ABC's Misleading Headline: "Gingrich ’06 Memo: 'Agree Entirely With Gov. Romney' on Health Care"
ABC's Jonathan Karl Tuesday published a piece now prominently featured at the Drudge Report with a headline guaranteed to be the Obama-loving media's lead story concerning something Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich wrote over five years ago: "Gingrich ’06 Memo: 'Agree Entirely With Gov. Romney' on Health Care."
Inside the actual document uncovered by BuzzFeed’s Andrew Kaczynski, the former Speaker didn't "agree entirely with Gov. Romney" at all (emphasis added):
While in theory the plan should be affordable if the whole state contributes to the cost, the reality is that Massachusetts has an exhaustive list of health coverage regulations prohibiting insurers from offering more basic, pared-down policies with higher deductibles. (This is yet another reminder that America must establish a cross-state insurance market that gives individuals the freedom to shop for insurance plans in states other than their own.)
In our estimation, Massachusetts residents earning little more than $30,000 a year are in jeopardy of being priced out of the system. In the event that this occurs, Governor Romney will be in grave danger of repeating the mistakes of his predecessor, Mike Dukakis, whose 1988 health plan was hailed as a save-all but eventually collapsed when poorly-devised payment structures created a malaise of unfulfilled promises. We propose that a more realistic approach might be to limit the mandate to those individuals earning upwards of $54,000 per year.
Does that sound like Gingrich "agree[d] entirely with Gov. Romney?"
Karl's first paragraph said it did: "To conservatives, the biggest strike against Mitt Romney is the health care plan he put in place in Massachusetts, but Newt Gingrich lavished praise on Romney’s plan after it was passed in 2006."
Instead of referencing Gingrich's actual dissent, Karl wrote, "Gingrich had some criticisms of the Massachusetts plan — including what he called the state’s over-regulation of health insurers — but overall, he loved it."
Does this sound like Gingrich "loved it": "Governor Romney will be in grave danger of repeating the mistakes of his predecessor, Mike Dukakis, whose 1988 health plan was hailed as a save-all but eventually collapsed."
If that's love, I hope the newlyweds have attorneys waiting in the wings.
Far more importantly, don't be surprised if the rest of the Obama-loving, Gingrich-hating press similarly gloss over the paragraphs in this memo where the former Speaker expressed serious concern about the plan he supposedly "loved" and "agree[d] entirely with."
- Noel Sheppard's blog
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Comments
true, not "entirely" but...
Submitted by dpeters8 on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 10:48am.
he did agree with the individual mandate, he did agree with the goal of 100% coverage, he did agree it is a good model for the rest of the country. If you read the whole article, I'd say the dissent was weak at best...
Mr. Sheppard is pointing out
Submitted by Rovin on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 12:28pm.
Mr. Sheppard is pointing out that the news media is contending that Newt "loved Romney's health care program" in its entirety. Nothing can be further from the truth. If conservatives writers allow these blatant lies to proceed into next year (without challenge), even your "true but" will be ignored.
Both "Romney supported the
Submitted by redfish on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 4:03pm.
Both "Romney supported the individual mandate in MA so he must support Obama's plan" and "Gingrich supported something like an individual mandate so he must support Romney's plan" aren't true.
The reason they're running these stories is to provide cover for Obama's plan and portray it as obvious, *not* to offer a conservative critique of either Romney or Gingrich. Conservatives should keep that in mind.
I'll just be glad when conservatives run out of the lipstick...
Submitted by Dave. on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 10:53am.
...they keep applying to this liberal RINO that is pretending to be a conservative.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
No,Gingrich did not compare it to Pearl Harbor
Submitted by zenman1661 on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 11:11am.
But he gave enough concern over the Mass Health care plan for the headline to be deceptive.
Color me cynical
Submitted by paragrouper on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 12:19pm.
but it seems the MSM really wants a matchup between Romney and Obama next year. I wonder why?
Thats a good question..
Submitted by zenman1661 on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 12:52pm.
since Romney is the only primary candidate who in head to head polls comes close to beating Obama
RINO? Really?
Submitted by deadeyedan on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 3:17pm.
Dave, anyone with half a brain has figured out that Newt is a genuine conservative because of his absolutely unabashed attacks on the leftist media during the debates.
This is no small matter; against the amount of power these "zany" charlatans of the airwaves and print press, Newt has demonstrated that he has the internal fortitude to challenge the mammoth assault on him already in progress and likely to continue incessantly.
They attacked him mercilessly in the '90's during his speakership and, with his incendiary remarks about them to be vengeful about, they will attempt to emasculate him the same way they're doing it with this bogus RomneyCare support fiction.
LIBERALISM - government of the people by the theories and for the ideologists
Newt dons whatever outfit best suits him at the moment...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 4:32pm.
Gingrich initiated a campaign of scorched earth, inflammatory, and provocative rhetoric against Democrats in the 80's and early 90's and then whined like a baby when anyone dared to criticize him in return. It was the classic case of the schoolyard bully finally confronted by the targets of his taunts.
He is a gifted individual, highly intelligent and a very effective debater, but more opportunist than principled conservative. Newt knows that easy points can be scored with the GOP base by roasting the media and America's "enemies" and he is quite effective in that role. Whether he can ride that horse--along with torching Obama--all the way to White House remains to be seen.
Jer
That's just the media spin in you talking...
Submitted by stage9 on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 8:46pm.
he's been rather consistent.
He's been accused of having big ideas but only a few have actually come to fruition. WHO CARES! I'd rather a President with vision than one who believes in the politics of 20th century Soviet occupied Europe.
I'll tell you who whines -- CONSERVATIVES whine!
We sit here and moan and groan that we need a candidate who is relentless and bold to stand up to Obama and liberal radicals and who do we hope wins?
Romney, a New England RINO liberal (ala Scott Brown) who if given the opportunity would become Harry Reid's lap dog, OR someone who holds a much more radicalized view of foreign policy and domestic affairs than Obama -- Ron Paul!
Conservatives are insane.
Gingrich is NOT the ideal candidate, but he's the best one running to be able to unseat Obama's arrogant self.
Gingrich would be a stop-gap candidate. He can hold the line until some of the Junior leaders are able to establish their credentials and run in 8 years.
"If God is dead, somebody is going to have to take his place. It will be megalomania or erotomania, the drive for power or the drive for pleasure, the clenched fist or the phallus, Hitler or Hugh Hefner." — Malcolm Muggeridge
That's just the irrepressible Gingrich love in you...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 8:59pm.
I lived near the guy for many years and followed his career pretty closely from its early days. Newt's arrogance makes Obama look like a shrinking violet by comparison.
Jer
I agree completely
Submitted by ckc1227 on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 8:07pm.
"Dave, anyone with half a brain has figured out that Newt is a genuine conservative because of his absolutely unabashed attacks on the leftist media during the debates."
Newt has absolutely fooled those with half a brain into believing he's a genuine conservative. Those of us with more than half a brain know better. Newt is no conservative. Who cares about his support/non-support of Romneycare? It's his support of a national mandate for everybody that concerns me.
I'd like to know what your...
Submitted by stage9 on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 8:36pm.
evidence is to the contrary ckc. Rather than bloviate about it.... Most of what I've heard spewed about Gingrich has either been true and repented of, or totally blown out of proportion or outright lied about.
Newt….and those ethics violations
1) claiming tax-exempt status for a college course run for political purposes:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/01...
While it is true that Newt was sanctioned by the House and fined $300,000 supposedly for lying to the House Panel, the Panel never agreed on whether or not tax law had been violated and left it up to the IRS to determine this.
What did they determine? That NO TAX LAWS had been violated. So, Newt in the end, had violated House Rules and admitted
that it was done “under his signature and in his name” and was sanctioned for it. The violation charge consisted of two
counts “of failure to seek legal advice” and one count of “providing the committee with information which he knew or should
have known was inaccurate” concerning the use of a tax exempt college course for political purposes.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/gi...
The $300,000 “sanction” was actually “cost recovery” - Gingrich was penalized for “prolonging” the investigation. Newt
could have used his campaign funds to pay the penalty but elected to use money borrowed from Sen. Bob Dole and paid back
with a 10% interest rate. He apparently never took the offered loan…but I’ve been unable to determine just how he paid the
fine….still looking….Update - he paid it out of his personal funds received for a book he authored.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/04...
2. The other ethics violations:
All of them were dropped. David Bonior brought 75 of those ethics charges against Newt. U.S. District Judge Louis F.
Oberdorfer in 1996 threw out a Federal Elections Commission lawsuit contending that GOPAC broke election laws by assisting
federal candidates and not making its donor lists and spending reports public. A third allegation that Gingrich benefited
personally from $250,000 in GOPAC “Newt Support” and should have reported it as income for federal tax purposes was also
dropped by the ethics committee for lack of evidence.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/10...
So, the IRS cleared Gingrich of any tax violations and all the other ethics charges were dropped for “lack of evidence”.
Gingrich paid a fine for “prolonging” an investigation that was based upon false evidence in the first place.
3. Newt Gingrich serves his wife with divorce papers while on her d e a t h bed.
Newt Gingrich’s Daughter Debunks Myth of Ex-Wife Being Serviced With Divorce Papers on Her d e a t h bed
http://www.jimhuntshow.com/newt-gingrichs-daughter-debunkts-myth-of-ex-w...
4. Newt Gingrich's role in Freddie and Fannie.
Newt Answers In-depth Questions Concerning Freddie Mac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZEeB4T_RWs
Rick Lazio confirms: Gingrich never ‘lobbied’ me for Freddie
http://dailycaller.com/2011/12/16/rick-lazio-gingrich-never-lobbied-me-f...
5. Department of Education
When Newt voted for the creation of the Department of Education, the institution was only structured to provide research and collect data. Unfortunately, the bureaucracy ballooned, so while Speaker, Newt aggressively campaigned to pare down the Department back to its appropriate role and return power to the states.
6. Global Warming
As for the question of whether industrial development has dramatically contributed to a warming of the atmosphere, Newt has
noted there is no settled scientific conclusion. Many scientists believe it is the case. Others do not. But this unsettled scientific question has nothing to do with the best approach to protecting our environment, which is always markets, incentives, and entrepreneurs creating better and more efficient products and services.
7. Gingrich fails to qualify in Virginia which proves him to be inept
"By now you've likely heard that our effort to gain access to the primary ballot in Virginia was not successful. This was not due to a lack of effort by our volunteers, but the cumbersome process in Virginia.
We are exploring alternate methods to compete in Virginia - stay tuned. Going forward, we will be as in-front of the process as possible and with the help of our grassroots volunteers we will make all other deadlines.
Newt and I have talked three or four times today and he stated that this is not catastrophic - we will continue to learn and grow. Remember that it was only a few months ago that pundits and the press declared us dead after the paid consultants left. They declared that the decision not to compete in the Ames Straw Poll would mean that Iowans would ignore us.
Some will again state that this is fatal. Newt and I agreed that the analogy is December 1941: We have experienced an unexpected set-back, but we will re-group and re-focus with increased determination, commitment and positive action.
Throughout the next months there will be ups and downs; there will be successes and failures; there will be easy victories and difficult days - but in the end we will stand victorious.
To help achieve that outcome we each need to spend the next 24 hours enjoying our families and friends as much as possible.
Enjoy their company. Be grateful for them. Gather strength from them. The promise of a better future for our family and friends is the reason we are committed to rebuilding the America we love.
May the spirit of the season fill each of you.
Merry Christmas."
Michael Krull
National Campaign Director
"If God is dead, somebody is going to have to take his place. It will be megalomania or erotomania, the drive for power or the drive for pleasure, the clenched fist or the phallus, Hitler or Hugh Hefner." — Malcolm Muggeridge
dan, I like Newt and consider him to be a genius in many ways
Submitted by Dave. on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 9:43pm.
The problem is, like many geniuses, he is a scatter-brain and is often is all over the map, as he seems to have difficulty focussing.
What is more, he has an annoying tendency to hop in bed with the left at times, and we simply cannot afford that anymore.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Can it be anyone but Romney??
Submitted by pbthinker on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 3:58pm.
Newt has to be the best candidate for the Republican Party because everyone is after him. First of all, this is an opinion from 2006, right after the plan came out. Now that everyone has had a chance to see how it works, Newt doesn't like it and everyone else is defending it.
Newt, if he has any fault, is a guy who wants to be at the table and you can't be at the table if all you are is negative all the time. He was always offering interesting alternatives to the ideas on the table.
Since money is tight, it's going to be hard for Newt to keep himself in peoples minds and, with no debates in the near future, people tend to forget. He's still the best "anyone but Romney" candidate out there and, IMHO better than Romney.
You didn't expect a radical...
Submitted by stage9 on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 8:27pm.
propagandist to disclose the entire truth did you? Propaganda works best when the message is a lie. This is why I do my OWN research when I read an article about a Conservative who is being charged by the Media with wrong doing. Nine times out of ten, the media is lying or misleading in their accounts.
"If God is dead, somebody is going to have to take his place. It will be megalomania or erotomania, the drive for power or the drive for pleasure, the clenched fist or the phallus, Hitler or Hugh Hefner." — Malcolm Muggeridge
Great Post, Noel
Submitted by Reaganite Republican on Tue, 01/03/2012 - 11:12am.
LINKED @ RR:
Only the Delusional Believe Mitt Romney Would Ever Actually Repeal Obamacare