Yesterday Newt Gingrich went on the attack blasting Paul Ryan and his budget proposal to save Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security and lower deficits toward balance. He said this about Paul Ryans budget:

I don’t think right wing social engineering is any more desirable than left wing social engineering. I don’t think imposing change from the right or the left is any way for a free society to operate.

Let me just say clearly and without any doubt Newt just eliminated himself. This was more than just positioning or a political opinion. He just outed himself in front of every American.  Newt Gingrich is a BIG government republican.  He attacked the principle of Paul Ryan’s budget (which, as a reminder, has passed the House of Representatives) as “radical right wing social engineering”, he then went on to say that he supports the main provision of Obamacare that every conservative and independent hate, “the individual mandate”.  Here is the video, and the transcript:

MR. GREGORY: Now, I know you’ve got big difference with what you call Obamacare. But back in 1993 on this program this is what you said about the individual mandate. Watch.

(Videotape, October 3, 1993)

REP. GINGRICH: 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 we insure that everyone as individuals have health insurance.

(End videotape)

MR. GREGORY: What you advocate there is precisely what President Obama did with his healthcare legislation, is it not?

REP. GINGRICH: No, it’s not precisely what he did. . . .

REP. GINGRICH: Well, I agree that all of us have a responsibility to pay — help pay for health care. And, and I think that there are ways to do it that make most libertarians relatively happy. I’ve said consistently we ought to have some requirement that you either have health insurance or you post a bond. . .

MR. GREGORY: Mm-hmm.

REP. GINGRICH: . . . or in some way you indicate you’re going to be held accountable.

MR. GREGORY: But that is the individual mandate, is it not?

REP. GINGRICH: It’s a variation on it.

Now he is trying desperately to walk it back.  But this is impossible.  This Newt’s  version of “Obama’s Joe the Plumber conversation”.  Here he quickly tries to distance himself from his own position:

I just watched a news segment on Fox where an Iowa Conservative Voter, shook Newt’s hand and simultaneously blasted him for his attack on Ryan, his support of the mandate, and his framing fiscal conservatives as “radical right wing social engineers“, Newt did not see that guy coming and a simple conservative voter just crushed him.     Newt is done.  Done.  He was in the race for four, count them, FOUR DAYS.   Then effectively did what we knew he would do, he showed his inner self.   I thought it would take longer than 4 days, but I’m happy it didn’t.
As soon as that video from the encounter in Iowa shows up, I’ll be sure to post it.  If you see it in your travels please let me know.  It was priceless….. /SD