Glenn Beck Grills Gingrich on his Conservative Credentials

Conservative talk radio show host Glenn Beck grilled Newt Gingrich, the Republican presidential frontrunner, during a lengthy interview Tuesday.

I have serious concerns with Newt Gingrich, Beck said before the interview. I’d like to have him convince me that I’m wrong. I would love to have him convince me that I’m wrong.

Playing clips of Gingrich calling himself a Theodore Roosevelt Republican, Beck stated, Regulation and the government scares the crap out of me and I think most Tea Party kind of leaning conservatives.

Gingrich responded, There are minimum regulatory standards of public health and safety that are I think really important.

On the question of why federal intervention in healthcare is necessary, Gingrich said, I’m against government trying to pick winners and losers.

Beck also grilled Gingrich for his longterm support of an individual health insurance mandate, playing a number of older clips of Gingrich.

While discussing Gingrich's stand on climate change, Beck asserted that Gingrich's green conservatism placed him to the left of Massachusetts Democrat John Kerry. Playing clips of Gingrich saying the government should pay for some solutions to the problem, Beck said, Help me out. This is a multi-year stance. It’s not a moment in your life.

In the end, Beck thanked Gingrich for his “willingness to come on and answer the tough questions” and wished him the best.