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Subscribe to RSSNEWBERRY, S.C. – Newt Gingrich made President Obama his only target in a town hall here tonight, describing what he believes would be a brutal general election fight against the president.
“In January 2012, Gingrich-Obama campaign will come down to two questions: Can you endure the pain of four more years of radical incompetence, which would be my argument, and, can I survive the weight of negativity, smears, assaults and lies that they’re going to throw?” Gingrich said.
Speaking to a packed Newberry Opera House after a fundraising barbecue for the South Carolina Republican Party, Gingrich added that the Obama campaign is already attacking Republican candidates because the president can’t highlight his first-term record.
“Watch their first ambushes against Romney and ask yourselves this question: Why would a president of the United States run an attack ad in November before there’s even a Republican nominee? It’s because they’ve got nothing positive to say about three and a half years of failure.”
While the Democratic National Committee and pro-Obama Super-PAC Priorities USA (run by former Obama administration officials) have already begun to attack Mitt Romney, the Obama campaign itself has not, releasing its first ad, a direct appeal to voters from the president, today.
Gingrich dared Obama to run a strictly positive campaign, saying it would greatly reduce his re-election chances, although Gingrich seemed uninterested in doing so himself, referring to the president as a “Saul Alinsky radical” at least three times during the town hall.
The twenty-year congressman and former House speaker’s criticism of Washington was not limited to the president, as he also slammed members of Congress for making insider trades, saying newly-elected members should have to keep their assets in blind trusts.
“It is so clear that they have so much power that there is no way to build trust in an environment where they can make money out of what they’re doing,” Gingrich said.
He also suggested that Congress’ record-low approval ratings are a threat to the country. “You can’t sustain freedom in a country where that level of contempt exists for one of the key institutions of self-government.”
Gingrich also criticized inside-the-Beltway political consultants, suggesting former President George W. Bush’s team could have had a bigger win in the 2004 re-election campaign if they had listened to Gingrich’s advice.
“In the summer of 2004 I wrote a paper for the Bush campaign arguing that [Democratic nominee John] Kerry was vulnerable to a catastrophic defeat,” Gingrich said, noting Kerry’s liberal voting record. “And I couldn’t get the consultants to agree to run a campaign based on ideas,” he added in remarks reminiscent of those he made after former campaign staffers resigned en masse in June.
“My campaign consultants understood 30-second attack ads,” Gingrich said on Fox and Friends on June 15th. “They didn’t understand you could actually write a book with big ideas and actually campaign talking about big ideas.”
Absent from his remarks tonight was any real criticism of Mitt Romney, although Gingrich generated attention for saying he is “a lot more conservative than Mitt Romney” during a radio interview with a Charleston station on Monday morning.
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WELL what has Obama done except record absent
At lest newt has a Plan One that makes since ,and he is willing to listen to other folk who have Ideas on how to fix our country
The Newt - obama debates are going to make history ,WORLD HISTORY as the greatest debates ever
Darrel, I'm sure you are typing to fast and really meant 'sense.' However, I do agree with you on a plan and ideas. I won't vote for Newt in the primaries, but if he is chosen by the republicans I will vote for him next November. My guess is that it will be Romney vs Obama, but who knows.
At lest newt has a Plan One that makes since
What would that plan be?? Newt flip-flops more than Romney. His "plan" this hour will change next hour, change to something else the hour after that, then he will come up with a new "plan" that is the complete opposite of his first "plan" and then he will start changing that "plan."
lol, I get confused by the people who say "obama has done nothing!" and "obama is destroying the country by what he does"
I wish people would get their stories straight.
as to whether newt's plan "makes sense", that depends on your view. He's going to drastically cut the corporate tax rate and make america "more competitive"..except, of course, that doesn't address corporate loopholes that greatly reduce the EFFECTIVE tax rate..nor does it address the labor rate disparity that is the real problem, not a small difference in EFFECTIVE corporate tax rates on profits.
and if you drastically cut spending and lower employment drastically...how does that work in a weak economy?
and he called for a "dual tax" approach...pick the approach you like..which is a crazy idea.
newt's plan has a lot of interesting things, but it isn't obvious that it "makes sense".
yes... the greatest shellacking ever given by an incumbent president
The only shellacking that is going on is that the TPGOP ramming these clowns and crooks down peoples throats and expect them to fall for it and in usual fashion the Republican robots line up like ducks and defend these degenerates.
Newt sixty thousand a speech come on don't they deserve a refund of fifty nine thousand nine hundred and nine dollars and fifty cents.That's fair for two bit politician.
If the GOP decides to run Newt...it will be the death of their party as NOONE in America (or the World) would believe how idiotic and stupid people could be to vote for this POS...he hates God , is a big time crook and worst of all is just plain anti-American...in fact maybe he should run cuz between Obama killing him in debates and the amount of skeletons in this dudes closet....it would make some great TV!!!
OBAMA 2012!!!!!
America has already proven just how dumb they were when they elected some moron from Illinois that has never had a job more consequential than community organizer. I guess if you call his job as state representative and his few months in the U.S. Senate, wherein both places he continually voted "present" that might be slightly higher than community organizer. A guy who wrote two or three books about himself before he actually accomplished anything requires a true narcissist. A guy that constantly panders to unions, muslims and bows and undulates to foreign leaders. A guy that couldn't care less about the financial destruction this country is going through. A guy who prefers to stand on the sidelines while the rest of big government does the heavy lifting. A guy who funnels money into "green" companies that turn around and donate to his campaign that then go bankrupt on the taxpayers' dime. A guy who is associated with known domestic terrorists and communists. Need I say more? Now, just who is the idiot here? YOU ARE. For voting for the WORST president in history and continuing the drumbeat of the brainwashed OBAMANOIDS!
Wow Nick - never heard none of that jargon before............you go!
" I guess if you call his job as state representative and his few months in the U.S. Senate, wherein both places he continually voted "present" that might be slightly higher than community organizer."
I think I'd also call civil rights attorney and professor of constititutional law jobs. And you're aware he voted present a whole 3% of the time? http://www.factcheck.org/2008/09/obamas-legislative-record/
Just to address two of your right-wing talking points....
And exactly how many trials did he participate in other than when Acorn was one of the parties involved? Oh, that's right, probably NONE!
And for someone that was supposedly a "professor" of constitutional law he sure shows a blatant disregard for what the document says and means. Either that or he really doesn't know what it says or means.
"And exactly how many trials did he participate in other than when Acorn was one of the parties involved? Oh, that's right, probably NONE!"
Right. Because EVERY lawyer is a trial lawyer. Not.
"And for someone that was supposedly a "professor" of constitutional law he sure shows a blatant disregard for what the document says and means."
According to you. If I have to choose between a professor of constitutional law and an internet blogger for what is constitutional or not, guess who I choose?
Remember this all you teatards -- back in 1996 the official Republican candidate was Bob Dole. But Clinton turned Dole into Newt Gingrich and ran against him. Do you remember who won that time around? Bottom line -- Gingrich is yesterday's news, a has been, wanna-be, never was who was tossed out of the House by his own people. If he is nominated -- and I doubt he will be -- President Obama will mop up the floor with him -- just like Clinton did only worse.
if you think Russia and China laugh at us know...just think how funny it would be when they introduce Newt as Prez: "and here now is the President Gingrich and the first...no second..no third ..Whore of the United States"...
The Presidential debates will be the most fun. Newt will wipe his ass with Obama and throw the pitiful Obama residue down the political toilet.
Obama is gone in 2012. That is a given. The only questions that are relevant are the ones concerning elimination of the Democratic Party, and returning America into a world power once again.
"Obama is gone in 2012. That is a given."
I wouldn't be quite so sure about that if I were you.
Joseph... you mean a world power like when Bush allowed the biggest terrorist attack in American history? You mean a world power like when Bush invaded the wrong country over a bunch of lies? You mean like when the Republicans couldn't finish the Iraq or Afghanistan wars? You mean like when they killed Osama Bin Laden? No... that was Obama, wasn't it?
How would gingrich be different from the bushman & mr grover. He wouldn't. He would be the same. What would he have done differently. Would he have invaded iraq. Of course. Would he have been able to kill bin laden. No way. Prevent the 2007 crash. Are you kidding.
didnt Newt throw away his man card when he became a little girly man snitch!!???
what real man would even consider voting for this dickless wonder...let alone voice their respect for him...any dude that supports this pile of paste would be hard up to find a woman...unless he has a 500,000.00 credit line at Tiffs!!!!
Youre jealousy is showing LMAO
Yep, I think Jennifer is done sleeping with piles of paste. (Unless they have $$$) LOL
Newt benefits from Cain's situation - guess that would be the pro-adultery vote.
Gingrich being a two time admitted adulterer, forced out of congress for ethics violations. On January 21, 1997, the House of Representatives voted 395 - 28 to discipline him for ethical wrongdoing, was ordered to pay a fine of $300,000 and he resigned.
If he is disqualified to serve in Congress, how is he qualified to run for President?
He was cleared by the IRS = no ethics violation Try to keep up
You try to keep up. He admitted he did it.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/011897.htm
I see Newt hasn't lost any of his arrogance over the years. I try not to imagine what he would say to other world leaders if we are dumb enough to elect him. On the other hand "W" got elected to a second term, so anything can happen. Scary!
So that's Gingrich's studied, candid, objective assessment of the 2012 election: 1) I'll be the nominee; 2) Obama sucks; 3) How will I ever be able to survive all the awful, terrible, unfair things that will be said about me by those awful, terrible Democrat Liberals. WOW! What insight! What new ideas! What brilliance! Newt's a historian, you know! He knows a lot of stuff, you know! With Sarah Palin at his side, never blinking, wow, they'll go far!
Newt is sorely tainted by his personal and public life. He is the ideal candidate for Obama to defeat.
If this were the case than why are all the libbies posting all this stuff (lies). I would think you would want him to get the nomination since you think Obama would beat him easily ??????? Maybe you know that anybody could beat Obama??????
"Maybe you know that anybody could beat Obama??????"
Really? Because 95% of all the recent polls show Obama ahead of any republican challenger. See here: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/president_obama_vs_republican_candidates.html
"Radical incompetence... a failure... a Saul Alinsky (?) Radical..." And Newtie is complaining that the president is going to engage in negativity, assaults, smears and lies? These conservatives really take the cake... I guess it's OK when they do it
It is laughable to try to run against Obama as incompetent. He has managed to keep the economy from totally tanking against total obstruction from republicans.
He has passed health care against 100% republican opposition, killed Bin Laden and other terrorists. Has watched the fall of several dictators in the Mideast and kept the country safe along with ending the war in Iraq.
Not a bad record.
Good points, Joel. Those that listen to the Koch brothers propaganda and turn around and parrot their talking points don't seem to understand that this President has faced a task that swamped their Party Boy hero (Bush The Failure).
Health care bill was not an acomplishment Hopefully SCOTUS will do the right thing and declare it unconstitutional
Health care bill was not an acomplishment Hopefully SCOTUS will do the right thing and declare it unconstitutional
The repugnicrites and the sheeple must be soooo excited to possibly present yet another super white skinned, white haired, old school, self important candidate to America(at least I had respect for John McCain's sacrifice and service to the country last time around.)
Never mind that he(Brute Gingrich) is a liar, cheat and a total lobbyist for Fannie/Freddie organizations they loath.
It must be hard to keep their talking points straight these days when they come here to flaunt the wonderfulness of the PARTY OF HARM to us.
Fox Lies.
Since it looks like Newt has already gotten the Republican nomination, we'll jump to his question:
...and, can I survive the weight of negativity, smears, assaults and lies that they’re going to throw?” Gingrich said.
They won't need any smears or lies. The truth should suffice. Newt seems to be at the apex of the Teatard euphoria that has wrapped up all the rest - like Perry, Cain, Palin, Blechman and Trump before him. He can do no wrong. None of his skeletons will come out of the closet. His affairs will never be mentioned, even the one with his wife in the hospital with cancer.
Yup, it's a wrap.
I know the right will tear into this like a dog on a bone, but read this and tell me you'd still vote for Newt in the primaries (God forbid the General Election).
"www.nytimes.com/2011/11/30/opinion/my-man-newt.html"
"radical incompetence", "Can I survive the weight of negativity, smears, assaults and lies that they’re going to throw?”. Well if that isn't the adulterer calling the pot a cheater. Newt Gingrich will never sit in the Oval Office unless it is as a guest.
only in GOP land can you lie DIRECTLY to GOD (twice) and still be a "conservative christian"....lets see how fox news and lara (the ugh) ingram try to flip from TOTALLY hating Newt a month ago ...to LOVING him now...let the ignorance begin!!!
Gingrich is so rich, he wants to be President to GIVE HIMSELF EVEN MORE TAX CUTS !!! He will argue that the Rich, like him, SHOULD PAY NO TAXES, SINCE THEY "Drive the Economy" and the rest of the 99.9 % should WORSHIP THE RICH, like in days of yesteryear !!! This is what the "Conservative Revolution" is all about !!! NO GOVERNMENT FOR THE RICH, AND A POLICE STATE FOR EVERYONE ELSE !!! Keep voting for Repukes and that's what Amerika will look like !!!
I am waiting to hear Newt's explanation for BJ he got while sitting in his car in his own driveway. You know the one that his neighbor said thank god Newt's kids were not old enough to see what was going on in the car with a woman other than his wife.
Some say they will give up integrity for competence. Well enough for the family value BS. My question is how can one that has no integrity lead this country out of the hole we are in.
Another one from Newt's treasure chest. In 2008 Newt's made millions from the political donations given him by his supporters. He did this by funneling contributions thru his consulting firm of which he was the sole benficiary. WOnder if he is doing the same now.
Also, is it possible that Cain picked up on this and decided to throw his hat into the ring for the sole purpose of pocketing most of the political contributions provided him, also helped him sell books.
For those that don't know it one can keep political contribution if one retires from politics.
We will boot Newt, just like they picked off all of their other front runners.
We will boot Newt, just like they picked off all of their other front runners.
Gingrich is a swollen, pompous, pustule of turpitude. He was committing adultery with his current wife while attempting to impeach President Clinton for Sexual misconduct. My feeling is if it was his moral judgment President Clinton was unfit to serve then it follows he should remove himself from any consideration for the nomination of the grand old party hat. He does get my vote for the most worthless politician of the 20th and 21st century. He deserves that at the least.