Newt Gingrich Debates Newt Gingrich on the Health Insurance Mandate

And Joins Mr. Romney in Losing a Debate with Himself

On Sunday the newly minted Republican Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich affirmed his support for a governmental mandate for health insurance.  Of course, he sort of had to, since he has been on the record for more than 15 years as supporting such a mandate.

On Monday Mr. Gingrich decided this was not the way to win the Republican nomination, so he said he opposed the mandate which is part of the Obama Health Care Plan.  The NYT captured this moment rather nicely.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/16/gingrich-seeks-to-clarify-comments-on-individual-mandate/?ref=politics

The Dismal Political Economist expects Mr. Gingrich to explain this apparent contradiction by blaming it on being to busy balancing his marital life to concentrate on policy.