Back in 2008, MIT economist Jonathan Gruber praised then Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s proposed healthcare plan as “better” than President Obama’s for including an individual mandate.
“I love the Hillary Clinton plan. What can I say?” said Gruber.
“The Hillary Clinton plan was the Massachusetts plan. The Hillary Clinton plan was Obama’s plan plus a mandate.”
“And I think it was a better plan,” he said.
Popularly known as the “Obamacare architect” who blatantly stated that a “lack of transparency” and the “stupidity of the American voter” helped pass the Affordable Care Act in 2010, Gruber said that Obama was “a lot smarter politically” not to include a mandate.
“I think that a mandate is really a central part of doing fundamental healthcare reform,” he argued. “I was surprised politically [Hillary] did that.”
“I think Obama was a lot smarter politically to not have a mandate, at least in his proposal for the election.”
For Gruber's full remarks, watch the short video clip below.