Newt Denied Advocating Individual Mandate During Thursday’s Debate, 2009 Audio Proves He Did

In last Thursday's debate in Jacksonville, FL Newt Gingrich specifically denied ever advocating for an individual mandate for health insurance on a federal level: "I didn't advocate federal mandates. I talked about it at a state level, finding a way -- which included an escape clause that people didn't have to buy it -- finding a way to try to have people have insurance, particularly for wealthy people who are simply free-riding on local hospitals."

But, newly discovered audio from a conference call in May 2009 shows that Mr. Gingrich praised the individual mandate put forth by President Obama.

January 29, 2012 at 7:54 pm - Breitbart.tv
Dateline: Florida
Indiepalin   January 29th, 2012 - 8:00 pm

Newt's next endorsement is liable to be from Bill Clinton.

lynched1   January 29th, 2012 - 8:02 pm

Walks like a duck, talks like a duck. I'm suprised he and Romney don't get along with the president better.

Dr_Funk   January 29th, 2012 - 8:02 pm

Who cares? I don't pick my president based on a single idea or issue.

Besides, the individual mandate is a product of our mandate for hospitals to treat ER patients. We're not going to tell hospitals they can deny life-saving treatment to people simply because they can't pay, are we? No? Then we have to require everyone to get bonded or insured.

ACKtheo   January 29th, 2012 - 8:05 pm

You think thats bad ? Obama never bothered to show up at a hearing in Georgia last Thursday or his Lawyer Jablonski after being served a Subpeona ! Obama has Never been Eligible to hold the office of POTUS ! Notice how the media refuses to cover this Most Historic Event in Our Lifetime ! Our entire Justice System hangs in the balance.

CasualMeyhem   January 29th, 2012 - 8:06 pm

Messy. This is getting very messy.

Try to remember that the boogieman is OBAMA. Not Newt, Not Mitt, or Santorum, or even Paul.

Tax_Man   January 29th, 2012 - 8:08 pm

Attention all Newtons! Do not believe your lying eyes and ears. Repeat. Do not believe your lying eyes and ears.

txbornandraised   January 29th, 2012 - 8:10 pm

Need anymore proof that Newt's a liberal?

"Contract with America"? HA

AussieDon   January 29th, 2012 - 8:10 pm

They are all big government, they have always been for big government and will always be for big government.

There is only one candidate that has the charactor, record and conviction to deliver small conservative constitutional government back to the US and then the world and that is Ron Paul.

txbornandraised   January 29th, 2012 - 8:10 pm

Wow. Unbelievable.

Oregontea   January 29th, 2012 - 8:11 pm

Time to draft Col. West.

snailmailtrucker   January 29th, 2012 - 8:12 pm

DO NOT ALLOW THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA TO PICK OUR NOMINEE !

The Republican Establishment hates Newt !
The Democrap Establishment hates Newt !

That's why I love Newt !

Dr_Funk   January 29th, 2012 - 8:13 pm

Yeah, just forget the years of fighting for the conservative cause that Newt has done his entire life, all the balanced budgets, the reforms, the tax cuts and spending cuts, etc…just forget all that and focus on one idea and use it to label him a liberal.

Asshat.

HuskersLoveBo   January 29th, 2012 - 8:14 pm

Congratulations Newton. At least three years ago you took the responsible course. After all, there is no such thing as a free lunch.

H2K   January 29th, 2012 - 8:14 pm

Well if Newt is as bad as Andy says he is, could he persuade Mitt perhaps to spend a little time not constantly b*tch slapping Newt and explain his positions?
Could he also perhaps take a few pointers in a debate 101 class? Geez. Makes me yearn for the days of Bob Dole. /sarc (last remark)

Dr_Funk   January 29th, 2012 - 8:14 pm

So you support letting freeloaders continue to freeload?

mustafamonde   January 29th, 2012 - 8:14 pm

Now if I was to say, "RINO"…would anyone blink an eye?

Washington76   January 29th, 2012 - 8:15 pm

Billionaire investor George Soros explains why there wouldn't be much difference for Wall Street between President Obama and Mitt Romney. He also tells Chrystia Freeland why his billionaire constituents see him as a traitor to his class. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyftC27vNp0

Dr_Funk   January 29th, 2012 - 8:15 pm

What, are you allergic to facts and reasoning?

Dr_Funk   January 29th, 2012 - 8:16 pm

Or would you rather remedy the freeloading problem by letting people die in ERs because they don't have insurance and can't afford the cost of treatment?

You're never gonna sell the American people on that.

txbornandraised   January 29th, 2012 - 8:19 pm

No, I'm allergic to the idea that you are defending an individual mandate when Newt supports it, but more than likely you are completely against Obamacare.

neoconenemy   January 29th, 2012 - 8:22 pm

Newt supporters are beginning to find out first hand what Ron Paul supporters have endured for 4 years. Blatant media bias. Everyone from drudge to breitbart to glenn beck, the GOP establishmen and the mainstream media (fox, cnn, msnbc) etc have waged war on Gingrich. Romney is the anointed candidate and Newt is seen as the biggest threat to Romney just like Ron Paul is the biggest threat to the establishment. I don't support Gingrich but I empathize with him.

txbornandraised   January 29th, 2012 - 8:22 pm

Why not just give them full government provided insurance? PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE WITHOUT IT!

iconoclastKM   January 29th, 2012 - 8:23 pm

This is not good…

In this day and age, what is said by a person in the public eye can come back to haunt an individual if it is proven to be not true.

However, Newt does not get my vote because of his position on amnesty for illegal aliens…!

We spent the good part of 8 years during the Bush Administration battling W himself, McCain, Lindsey Graham, Reid, Pelosi, Republican Corporatists, and nearly the entire Democrat Party on this crisis…!

And after much pain, vigilance and stress, we won…!

Why do they think that we have forgotten the problem or no longer feel the urgency to address our Border Crisis…?

Sorry Newt…NO AMNESTY for illegal aliens…!

gwgn02   January 29th, 2012 - 8:23 pm

hey BB, ignoring Mitt's gaping liability that is RomneyCare doesn't make it go away in the General. Smoke and mirrors here.

dioheerai   January 29th, 2012 - 8:23 pm

LIAR LIAR NEWT NEWT. this guy is as slimy as his name suggests
GALLUPUSATODAY POLL OF SWING STATES

Obama 47% Romney 48%
Obama 50% Paul 43%
Obama 51% Santorum 44%
Obama 54% Gingrich 40%

Annoy a liberal vote newt (sarah palin) LOL LOL LOL!!!!!!!!

jaboba   January 29th, 2012 - 8:24 pm

He's admitted he was wrong about mandates http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeE_uE7_VEQ

Would you vote for someone who defends mandates or someone who's MAN enough to admit he was wrong about them?

Romney still defends it, says there is no need to get angry over it, and his campaign adviser said he will not repeal it.

txbornandraised   January 29th, 2012 - 8:26 pm

Newtbot, calm down.

What about his support for global warming? What about his support for thumbprint databases for gun owners? What about him calling FDR the greatest president of the 20th century? Do I need to go on?

Tell you what. We can elect Newt as President of the Moon, and then he can have his Moon base and protect us from the Klingons and Darth Vader.

lynched1   January 29th, 2012 - 8:28 pm

I didn't label him anything.
I did hear him back an individual mandate. Romney backed an individual mandate. The president backed an individual mandate. I commented on that fact. I would say they have something in common. Something I happen to disagree with.

Just forget the fact that you and I have never met, never interacted, then pretend to know who I am or what I'm about.
In short, Bite me.

dioheerai   January 29th, 2012 - 8:28 pm

Look everyone a lemming following a Newt LOL lets call it the cirque du stupid

dioheerai   January 29th, 2012 - 8:29 pm

Look everyone a lemmings following a Newt LOL lets call it the CIRQUE DU STUPID

lynched1   January 29th, 2012 - 8:30 pm

They all have a lot of "mis remembering" going on.

leslie_gaea   January 29th, 2012 - 8:32 pm

Newt's supposed "company" – nothing more than a lobbying outfit – has been a hired hand in promoting individual mandates.

I'm surprised that it's taken this long to flush Newt out into the open on this issue.

IndyK   January 29th, 2012 - 8:35 pm

A must See ! Mitts Blood Money -http://www.mittsbloodmoney.com/

lynched1   January 29th, 2012 - 8:43 pm

Well now, what do we have here. The pot calling the kettle a lemming. Let's call it CIRQUE DU STFU TARD.

jaboba   January 29th, 2012 - 8:47 pm

Newt has clarified he was wrong on mandates, and that he is against them on mark levin show back in november, so where is the denial? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-wfUYQ_yq8

WhiteGuy2   January 29th, 2012 - 8:48 pm

Breaking news! Charlie Sheen Endorses Mitt Romney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbFYeEr1sEs&fe...

Winning!

ryanjh   January 29th, 2012 - 8:50 pm

Newtonians are just as bad as Paulbots. No matter what Newt did or does he walks on water. And anyone that points out Newt's hypocrisy or his record is label a "fill-in-your-favorite-insult-here" and/or a Romney supporter.

Again:

Newt supported the Individual Mandate for 10+ years!
Lobbyist for Fannie/Freddie
Remember Newt and Pelosi sitting on the Global Warming couch of love together?
Supported Cap and Trade
Newt called Paul Ryan's beautiful Medicare Reform plan "Right-Wing Social Engineering"
Supported TARP

I don't understand how Newt supporters get off on calling him a conservative. He's not!!

ryanjh   January 29th, 2012 - 8:56 pm

All this information has been out in the open! Its frustrating! I've been saying this sh*t for a while now and none of it matters to these idiot 'conservatives' who are convinced Newt is the 2nd coming. Just because a big mouth talks a good conservative game doesn't make him a conservative. The last president was elected because he was so f***ing good at speaking and debating…just what we need to do–repeat the same mistake!

Newt is probably a better choice than Romney for president but I'm not 100% sure on that. I personally like Santorum more and more I learn about Romney or Newt.

ryanjh   January 29th, 2012 - 8:58 pm

It doesn't matter what Newt said or did in the past to these f***ing idiots he's the 2nd coming of Christ.

Centurion37   January 29th, 2012 - 8:59 pm

Wisdom, honor, fidelity to God, his family, the Constitution, and strong defense of the republic:

http://www.ronpaul2012.com

Why risk the future with hypocrites, liars, statists and war-mongers who want to police the world?

ryanjh   January 29th, 2012 - 9:00 pm

Eventually Newt's just going to have to say everything he did after he left Congress in the 90s was wrong!

ryanjh   January 29th, 2012 - 9:02 pm

Just one of many issues he's wrong on…or more precisely was wrong on till he decided to run for president.

ryanjh   January 29th, 2012 - 9:03 pm

Tool.

ryanjh   January 29th, 2012 - 9:05 pm

That's fine…but don't piss on our leg and tell us its raining by telling us Newt's a conservative. He's just as bad as Romney.

ryanjh   January 29th, 2012 - 9:08 pm

They were pals in the 90s except of course when Bill got caught on the receiving end of a BJ then Newt jumped all over that sh*t while the entire time he was getting a little something something on the side of his own.

WhiteGuy2   January 29th, 2012 - 9:11 pm

Breaking News on FOX for all you Newt haters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rt6vqki_eE&fe...

SunCrackedSoul   January 29th, 2012 - 9:20 pm

said it before, I'll say it again Mitt Gingrich and Newt Romney are GOP insiders and BIG government progressives! IF you still support either one you are no different and are probably not very smart to begin with. You are not willing to take your spoonful of socialism from the democrat DNC insider BIG government chump we have now but youre more than happy to take your spoonful of socialism from the GOP INSIDER WITH THE "R" NEXT TO HIS NAME!!!

SunCrackedSoul   January 29th, 2012 - 9:20 pm

NEITHER!

SunCrackedSoul   January 29th, 2012 - 9:22 pm

Newt and Mitt are peas in a pod, get it in your head

PushHereToFlush   January 29th, 2012 - 9:22 pm

What's your solution that people will accept? The current system is bankrupt. America is full of irresponsible people. We can't give irresponsible people free stuff or it will give us more irresponsibility.

Newt has not advocated federal mandate of insurance coverage.

shanedo2   January 29th, 2012 - 9:22 pm

Heaven forbid, but should Newt be elected does that mean he will invite Todd Palin and his wife to the white house for wife swapping 'swingers' nights?

SunCrackedSoul   January 29th, 2012 - 9:23 pm

the full white Obama with an R next to his name just like his twin Mittens

SunCrackedSoul   January 29th, 2012 - 9:24 pm

you just love BIG government fed to you by someone with an "R" next to their name

SunCrackedSoul   January 29th, 2012 - 9:27 pm

no you do if u support BIG government Newt or Romney; both want me and everyone else to pay your fare with their BIG government interventionist central planner schemes. Grow a brain!

ShawnSen   January 29th, 2012 - 9:28 pm

Does Breitbart think people are gong to buy this edited videos?

Newt was clearly not taking about mandates to carry insuance but surety bonds, which are the personal healthcare accounts from the Ryan plan,,,,,,,,,,,,,that conservatives have always wanted

SunCrackedSoul   January 29th, 2012 - 9:28 pm

ahhh…mitt and newt are obama with an R next to their name. replacing obmao with one of them will be no difference they will all spoon feed you socialism.

SunCrackedSoul   January 29th, 2012 - 9:29 pm

You love BIG government; LIBERAL!

SunCrackedSoul   January 29th, 2012 - 9:30 pm

he is just against who gives him his BIG government, he wants if from the jolly white guy with the R next to his name instead

mustafamonde   January 29th, 2012 - 9:31 pm

What everyone seems to forget that beyond party, beyond promises and beyond our hopes for better candidates, they're politicians. Even the best of em are co-opted to one extent or another. Obama just happens to be a much much bigger politician than these guys. And what do I think of politicians? I'll answer with a simple story…I saw a fellow go out to his car yesterday, it was icy and he slipped, falling right on his politician.

txbornandraised   January 29th, 2012 - 9:36 pm

We already know about Romneycare. What you Newtbots need to to know about is your cult leader's support for it.

What you also need to know is that there is only one candidate that has never and will never support any kind of federal medical crap. He can be found right here:
http://www.ronpaul2012.com/

Htos1   January 29th, 2012 - 9:40 pm

It's worse,trust me.

Chickenlizard   January 29th, 2012 - 9:45 pm

"Or even Paul"? Ron Paul is the only candidate that can be easily distinguished from Obama. The other three are varying shades of Democrat.

Chickenlizard   January 29th, 2012 - 9:49 pm

Wow Funk. That was clever. Everybody, let's give Funk the slow clap. Come on. Standing ovation for that brilliant retort.

"letting freeloaders continue to freeload"!! Brilliant.

How brilliant you ask? So damn amazing that he doesn't have to support his annoyingly stupid comment with actual facts. Who says liberal tactics don't work on a supposed Conservative forum?

Go FUNK!!!

Chickenlizard   January 29th, 2012 - 9:55 pm

Newt is the Republican Establishment. How do you get more Establishment than being part of the problem since 1978?

Rubicon   January 29th, 2012 - 10:00 pm

Really shameful how Breitbart is in the tank for Romney with these relentless Newt attacks. It's been days if not weeks for anything negative against Romney.

KJinAZ   January 29th, 2012 - 10:01 pm

This is what happens when you flipflop to much, you can't remember where you stand at the moment.

Will we still hold our nose and vote for him? Hell yes, he's still better than Obama!

What_what_what   January 29th, 2012 - 10:01 pm

Used car salesmen everywhere must be proud of the lying S-O-S called Newt Gingrich.

ShawnSen   January 29th, 2012 - 10:05 pm

Brietbart posted this video moments after he posted the Morgen R 's idishonestly edited video,

Morgen worked for Huntsman now he works for the Romney campaign. ALL mormons

This proves Breitbart has gone over to the side of evil and is working with the Romney camp

Andy From Beaverton   January 29th, 2012 - 10:08 pm

It should have been automatic after the knowledge of the open marriage wishes and the Herman Cain endorsement.

Baggi   January 29th, 2012 - 10:30 pm

I'm giving this one until tomorrow night before it's debunked.

By then, it'll be too late. Oh yeah, that's the point.

AussieDon   January 29th, 2012 - 10:31 pm

My mum used to shout at me and my brother from time to time, as most mums do. She'd catch us jumping on the couch or something and yell "this is why we can't have nice things"

Our friend Dr Funk and his like, is why we can't have constitutional government and our rights, that come from our humanity, back"

My mum was right though and when we grew up she bought nice furniture.

mamapjs   January 29th, 2012 - 10:33 pm

Newt doesn't support "global warming" now– he was one of millions of people who were swindled by the global warming hoax. A LOT of people in the public eye didn't realize that it was a hoax until AFTER the Climategate data dump. Of all the things people have to complain about him, this one holds the least water.

SaminJaxx   January 29th, 2012 - 10:50 pm

Andrew, sorry you have turned into the LIBTARD Trap!

SaminJaxx   January 29th, 2012 - 10:51 pm

Your Comments are Libtard Magnets!

AfteraBath   January 29th, 2012 - 11:04 pm

All these cheerleaders for Newt will be nowhere to be found after Florida – except to be newly frontrunner supporters, most likely of Romney. And I'm not a Romney supporter but definitely NOT a Newt fan.

fleurburgess   January 29th, 2012 - 11:07 pm

NEWT 2012!
re-hash of old mud!
Bore me again why dontcha.
And is it, me? but when pundits say that romney is a great debater?does it make anyone else cringe?!?!
He comes off as a petulant whiny book keeper.

If I have to sit through obama and romney stutter through a 2 hour debate, i will need a sharp pencil on my left, to stab my eyes and ears out, and a bottle of jack daniels to my right to dull the pain!!!!!!!!!
And I don't drink!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEWT…. for the love of God!
WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fleurburgess   January 29th, 2012 - 11:08 pm

Charlie Sheen…"winning"!

neo_conjob   January 29th, 2012 - 11:11 pm

After Cain's art project Newt's – the lunar 1st president – is the best show on earth.

fleurburgess   January 29th, 2012 - 11:13 pm

look how angry you made the mitt folks!
they are whiny aren't they!
what did mitt say?
broad shoulders kids broad shoulders!

Narcissist Extremist   January 29th, 2012 - 11:14 pm

What do you want, Romneycare vs Obamacare
or Newt the conservative warrior vs. Lucifer?

fleurburgess   January 29th, 2012 - 11:14 pm

broad shoulders….sunshine… can't you that the heat…

fleurburgess   January 29th, 2012 - 11:15 pm

broad shoulders…

tftx22   January 29th, 2012 - 11:24 pm

**Applause**
I'm seeing it more and more everyday. This is getting weird. "Moonbat" comments coming from Newt supporters while Newt supports moon bases and Palin endorsing him because it will make liberal heads explode. That isn't a hard thing to do, just speak simple reason. It's a sad day indeed.

fleurburgess   January 29th, 2012 - 11:41 pm

broad shoulders lady…. you can take the hits right?
why so whiny and petulant.
your guy said it…. a billion dollars !!!!!
why keep bitching to us about Newt?
Conservatives don't like you. So what do you care.
You achieved everything you set out to do. You have stomped, maligned and destroyed everything that got your guy to first place. Not with his ideas, not because of his character, and obviously not because of his votes, or his pretense of being a conservative.
So now what?
What is the next brilliant plan from the mitt party.
Lets, at the very least, give each other the respect to be honest with each other, shall we?
I realize that you believe that real conservatives are beneath you .
I also realize that you believe that you are "winning"
You have no idea the damage you have done. No idea.
You and your ilk have pitted brother against brother.
So keep up with your name calling…. tell us we are stupid… we are morons… that we are idiots…..we are listening to you all, 24/7….. all the bile you expel…..

you have it all figured out….

you sound just like liberals to me!

fleurburgess   January 29th, 2012 - 11:45 pm

a response to all mitt fans aka whiny "narrow shoulders" :

broad shoulders lady…. you can take the hits right?
why so whiny and petulant.
your guy said it…. a billion dollars !!!!!
why keep bitching to us about Newt?
Conservatives don't like you. So what do you care.
You achieved everything you set out to do. You have stomped, maligned and destroyed everything that got your guy to first place. Not with his ideas, not because of his character, and obviously not because of his votes, or his pretense of being a conservative.
So now what?
What is the next brilliant plan from the mitt party.
Lets, at the very least, give each other the respect to be honest with each other, shall we?
I realize that you believe that real conservatives are beneath you .
I also realize that you believe that you are "winning"
You have no idea the damage you have done. No idea.
You and your ilk have pitted brother against brother.
So keep up with your name calling…. tell us we are stupid… we are morons… that we are idiots…..we are listening to you all, 24/7….. all the bile you expel…..

you have it all figured out….

you sound just like liberals to me!

ShawnSen   January 29th, 2012 - 11:49 pm

hThe audio is Newt talking about SURETY BONDS, For people who do not know what that is, it's the legal basis for Personal heathcare accounts ..the very thing conservatives advocate for , the very thing in Ryan's plan __A surety bond is not like insurance nor like a financial bond. Another example of a surety bond is a bail bond you pay to get out of jail, where you put up cash to be held but get it back when you show up for court. _In terms of healthcare, a surety bond would be money in an account to be held for your healthcare needs , If you do not use any healthcare, nothing happens to the money, it just there until you need it It's not given to someone else, it's not wasted premiums paid to insurance companies., its not run by the govenment (federal, state or local) , there is nothing to purchase, nothing to lose . _Its only allows you an tax free account for you to pay your own healthcare needs, _
The audio is edited and titled to make it seem Newt is pushing for mandated purchase of insurance, which he s not A healthcare surety bond is not a purchase, it's personal account of your own money held for YOU and you alone ……its' also transferable to your specified beneficiary, if you have leftover cash in your account after you die _This plan is inline with free market ideals and personal liberty, It will encourage patients to shop around for the best price for services, which will be lower because the doctor will not have to deal with trying to get the insurance companies to pay up. Instead of the current system where the patient never even knows what is being billed to the insurance company, therefore the provider has no reason to keep his prices low and competitive, skewing all the prices upward,
This would also cut out fraud , which occurs, because the patient doesn't see the bill therefore can not contest any of the charges submitted to the insurance companies.

EightiesSupport   January 29th, 2012 - 11:50 pm

Fools, don't you realize that he set this up all along to outwit the media? This is what happens when someone is the most conservative conservative ever to live, the Establishment comes along and tries to sabotage him.

It's little known but Gingrich was meeting with the college of cardinals a decade ago. They said to him, "You know, we're thinking, put you in there instead of this Ratzinger joker. You're clearly the conservative candidate." He declined, explaining how that would only play into the Establishment's hands.

Dr_Funk   January 30th, 2012 - 12:10 am

I'm a conservative through-and-through.

But honestly, there's a bunch of you conservative lemmings running around regurgitating before you think.

I don't like the individual mandate one bit. But I hate ER freeloaders more. The ER freeloading problem STEMS FROM the law that requires hospitals to treat ER admitees. I would like to see this law repealed so that hospitals can decide whether or not to treat people that come in. I would also like to strengthen the ability of hospitals to go after non-payers. But I'm also a realist because I know that saying "let's make it possible for ERs to refuse treatment and let people die" is not going to be popular at all, and it will get demagogued to death, and it will be a very tough sell. VERY tough.

So, if we leave the hospital ER mandate in place, that leaves us with the freeloader problem. And here all of you want to continue having this freeloader problem by refusing to repeal the mandate that caused it and refusing to implement a mandate that would fix it. So, what is it do you want? Free market medicine? Or mandated treatment of all freeloaders and the ridiculously high costs that go with it?

This is a complex issue, people. Quit knee-jerking to the "individual mandate = bad and anyone who tossed it around as an idea is AUTOMATICALLY A F***ING PROGRESSIVE NAZI BLAAAARRRRRGGGGH" garbage.

SFHarry   January 30th, 2012 - 12:11 am

Newt's personal life says a lot about the man and his abilities to be stable and loyal.
I have made a humorous video that I believe shows how his wives must have felt about his loyalties. You may see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQSsMRe6BJE
Hope you enjoy!

Dr_Funk   January 30th, 2012 - 12:14 am

He's not pro-amnesty.

And the RINOs in the Bush administration were the ones who kicked Newt out so they could continue on a spending binge.

Dr_Funk   January 30th, 2012 - 12:15 am

You don't understand what "lobbying" is. Stop pretending that you do. Its f***ing infuriating to watch morons like you equate "lobbying" and "consulting".

Dr_Funk   January 30th, 2012 - 12:17 am

Obama was never good at debating. He was just black, and he had the entire media and every last Democrat pushing him.

Santorum is anti-free markets…his tax plan would create a disastrous manufacturing bubble. He doesn't understand what makes free market capitalism great. He thinks he knows best which industries should grow and which should shrink. That's not free market capitalism, that's soft-handed central planning. And it WILL result in a bubble.

Dr_Funk   January 30th, 2012 - 12:25 am

Did you know that an overhwhelming number of modern conveniences are based in technologies developed by firms working on the space program? I believe there is a role for the government in setting goals for exploring new frontiers. Each and every one of the first expeditions to the New World was done at the behest of a European government. Once Europeans knew what resources were available in the New World, a market quickly emerged and commerce began to take root here. But no businessman would have risked investing in an expedition without some benefit. That's where prizes for various achievements come in.

You can poo-poo the space program all you want. It just demonstrates what an inside-the-box, pessimistic rigid-minded person you are. Frankly, Romney is one of the worst businessmen on planet earth, and certainly the worst entrepreneur, to say that he'd fire anyone who came to him with an idea to put people on the moon. There are millions of people who would pay to go to the moon, and a great many people with enough money to finance the trip. Romney is another rigid-minded inside-the-box thinker. He's nothing like me. I'm an entrepreneur. I intend to start a number of businesses once I graduate from college this spring. When coming up with new ways to make money, it is incredibly foolish to rule things out like that. It handicaps your potential opportunities with your own biases.

Nobody knows what sort of chance breakthrough might come as a result of companies doing R&D in preparation for trying to win one of those space prizes. Travel by airplane was once seen as silly and impractical. Personal computers were once seen as silly and impractical. Even Bill Gates said that he could never foresee anyone needing more than 64kilobytes of memory…and here I am typing away on a computer with 2gigabytes of ram. Notions of what is silly or impractical are merely functions of our collective habits of thought. Thankfully, free markets incentivize exploring new frontiers and new industries and new ways to make money, so we're not stuck with the inside-the-box thinking of central planners and economy-manipulating politicians who think they know best.

What about Newt understanding that the 2nd amendment is not for hunting, but rather for our protection as a last resort against tyranny?

I once thought FDR was a great president. I still think he was one of the best of the 20th century, but only because of his leadership during WWII. Many of his policies extended the Great Depression. But I'm not going to rule out one of the most effective conservatives in modern politics simply because he praised a Democrat or two. That's asinine.

Why don't you just go ahead and write in Jesus Christ on your ballot?

Dr_Funk   January 30th, 2012 - 12:58 am

I never suggested that. You're putting words in my mouth.

What part of "hospitals are required to treat ER patients even if they can't pay" don't you understand?

Dr_Funk   January 30th, 2012 - 1:02 am

F*** off, troll.

Dr_Funk   January 30th, 2012 - 1:02 am

You too, dip$h*t.

Dr_Funk   January 30th, 2012 - 1:09 am

Here, I'm going to spell out some facts. These are not opinions. They are not guesses or suppositions. They are factual statements about the way things currently work.

It is currently the LAW that hospitals must treat any patient admitted to an ER regardless of whether they can pay or are insured. Welfare-culture parasites know this. So, they go to the ER for any ailment, knowing that they have to be treated. ERs are currently bogged down by these people. The hospital then has to cover these costs by charging YOU and I more for the services we actually pay for through co-pays and insurance. There's nothing that can be done about this except to either require these freeloaders to come up with a way to pay (require insurance or bond), OR get rid of the mandate that hospitals must treat all ER patients.

Now, some conditional statements.

IF we get rid of the requirement for hospitals to treat all ER patients, THEN hospitals will no doubt treat the patients that really are in desperate need of life-saving care and reject those who are just trying to score a free checkup or minor care.

IF we do NOT get rid of the requirement for hospitals to treat all ER patients, THEN we must explore other options for dealing with the ER freeloader problem. Instituting a requirement to get insured or bonded would be one such solution.

If you don't like the individual mandate, then start a campaign to get rid of the hospital mandate. Your other options are to put up with rising healthcare costs incurred by the freeloader problem, OR put up with the individual mandate.

Think about it first. Then decide. And finally, QUIT DEMAGOGUING PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ACTUALLY DARE TO THINK THESE THINGS THROUGH.

claspur   January 30th, 2012 - 1:18 am

Best comment yet.

AussieDon   January 30th, 2012 - 1:44 am

Not sure how we got on to healthcare but hey ho.

My position is to get government out of medicine all together.

Healthcare is not a right.

iconoclastKM   January 30th, 2012 - 2:34 am

Well, Dr…

You'll get no argument from me regarding the Bush administration spending as it did.

Bush administration individuals kicking Newt out though…?
That would be news to me. Kicked Newt out of what… or where?

And about that amnesty thing…
We heard the words come right out of his mouth. Check out Newt's score with NumbersUSA-dot-org… you can probably locate the sound bite right there as well.
And… as an added bonus… while visiting NumbersUSA (or The Heritage Foundation), one might find the statistics for major U.S. cities' hospitals… the percentage of illegal aliens using the ER facilities you referenced earlier… as a primary care facility.

How is it that you would characterize anyone who does not jump on the Newt bandwagon as 'conservative lemmings'…?
If Newt Gingrich wins the nomination, he will have my vote in the General Election… but until that time, as much as I would love to see a Gingrich/Obama debate, I am having a very hard time reconciling a few major issues with the man.

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