NBC's David Gregory: 'Medicare is a huge problem'

"Meet The Press" host David Gregory said on Monday morning that President Barack Obama will have to convince the public during his second term to accept unpopular ideas, like cutting Medicare.

"The president, and it starts today, has to be able to lead the American people in a way to say, 'Look, we've gotta transcend politics, whether you're Republican or Democrat," Gregory said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "Medicare, for instance, is a huge problem."

Gregory went on to explain that Obama will need to be able to persuade most Americans to "give back some things" in order to reach his policy goals.

Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson countered that before asking people to forfeit social programs like Medicare, Obama "had to establish the principle that the wealthier are going to pay a bit more."

Host Joe Scarborough then pushed Robinson, asking, "So now we're ready for the Medicare reform, right?"

Watch the exchange, posted by Mediaite on Jan. 21, 2013, below.

[h/t Crooks & Liars]