Gingrich was for the individual mandate before he was against it

[^_^ 5,021]

In his post-congressional life, Gingrich has been a vocal champion for mandated insurance coverage -- the very provision of President Obama's health care legislation that the Republican Party now decries as fundamentally unconstitutional.

...

In the mid-2000s, he partnered with then-Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) to promote a centrist solution to fixing the nation's health care system. A July 22, 2005, Hotline article on one of the duo's events described the former speaker as endorsing not just state-based mandates (the linchpin of Romney's Massachusetts law) but "some federal mandates" as well. A New York Sun writeup of what appears to be the same event noted that "both politicians appeared to endorse proposals to require all individuals to have some form of health coverage."

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At an Alegent Health event in Omaha in 2008, Gingrich said it was "fundamentally immoral" for a person to go without coverage, show up at an emergency room and demand free care.

During the keynote address to the Greater Detroit Area Health Council's annual Health Trends Conference in April 2006, Gingrich said he would require Americans earning above a certain income level to buy health insurance or post a bond, the Detroit Free Press reported.

In a June 2007 op-ed in the Des Moines Register, Gingrich wrote, "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."

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In 2008's "Real Change," he wrote, "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."

In 2005's "Winning the Future," he expanded on the idea in more detail: "You have the right to be part of the lowest-cost insurance pool and you have a responsibility to buy insurance. ... We need some significant changes to ensure that every American is insured, but we should make it clear that a 21st Century Intelligent System requires everyone to participate in the insurance system."

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Spokesmen for Gingrich did not return an email request for comment on his support for federally-applied, individual mandates.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/12/newt-gingrich-individual-mandate-romney_n_861017.html

[Pooky 3,825]

In his post-congressional life, Gingrich has been a vocal champion for mandated insurance coverage -- the very provision of President Obama's health care legislation that the Republican Party now decries as fundamentally unconstitutional.

...

In the mid-2000s, he partnered with then-Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) to promote a centrist solution to fixing the nation's health care system. A July 22, 2005, Hotline article on one of the duo's events described the former speaker as endorsing not just state-based mandates (the linchpin of Romney's Massachusetts law) but "some federal mandates" as well. A New York Sun writeup of what appears to be the same event noted that "both politicians appeared to endorse proposals to require all individuals to have some form of health coverage."

...

At an Alegent Health event in Omaha in 2008, Gingrich said it was "fundamentally immoral" for a person to go without coverage, show up at an emergency room and demand free care.

During the keynote address to the Greater Detroit Area Health Council's annual Health Trends Conference in April 2006, Gingrich said he would require Americans earning above a certain income level to buy health insurance or post a bond, the Detroit Free Press reported.

In a June 2007 op-ed in the Des Moines Register, Gingrich wrote, "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."

...

In 2008's "Real Change," he wrote, "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."

In 2005's "Winning the Future," he expanded on the idea in more detail: "You have the right to be part of the lowest-cost insurance pool and you have a responsibility to buy insurance. ... We need some significant changes to ensure that every American is insured, but we should make it clear that a 21st Century Intelligent System requires everyone to participate in the insurance system."

...

Spokesmen for Gingrich did not return an email request for comment on his support for federally-applied, individual mandates.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/12/newt-gingrich-individual-mandate-romney_n_861017.html

And Harry Reid was all for redefining the citizenship rules along current GOP-backed lines before he was against it.

So what? In politics, things change. Get used to it.

[Vi-Jay 218]

And Harry Reid was all for redefining the citizenship rules along current GOP-backed lines before he was against it.

So what? In politics, things change. Get used to it.

You just made me feel aroused.

[Pooky 3,825]

You just made me feel aroused.

You're weird

[Vi-Jay 218]

You're weird

Is weird bad?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Gingrich is also a tree hugging hippie communist.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Obamacare as the GOP loves to label it is the 1993 GOP health care reform plan - individual mandate and all. What else is new?

[Pooky 3,825]

Obamacare as the GOP loves to label it is the 1993 GOP health care reform plan - individual mandate and all. What else is new?

Politicians' political positions change and people are surprised. That's what makes me laugh.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Politicians' political positions change and people are surprised. That's what makes me laugh.

Who is surprised? It's fair to point out that the GOP was for the individual mandate before it was against it. It's fair to point out that the GOP was not only for Obamacare a decade and a half ago but actually designed it. It's then also fair to point out that the worst policies the GOP is decrying these days actually come out of their own box of ideas.

[Pooky 3,825]

Who is surprised? It's fair to point out that the GOP was for the individual mandate before it was against it. It's fair to point out that the GOP was not only for Obamacare a decade and a half ago but actually designed it. It's then also fair to point out that the worst policies the GOP is decrying these days actually come out of their own box of ideas.

Same goes the other way, as I posted about Harry Reid and the citizenship debate. What was Democrat is now Republican, and what was Republican is now Democrat, and each side is dead set against something it was previously all for. That's politics, not just one side, as you would like to paint it.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Same goes the other way, as I posted about Harry Reid and the citizenship debate. What was Democrat is now Republican, and what was Republican is now Democrat, and each side is dead set against something it was previously all for. That's politics, not just one side, as you would like to paint it.

I'm not painting anything. Sure the same can be said for Democrats. I don't recall having stated anything to the contrary.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Well what is clear from this thread is that both parties supported the individual mandate at one time, so it should remain. Both parties at one time supported redefining citizenship, so should it be done.