Thursday, March 25, 2010

Newt's Two Faces: Both For and Against the Individual Mandate

Newt Gingrich should know better.

The conservative Republican leader is on Fox News these days whining about the individual mandate, the new requirement that individuals must buy health insurance. It's awful and unconstitutional, Newt says.

Too bad that one of the advocates for the individual mandate is—wait for it—Newt Gingrich. Yes! As Media Matters has pointed out, Newt advocated for the individual mandate.

In his 2008 book, Real Change, Gingrich 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.
It's on page 276 of Newt's own book. So Speaker Gingrich, were you wrong then or are your wrong now?

The damning details here.