Newt Gingrich has taken a turn toward the bizarre with recent statements concerning health care. We all know that he is running for president, but for him to call the GOP Medicare plan ‘right wing’ and to support the unconstitutional mandate to force everyone to buy health insurance, is just too much weirdness all at once.
In a story in the Wall Street Journal, Gingrich “backed a requirement that all Americans buy health insurance, complicating a Republican line of attack on President Barack Obama’s health law.” Complicating the line of attack? He’s blasting it out of the water. The mandate is wrong. It is unconstitutional. And yet he supports it?
The former House speaker’s decision to stick with his previous support for an individual mandate comes days after former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney defended the health revamp he championed as governor, which includes a mandate.
The moves suggest the Republican primary contest, which will include both men, could feature a robust debate on health care, with GOP candidates challenging the Democratic law while defending their own variations.
Gingrich also called Rep. Paul Ryan’s Medicare proposal “right-wing social engineering.”
Other Republican candidates for president, including Mr. Romney and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, have applauded Mr. Ryan for showing leadership in putting together a budget plan, but have declined to endorse its elements.
In the interview with the Journal, Mr. Gingrich also said that in advocating for big changes to Medicare, House Republicans have failed to both come up with the right policy, and to properly sell it to the country. He said bad salesmanship was part of President Obama’s problem in pushing his own health care plan. “Republicans should learn. There’s a big lesson there,” he told the Journal.
So… has Gingrich totally checked out, or is he on the right track?
Newt never had a chance for my money or vote because he is from the “old school” that got the country in this mess. His personal baggage also makes him unelectable.
Now I am sure that he will never get the GOP nomination with his endorsement of unconstitutional mandatory health insurance. I don’t know who is making his political calculations these days, but it is obvious that his/her calculator doesn’t include the U. S. Constitution.
My thoughts as well. I’m tired of “experienced” politicians.
Newt does not expect to be elected as the GOP candidate…given that, his bizzar statements are designed to “Crank Up” the conservative side of the voting spectrum, to get them angry and dtermined enough to “birng them together, strong and a team”…which they aren’t right now….
Watch closely…he will get moreso as the year rolls by…
The other explanationis he senile…but again, his strategey to go where do one dare go, is not to win, but to win and strengthen the right, conservatives, etc. He knows he has baggage, and he, like Huckaby is making a lot of money for his firm…so consider him marketing for Newt…for his business…there are people with a lot of money out there who will pay him a lot to push theee agenda from a business point of view
Newt has jumped the shark with this statement!
Newt now has two strikes: he’s in favor of the ethanol waste of money and in fgavor of mandatory insurance. One more and he’s out!
As far as I’m concerned he doesn’t need another strike. He’s out NOW!
He did the global warming TV ad with Pelosi. Steeeeerike Threeeee!
He’s drifting off… another one that just may not get it.
Requiring insurance may be fine… if you have it you’re covered… if not, you’re not. That works just fine. Place smokers and other druggies in their own policy, away from us… I don’t want to keep subsidizing stupid choices… like abortions for birth control.
Certainly treat citizens the same… pinko unions, elected officials, etc. have no option not available to everyone else. Illegals are out of the mix, period.
? – gee Dad, glad you’re not running – requiring insurance is not fine. You obviously don’t get it either; Cheese burger eaters? Parachutists and other “Adrenaline Junkies”? How about people addicted to tanning in tanning beds?
The point is, we don’t want to cover ANYONE else, nor do we want to force people to buy coverage or anything else. The American core value of individualism, the right to make a personal choice, and the responsibility of living up to the consequences of that choice – that’s whats at stake.
When people get that there is no safety net, we’ll see a lot less risky behavior – or at least cease being responsible for picking up the tab in the aftermath.
Newt just validated my choice to quit the Republican party. We’ve gotten so used to the “New Deal” that we can no longer remember what it was like to not have to lean on the government for everything – its become the “Democrat Light” party. Too many Republicans like Dad want their cake and eat it too.
As Napoleon said “the hand that gives stand above the hand that takes.” Government always controls what it subsidizes and the only way to true freedom is to stop allowing it subsidize anything.
This, together with his hand holding episode with Nancy Pelosi that advocated adoption of a ‘green’ policy to avert the global warming scam, sinks his chances of ever getting back into politics unless he runs locally on the left coast or the northeast.
He still thinks he’s the hero of the ‘Contract With America’ yet he did little to further it. He’s always been too eager to compromise (GOP-speak for surrender) with the Dems.
This guy’s not much more conservative than Arlen Specter was. They share the same arrogance that they’re above any questioning by the voting public, however. “Vote for me. I have a plan and I know best.” We’re not buying that anymore.
Gingrich is a fraud and a charlatan. The Contract With America was nothing but a campaign ploy to sucker us conservatives and he had no intention of living up to his words.
While he was attempting to impeach Clinton for sex crimes, he was banging women on his desk who were certainly not his wife.
Newt is the typical Washington hypocrite who has now turned to toast.
Bye, bye Newty, go back to flim-flaming the school children.
Well another RINO is exposed. I thought I knew this guy and now I am glad he came out of the closet before he got to far. He will never be president if I have anything to do about it. If a mandate imposed by the Federal government to buy health insurance is upheld in the S court we are all screwed. Than the mandates will keep coming and we will no longer be the land of the free and the home of the brave. This is the type of Republican that helped get us in this mess. Thank God for the TEA Party and all that it stands for, it is our last and only hope for the America I was born in.
Newt has shot himself in the foot twice since deceiding to run. What little support that he may have had is now waiting for someone with true principals and a solid plan to defeat OBAMA to emerge from the pack of pretenters and past losers. The other consideration is that the Republican Presidential Candidated must be strong enough to help good conservative Senators win in at least 10 Democrat held seats as well as holding on to the 10 Republican seats up for re-election with maybe a few of the RINO’s being replaced with Conservatives. Tall order for 2012 and the RNC and the Tea Party
rebel7,
Don’t expect the RNC to support any Tea Party candidate. They only support RINOs, and liberal ones at that.
We the PEOPLE will have to elect true Conservative candidates. The Republican establishment in Washington won’t lift a finger to help. If they do, it will diminish their power.
People like McCain, Boehner, Graham and other RINOS, will do everything they can to elect another RINO , like Romney, so that their power base will continue.
WE THE PEOPLE must speak loudly and clearly at the primary voting booths. NO MORE RINOS.
Newty, however, is no longer in this mix. His stupid remarks and left leaning RINO antics, have taken him out of the race.
Truthteller, I agree with you, but the problem is who does that leave us? Palin? Bachmann? Cain? I don’t think any of them have a prayer of getting elected.
LAPhil,
Without Huckabee, and as I expected, Trump, the void will be filled with any of several fence sitting potential candidates, many of whom, are Conservatives.
The old adage applies. Just wait a time with patience and we will see.
Trump was just in it for the publicity. Notice how he disappeared, once the fake birth certificate was produced. Zero followup. Huckabee may have had the far right Christian vote, but I don’t think he could have beaten Romney in the primarys, and certainly not Obummer.
Romney, a McCain like RINO, is a real worry. He is raising millions in a short period of time. I am sure he has help and support from the RNC and establishment RINOs in Washington. Romney is well accepted in the Republican establishment.
The only question is, are the American people ready to elect a Mormon president.
The looney tunes out there elected Obummer, I guess anything can happen.
I am just waiting for the dark horse(s) to appear.
As far as Newt is concerned, his comments, opinions and actions, have now taken him out of the race. Even if he doesn’t know it yet.
I hope you’re right about there being a conservative dark horse on the horizon, but t this point I certainly don’t think we’ve seen it. As far as Romney being a Mormon, I have absolutely no problem with that. What I have a problem with is his “My government health care good-Obama government health care bad” position. I don’t think that’s ever going to fly with conservative voters. I also may have left out a couple of possible candidates who might pass the non-RINO test, e.g. Tim Pawlenty and Mitch Daniels (although I can’t imagine Daniels ever getting elected), and I’d like to know a little more about John Huntsman, who seems to have some good qualifications (he’s also a Mormon, incidentally).
Newt is just trying (keyword trying unsuccessfully) to smack down the “de facto” leader of the Conservative movement and House Republicans; Congressman Paul Ryan. Who has proven that he can go toe-to-toe with Marxist Obama!
Ole Newt must be smoking heavy stuff or drinking the Country Club Repubic kool aid. Maybe coldly ditching your spouse 3 times has loosened the screws upstairs. I have not cared much for the porkly dude since Clinton charmed his socks off, and most of the “Contract with America” such as term limits fell way short. Sort of what Barack is trying to get Boehner to cuddle up.
This is music to the ears for the truly conservative candidates!!
The Republican Party has next to no rock, solid conservatives. Just a bunch of warmed over liberals who were right at home with Bush and any Democrat president.
No guts, no integrity, no character.
Gingrich would sell us out in a New York minute like he did to us in the 90’s and to his wives!
While Newt has his good points he will be weeded out of the race because of these types of statements. We need a true conservative running the country not a rino. The old guard is not what we need now. After the last election I don’t understand how good old Newt could still be making statements like that as the right wing and the tea party are running the show at least for now.
Thanks for shooting yourself in the foot Newt. Gingrich is neither a true Republican nor a conservative. His entry into the race was created simply to further muddy the already muddy waters.
Newt, may indeed have a point; but he needs to be very careful about what he says, and how he says it. Everything will be taken out of context, exaggerated out of proportion, and spun by the liberal media to sound like he leaning to the left. This strategy would effectively eliminate him as a contender, and make it that much easier for BHO to be re-elected. Remember The New York Times selected John McCain for us.
Medicare is a very delicate subject, and we simply cannot take an Ax to it. His transitional parallel coverage program is not a bad idea, but it has to be explained to the voters and especially to seniors. Otherwise, he and it will go down in flame.
On the other hand, I don’t consider Newt a “pure conservative”, and my vote will go to a pure conservative who has the best chance of winning. I’m sick of compromising away our future with the liberal, more taxes, big-spending democrats; and now its time to stand and fight, or forever regret it. BHO is by far the worse president we have ever had, and he must be limited to one term in office. Impeach BHO now!
Moon:
I disagree with your Medicare comments; an axe MUST be taken to it. Medicare as it sits is completely unsustainable. According to projections it will be bankrupt in less than 20 years. The problem for the Republicans is that they are allowing the left and the MSM to out-maneuver them in this issue. They must take to the streets, the airwaves, social media sites and wherever else they can to convince seniors that changes must be made if there is to be a program at all. Medicare spending is such that it cannot be maintained, and once the program collapses, then what? No one gets it…the GOP needs to demonstrate leadership in this issue. Spending at all levels of government (including Medicare) is out of control, and frankly we will be a third world economy before we know it if we cannot get it under control. That means everyone. I believe that if seniors had the facts presented to them in a striaghtforward way, without all the Chicken Little scare tactics on the left, most would opt for changes in the program, because they’d rather have a scaled-down Medicare than no Medicare at all. The GOP simply must attack this issue with facts to cut through the left-wing BS and rhetoric. The facts will carry the day, if the GOP shows the guts and leadership to put them out there.
Agree obama must only be a one-term prez! America cannot stand anymore of his crapola! As far as Gingrich, NO! he is old 68 yrs old, and a has been. A career politician and a womanizer! He cannot bring any fresh ideas to the Republican party. Pawlenty is a maybe, but his stance on immigration is very iffy! Ron Paul another career politician, some good ideas but he is to old. Rick Santorum is a maybe. not much name recognition! Bachmann a slight maybe. No on Sarah Palin, too much press from last time. Altho personally like Sarah! Perhaps if Allen West would run, he may be a great one to unseat obama, he has some excellent qualifications–whereas Barry had none! We need a fiscal conservative! Come on RNC find us one!!
Moonshine. Your analysis on what the left wing media will do with some comment made on the left wing NBC Meet the Press is right on. Reducing it to simplicity, everybody does need health insurance. They already have it; by walking into any hospital emergency room on our dime. Until we as a country are ready to throw them out on the street and bury them with bulldozers by the thousands, we need as a country to find a way to cover the needy and incentivise the not so needy to rich who forego obtaining health insurance to seek coverage. ObamaCare is the last thing we need to fix the problem. (Coming from a doctor who knows) If all these responders to what Gingrich’s detractor put out believe Gingrich wants a one size fit all Federally controlled/mandated health care system, they too are drinking the “coolaid”. Newt thinks outside the box. This is outside the box. Lets sit back a week or two and hear what he has to say, in that on Meet the Press he was given no time to expound on what he was saying or thinking. If we continue chewing up one another on this nonsense, we will end up spitting Obama back into the Presidency, Heaven Forbid.
Sadly Newt has revealed his true colors. He has much to recommend him but his RINO ways betray his true intent. Like many in politics he interprets his own predilections to be the voice of the people. Pruning government will need a chainsaw and an ax not a scalpel.
I was in awe when I first read that Newt backed the mandate to buy insurance. I mean he is always talking about the founders and such, what does he think they would think of this?! He never was my first choice but I was willing to consider him. Not anymore!! I want Obamacare totally removed. He doesn’t have a chance. They are just tone deaf to the people. That is all I can say.
Compulsory automobile insurance makes sense because it protects innocent drivers and property owners from your own incompetence or negligence. Health insurance only protects the government which shouldn’t be in the health business in the first place. As soon as you expect the government to pay the bills they get the right to make the rules.
You’re absolutely correct. The difference is that automobile insurance is designed to cover the other guy and health insurance is designed to cover the insured. It is logical for the state to require the former, and not the latter.
Beg to differ. Compulsory individual responsibility for one’s own health care (not necessarily health insurance), as Newt describes, is a measure to keep We The People (Taxpayers) from footing the bill for those who could afford to pay their own way but instead game the system. A compulsory health care mandate, as per auto insurance, would serve to protect ME from fraudulent “free ride” health care claims, not the government. The gummint has no money it doesn’t take from We The People.
And did you notice that Newt wasn’t proposing mandatory health insurance? He’s suggesting alternatives such as income-based vouchers, bonds, even a credit card. Upshot — I see as much or more justification for an “individual mandate” (the devil being in the definition) for health care as I do for auto insurance.
Right on, profchuck.
The government shouldn’t be in the health care business in the first place. Private industry should be allowed to provide all forms of healthcare. With a small amount of government oversight to prevent insurance industry abuses. The private sector, can and would provide much more cost efficient health services, than the government could ever provide.
You are missing the most important point, when compairing mandated health coverage and mandated car insurance. Mandated health coverage (Obummercare) gives you no choice in the matter. This is illegal and un constitutional. Requiring car insurance gives you a choice.
You can opt to have car insurance coverage, or, you can opt not to drive. Choice is the key word here that makes mandated car insurance legal and constitutional.
Moonshine says, “His (Newt’s) transitional parallel coverage program is not a bad idea.”
What have you been drinking?
Mark my words techwreck, if the Republicans take an Ax to Social Security and Medicare, they will lose this election to the lying liberal democrats and their media supporters, who will pound them mercilessly, 24/7 for doing so.
It is imperative that they cut illegal immigration, foreign aid, government subsidies, government agencies (e.g.; IRS, EPA, DOE, etc.), all of BHO’s 300,000 new federal employees, government and congressional pensions, etc. first. Next, eliminate the fraud and abuse in Medicare and Social Security; and then and only then make reasonable cuts if it is still necessary. This is a winning strategy, an approach that will not alienate voters or seniors, and is consistent with conservative principles.
This is not rocket science, its common sense – a commodity sorely lacking in congress.
Moonshine: Imprecise language is causing a bit of confusion. “Taking the Axe” is colloquial. in this context, do we mean cut it back or abandon it altogether immediately? If Axe means reducing and withering it, there is no choice – it will soon bankrupt the country.
If it means just do away with it without recognizing that millions have come to depend on it, because of government’s inability to deal with it in a reasoned, controlled way, then no, that’s not going to work.
Just removing illegal aliens from the medicade/medicare/social security rolls, would save billions almost immediately. I am sure this would set very well with seinors, as well as younger taxpayers.
Here in California, the cost of supporting illegals, soc sec, medicaid, medicare, food stamps, welfare and incarceration expenses, amount to about four billion a year, alone.
NEWT HAS LOST IT! HE IS FROM THE “RINO” SCHOOL THAT THINKS YOU HAVE TO MOVE TO THE CENTER TO GET ELECTED WHEN JUST THE OPOSITE IS TRUE. DANG! I GAVE 50 BUCKS TO HIS EXPLORITORY CAMPAIGN FUND, CAN I GET A REFUND? TRUMP LEFT……ROMNEY IS ANOTHER PROGRESSIVE (UGH)……..I LIKE PALIN, BUT CAN SHE PULL IT OFF?………I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING, LIKE IT OR NOT, JEB WAS A GREAT GOVERNOR, AND PROBABLY WOULD STILL BE GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA IF NOT FOR TERM LIMITS, BUT IS THE COUNTRY READY FOR “BUSH III” I I I I YI YI???? BTW, HE IS MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN “W” OR THEIR OLD MAN!!! OF COURSE, AGAINST B.O., ELMER FUDD OR DAFFY DUCK BOTH RATE PRETTY HIGH!!! CRIME-IN-KNEE!!! MY NUMBER ONE GUY IS OUT, MY NUMBER TWO GUY HAS LOST HIS MARBLES……..HAAALLLLLLPPP MEEEEE!!! HEY!! HOW ABOUT CHUCK NORRIS???? NOW THERE’S AN IDEA!!!
I met this guy a few years ago when he was helping Duke Cunningham (now a federal convict) to raise money. He is an egotistical idiot in the true sense of the word. He would be worse than Obama (if that is possible). Wouldn’t vote for him if he was the only one running! Give me Jeb Bush!
The “maverick” strategy worked so well for John McCain, in 2008, Newt should really give it go in 2010. There is a saying: “any strategy designed to anger all the participants has got to have a flaw in it.” Angering the majority of conservatives, who OPPOSE OBAMACARE and its mandates, as well as the energized Tea Party folks, makes so little sense that anyone as brilliant as Newt would surely want to build a campaign around such notions.
When he was Speaker, toward the end, he went off the conservative reservation. Now, ate the beginning of his campaign he is exactly where he was when forced out as Speaker.
Great plan!
Huckaby out, Ryan says no, Gingrich exposed! Herman Cain is looking better all the time.
Herman Cain, Allen West, Marco Rubio, Jim DeMint . . . pick any TWO! (Yeah, I know some of them haven’t announced, but one can hope!)
Well, boys and girls…the Donald is not running for Prez, killing any chance of an independent run from him. Any possibility that Newt is gearing up for a potential independent run of his own? He’d want to cozy up to the center-left folks to try to get them to support him. And don’t be surprised if the MSM gives him more of a pass than the other conservative candidates. I do not believe he has anywhere near the support needed to capture the Republican nomination for President, but he has such an inflated ego and opinion of himself that he may run as an independent, which would be very potentially disastrous to the GOP. He could pull enough support away from the Republican candidate to give Obama the edge he needs to get re-elected. Don’t be surprised if Obama and he haven’t already worked something out where if he does run and Obama gets re-elected that Newt gets some high-ranking czar position or a Cabinet post or something. Be very afraid boys and girls. Something is afoot; I’m sure of it.
Herman Cain doesn’t have a chance. He is far too honest.
Why are so many politicians crooks? Because crooks are the only ones that want the job.
Every time someone mentions the name Gringrich, I reply with another name, Scozzafava. Back in the NY23 special election of ’09 the party lines of Republican and Conservative (NY allows a person to appear on more than one ballot line) with the liberal Scozzafava appearing on the Republican ticket and Hoffman, who claimed to be the “Real Republican” in the race. Newt, the RINO, supported the liberal Scozzafava. When Scozzafave realized that she wasn’t going to get the votes, she dropped out and endorsed the DEMOCRAT! (How’s that for a true Republican.) The Democrat won.
Remember Scozzafava and those who will try to plaster the walls with the faux veneer of “unity” while giving up the principles of the party that must be united. Newt is a RINO, nothing more and nothng less.
Chris, that is a really good comparison.
Newt is a classical RINO. I’ve said it many times. No one believed me until now.
But, regardless of your political views, Newt is very shrewdly playing to the bottom line reality that is in the back of the minds of most Americans these days:
1.) The Dems raped social security, especially under LBJ, and never put the money back. And now Obama gave trillions away to Wall Street without puting a dime back into SSN, and he’s conjured up a scheme called Obamacare to make every American pay double for the money the Dems stold.
2.) The Republicans have taken from the SSN fund and never put the money back. And now they want to replace the program so that they never have to put back the money they stold.
It doesn’t matter whether you agree with this, or not. This is the perception that is out there in mainstream America. Newt has tapped into it. And Newt is going to milk it for all it’s worth.
You think he can’t get elected?
Think again.
Idylewylde, your observation is right on target. What better way to mask the fraud and corruption by both parties of the SS trust fund then to simple eliminate the program. The guilty are absolved of their crimes, and no one is held accountable. A perfect congressional solution to the problem, Amnesty – screwing only the US taxpayers who were forced to contribute to these programs (SS and MC) over their working careers.
Had these programs not been raided and pilfered by congress, perhaps they would be solvent (or nearly solvent) today? Has anyone ever made this calculation?
As part of the reform process, the congressmen who pilfered these funds should be forced to forfeit their congressional pensions, contributing them to the SS trust find in lieu of going to jail for their heinous crimes against their fellow citizens.
Newt’s shown his true colors–just another phony RINO. Sure glad it came to light this early. Now we can write him off like Huckabilly and old hair-in-the-face Trump. I sure was tired of the Newt and Callista show anyway.
RINO is putting it mildly. He might as well just change parties since he seems to have so much in common with the Democrats.
As has often been said, but now worth repeating; I’ll listen to Congress and the Senate regarding healthcare “reform” when THEY are on whatever plan they devise for us poor, ignorant sheeple! At the same costs and identical benfits.