On healthcare and the individual mandate: “I agree that all of us have a responsibility to... help pay for healthcare.”
DAVID GREGORY: Now I know you've got big differences with what you call Obamacare, but back in 1993 on this program this is what you said about the individual mandate. Watch.
GINGRICH ON VIDEO [1993]: “I am for people -- individuals, exactly like automobile insurance, individuals -- having health insurance and being required to have health insurance and I am prepared to vote for a voucher system which will give individuals, on a sliding scale, a government subsidy -- so ensure that everyone as individuals have health insurance.”
DAVID GREGORY: What you advocate there is precisely what President Obama did with his healthcare legislation, is it not?
NEWT GINGRICH: No. It's not precisely what he did. Fir-- in the first place, Obama basically is trying to replace the entire insurance system. Creating state exchange. Building a Washington-based model. Creating a federal system. I believe all of us-- and this is going to be a big debate. I believe all of us have a responsibility to help pay for healthcare. I think the idea that you--
DAVID GREGORY: You agree with Mitt Romney on this point?
NEWT GINGRICH: Yeah, I agree that all of us have a responsibility to pay-- help pay for healthcare. And-- and I think that-- there are ways to do it that make most libertarians relatively happy. I've said consistently-- where there's some requirement you either have health insurance or you post a bond or in some way you indicate you're going to be held accountable.
DAVID GREGORY: But that is the individual mandate, is it not?
NEWT GINGRICH: It's a variation on it. But-- but-- it’s a --
DAVID GREGORY: So you wouldn't use that issue against Mitt Romney?
NEWT GINGRICH: No. It was-- but it's a system which allows people to have a range of choices which are designed by the economy.
Like a medical trust....
I think I will pass on that fad. Bring back bell bottoms!
