WASHINGTON -- Howard Dean shares something with conservative politicians: He, too, is hoping that the Supreme Court throws out the individual mandate.

"I don't give a damn about the individual mandate," the former Vermont governor told progressive activists during a panel discussion at Tuesday's Take Back the American Dream conference in Washington, D.C. "It was a foolish thing to do anyway, and I hope it does get thrown out." Dean's remarks followed an audience member's criticism of the Affordable Care Act for not being a single-payer system.

The Supreme Court will rule this month on the constitutionality of the individual mandate requiring people to purchase health insurance.

Dean, a physician, does support the legislation as a whole, however. "I don't want to rest of the bill thrown out," he said, adding, "We didn't get what we wanted, but there are some things we can build on."

Earlier in the discussion, Dean, who has served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, had criticized Democrats who "act like Republicans" once elected, citing them as the reason the Affordable Care Act does is not a single-payer plan.

"Let's focus our energies on people who are going to make a difference," Dean said. "We want real, progressive Democrats who are going to stand up and fight for change in this country."