that his "views have changed." Anyone who is surprised by the 180 degree opposite positions Gingrich has taken - and there are many - needs a psych evaluation.
The only potential "advantage" Newt has as a potential President is that he is TOTALLY untrustworthy, in his personal life, his professional private sector activities and in his political positions. As President, other countries and Congress could never know what he would do next because he does not feel compelled to honor anything he has said before. He would keep everyone guessing.
Maybe this isn't as simple as it seems, but those who are against everything, but especially universal healthcare, don't seem to understand that they are ALL paying far MORE for healthcare because those WITHOUT health care, and a decent income, are getting their healthcare paid for by US! WE are making their healthcare payments. Why on earth would these dimwits OPPOSE making everyone be covered? Do they LIKE paying for those who don't, or can't? Or are they just as stupid as most people feel they are? Or are they all deadbeats? Either way they need to sit down and shut up.
just vote for Ron paul and forget these guys
Did you liberal fools read the memo....
Read the very last line of the quote above....obama was not for allowing insurance companies to COMPLETE ACROSS STATE LINES...why?????
Competition would bring down the price and allows folks to choose better coverage etc....
David axlerod, when asked by cnn, was asked this question...more or less he just said it is not part of obama's plan...
obama wants the govt to have control and healthcare is one way to have more control over its citizens...if you disagree then why wouldn't obama consider this option....??????
When Newt was House leader the first C-SPAN cameras were installed. He would "use" the cameras in this way... after just about everyone had left he'd turn the cameras to only show the front where he'd be standing ranting about this and that despicable action by Democrats.
He did this for a couple weeks until it was noticed the cameras were only showing the Speaker (Gingrich) and then the cameras were changed to show both the front and the chamber, it showed the real picture, Newt ranting to an EMPTY chamber. This guy is a manipulator and cannot be trusted.
that practice is continued today by both sides...
These guys (GOP contenders) have either an excess of cojones or a lack of shame. How they can keep on campaigning in the opposite direction as all these facts come out is beyond me. Disgusting.
I think it's lack of shame and just absolute stupidity. They say things that completely contradict what they just said the day before and hope nobody notices. So, naturally, they're pandering to the Teabaggers.