Newt laces up for the big weekend fight.
At a Tea Party town hall meeting in Meredith, N.H. Thursday night, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told the crowd that calling Mitt Romney a conservative is a joke — like something out of a Saturday Night Live skit.
The comment came after Gingrich was asked about attacks on his character – and his refusal to respond in kind: “I am going to run a campaign worthy of my grandchildren,” he said.
Gingrich said he’s running for president, not for personal gain, but because he wants to help the country: “And I think I can help the United States of America by being an honest citizen and telling the truth. And I believe actually, in the end, we will win doing that. I think we’ll do better in New Hampshire than people expect, because when you start to describe a Massachusetts moderate (a reference to Mitt Romney) and you remind people of his record, and suddenly they go, ‘Oh, yeah – he’s not a conservative.’ It’s a joke for him to call himself a conservative. It’s a Saturday Night Live skit.”
Video at the link. This comment tees things up nicely for Saturday night’s debate in New Hampshire. We may be looking at a three-way brawl between Romney, Gingrich and Santorum, with Gingrich and Santorum focusing most of their fire on Mittens while all three have major holes in their records. Romney has undoubtedly practiced for debates in which he is the target, but practice and game day are two different things. He hasn’t faced serious sustained fire in any debate yet. Neither has Santorum. If you’re another competitor in the race who actually does have a strong record governing along conservative principles successfully, here’s an opportunity to provide a contrast both in terms of performance and substance. While they’re arguing, it’s a chance to connect past records with current plans to make a play for the future. The “future” being the next primary and the one after that.
Gingrich is destroying himself here. What appealed about him in the beginning was the wise fellow who excelled in the debates and didn’t get into partisan shots. Now he’s acting like an old line hack. And his poll numbers are tanking accordingly. The only winner in this behavior is Barack Obama – and Gigngrich was the one who was smart enough to say that in the first place. What happened? His skin is too thin to be president.
Good insight, Nancy.
Nonetheless, should the be between Newt and N’obama, I’ve gotta go with Newt.
Where’s that Edit button when you need it?
Missing word: “race.” Should the race be between Newt and N’obama, I’ve gotta go with Newt.
No you’re wrong.
If someone attacks you first, you should attack back. Reagan did too. If you don’t you’re a fool.
Bush’s principle of not responding to media attacks was the great tragedy of his presidency. It lead directly to the rise of Obama and a democratic super majority in the senate.
I someone attacks you first you absolutely should respond aggressively and you’re still OK. And it doesn’t make you look negative.
Aww boo hoo. Another Romney booster who is mad that Romney is getting what is coming to him.
Newt does it in person without cowardly hiding behind a SuperPAC. Romney has been tearing down his REPUBLICAN opponents for two primaries now. Anyone remember what he did to Huckabee?
I look forward to seeing Mittens getting into the mud a bit. IF he is the nominee he better be ready for a lot more than what Newt is throwing at him. About a billion dollars more. So far he and his just whine about it and look weak.
Another SNL moment was McCain with Mittens saying how rough the fight with Obozo was going to get. Mr don’t use Obozo’s middle name because if we are nice to him he’ll be nice to us pathetic 08 strategy trying to sound like now he’s blood and guts McCain.
So far the press has gone soft on Mittens similar to McCain 08 however if nominated that’s going to change all of his positions which are for now categorized as reasoned and thoughtful will be the flip flops of someone who will say anything to get elected.
Gingrich is a one-man Saturday Night Live skit.
I didn’t want a circular firing squad, but can’t see how allowing Romney to buy the election is better than that.
Lete the firing begin.
Romney is an empty suit who believes in nothing (that is why he has flip/flopped on EVERY ISSUE) except –
1) Wanting to be president and saying/doing anything to get it.
2) Bailing out the TBTF banks with YOUR MONEY. He believes it is necessary and as such the BAILOUTS will CONTINUE, at least until we hit Iceland and implode.
Romney is the WHITE OBAMA. Anyone but the RINO.
“Gingrich on Romney’s Conservative Cred: ‘It’s like a Saturday Night Live skit”
Pot meet kettle.
Seriously who has done more since Regan stepped down in 88 to actually advance conservative principles while in government more than Newt?
While the pundits might see this GOP primary smackdown as being bad, I say it’s a good thing. In 2008, we had two RINO’s fighting each other to prove who was more moderate. Look how that turned out.
Now in 2012, we have 4 or 5 candidates arguing over who is more conservative. Frankly, I much prefer our current situation.
A must-see…
Why is Newt SO ANGRY?