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Subscribe to RSSFormer Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign kicked off its offensive against Newt Gingrich in earnest on Thursday, deploying surrogates who accused the former House Speaker of being "not a reliable or trustworthy" conservative.
The Romney campaign pivoted from its singular focus on President Obama to instead undermine Gingrich, who's surged in the polls and has emerged as Romney's most direct obstacle to the nomination.
In an interview on MSNBC, following a conference call with reporters, former New Hampshire Governor John Sununu laid out the Romney campaign's case against Gingrich in two neat sentences.
"I don't think Newt Gingrich cares about conservative principles. He cares about Newt Gingrich," Sununu said.
The interview and conference call were part of a coordinated effort by the Romney campaign to begin to create contrast with the surging Gingrich, both on specific issues -- in this case, Medicare reform -- and on leadership style. They came amidst an email blitz from the Romney campaign, which included touting new endorsements in Romney's backyard of New Hampshire, to Gingrich's neighborhood. Tennesee.
On the call, former Sen. Jim Talent (R-MO), who served in the house under Gingrich, said he was speaking out against Gingrich "reluctantly" but that "the stakes are too high" for him not to weigh in.
Talent, who began the call by highlighting Gingrich's opposition to House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's (R-WI) Medicare plan as "right wing social engineering," said that Gingrich was "not a reliable or trustworthy leader," and "also says outrageous things" that undermine the conservative agenda.
Sununu, who served as President George H. W. Bush's chief of staff when Gingrich was a rising star on the hill, was even more harsh in his critique, saying Gingrich's comments on the Ryan plan were "the most self-serving thing you could imagine," and highlighted his penchant for "self aggrandizement"
Asked about whether Newt's leadership style made him unsuitable to be commander-in-chief, Sununu drew on his experience with Bush, as someone who "understood the depth of analysis required" to be commander-in-chief, made him certain Governor Romney was more qualified for that position.
"The off-the-cuff comments are a reflection of [Gingrich's] off the cuff thinking and you do not want that in the commander-in-chief," he said.
Asked on the conference call whether Gingrich's sometimes tumultuous personal life raised concerns as well, the Romney backers did not engage.
"That's not what we're here to talk about," Talent said, before calling for the final question.
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Chapter 459 from the book of your just can't make this stuff up!
If that's not the pot calling the kettle black Willard... lol
Says the campaign who spent 100K to wipe out any and all info on Mitten's time as Governor!
While the RWNJ's continue to eat their own...
I would suggest they order the 'Rootie Tootie Fresh & Newtie' pancakes over at IHOP!
Newt/Bachmann 2012!!!
Newt is a God amongst conservative voices! I'm basing my strong support of Newt on Newt's history. He does behave reliably. I'm fairly certain I know exactly what Newt will do when he wins the Republican nomination and am looking forward to it intensely.
Newt's victory will help define the conservative movement in a way that is long overdue.
Newt/Cain 2012! or Newt/Bachman 2012, whichever!
nisl Newt a god? What drugs are you on? Could I get ten dollars worth of what it is? I don't trust Newt as far as I could throw him and that wouldn't be far. Newt should try out for being the new dough boy. Your free to chose the candidate you want. But Please don't make him into something he's not. Lying, and adultery don't make him a god, even in voice only.
I am in a quandry. I agree with the Romney campaign that Newt is for Newt. I also agree with Feisty that it is the pot/kettle problem.
And on a side note, I was informed on another blog that the Fox news channel is a real channel for news - not a poorly written Comedy Channel.
My world is spinning. What can I do?
I just remembered that old song and think I can apply it to Willard.
Remember "Little Willie, Willie won't . . . go home! But you can't push Willie 'round cause Willie won't go!"
It's going to be my new Willard Mitt Romney gingle. To remind him what his first name is and the inevitability of his campaign.
Smitty - He is so a God! You just hate him because you know he will beat Obama. You are AFRAID of him!
Go ahead, try to demonize Newt. I dare you! If there is one thing conservatives do it is rally around our own when liberals attack them. That is why Cain stayed so high in the polls for so long.
Newt's history of adultery, lying and generally being a POS have no bearing! He is white, he says nasty, vile, despicable and untrue things about Obama, and therefore he is going to be the Republican nominee.
Newt is a PIG of the first order!! Add 'Not Reliable' and 'Not Trustworthy' to the long, long list.
I never thought I'd see the day that a disgraced, known fraud would seriously be considered as Presdent of the United States and leader of the free world. It must be pre-war Germany all over again!!
Don't take much to be a God in your world there nisl. Just conviction on 84 ethics violations and having your own Party vote to kick you out of your Speakership. As far as defineing the Conservative Movement I'd say old Newt's Alternate Reality experiance makes him just as good a candidate as any for giving the Yahoo's a direction.
Hey, Ana, let's make Mittens produce his birth certificate! And all the other stuff the birthers want. Then we will finally know his first name and if he is really an American AND he if he is truly a citizen of this planet (his hair and demeanor seem a little alien to me).
Oh good God, don't you guys realize snark when it is smacking you in the face?
As far as defining the Conservative Movement I'd say old Newt's Alternate Reality experience makes him just as good a candidate as any for giving the Yahoo's a direction.
Yeah, if you read my prior comment closely (between the lines) you'll find that is exactly what I was getting at.
I just love a good snark. Gets the blood going. Puts a smile on the face. Can cure the common cold. And it leaps tall buildings in a single bound. (Gee, snark and the GOP field sound a lot alike)
nisl - child labor laws are stupid. Shut down the government not once but twice. Removed from being Speaker of the House. Fined for his improprieties. Hows that for a start? Defend him! When does being a lier have, no bearing to be President? Thats the one I want you to answer.
Smitty
A) Adjust your snark detection system
B) You got it adjusted? Good. Here I go: Newt can lie because he is so smart he can think things through to the point where what would be a lie is not a lie because of Newt's Jedi-like powers!
Smitty, calm down. nisl was just being sarcastic! We all think Newt'rs is a slimeball. But, he makes it so very easy to play him.
Smitty, I thought you had figured it out after the second post. nisl is just having fun. Newt is my favorite God-like candidate also. I mean come on man, don't you want to see The NEWT go up against Obama and get his clock cleaned? :)
That what happens when I think of Newt as our leader. I just go into the W.T.F. mode. When someone pushes the Newt button, I have a forced action to debate the insanity.
What I'm looking forward to is four different winners in the first four republican primaries/caucuses. Its not too far out of the realm of possibilities. It really is too bad that both parites are now run by their firnge elements (although the Dems to a lesser extent). Thus far the Repubs don'e seem to gotten to the point of determining who is electable in Nov. I'm all for that and a clean sweep of the tea-party fringe come the next election. This Congress is already historic in the number of days spent out of legislating, and is heading for the distinction of being the greatest "do nothing" Congress in history.
I got it, nils! (Jumping up and down and trying to be seen.) I got it! I got it! ;-)
What I loved was this part of the NBC post:
Wow! If Bush is the standard by which to be measured as CIC, then all Romney has to do is stand on his head, stick his tongue out, put his thumbs in his ears and waggle his fingers--and voila! a CIC equal to Bush.
Oops! nisl, not nils. My apologies. Maybe if I knew what it stood for, I'd get it right. . . .
Romney: "I know what it is to be artificial. Being artificial is a friend of mine. So believe me when I say that Gingrich is artificial."
Mitt and Newt are both pathological liars. Ron Paul will shock the world!
Ron Paul 2012
Gingrich made a lot of enemies in his own party as well as among the opposition during his shameful tenure in the House of Representatives and a long line is forming of people who have scores to settle and axes to grind against him. Talent and Sununu are merely the beginning of the flood of voices that will be raised against Newt until he ultimately fails in his bid for the presidency.
It will be very entertaining to watch the other Republican pretenders whoop on Gingrich.
The really scary thing is the amount of money the "clown of the day" is able to raise. We know about the Koch brothers but there must be some other serious covert wealthy dudes who are determined to get "their guy" into the white house - top the polls and the money floods in - doesn't seem to matter if the person is qualified.
Are these dudes dropping all this cash for the good of the country - or to protect the system with their puppet? A system that ensures their wealth at the expense of the nation. I wonder....NOT!
Newt Gingrich is a confessed liar and cheat. He was removed from office, by his own political party for moral and ethical misdeeds. Being a known liar and cheat, should not be considered virtues for being President of the United States. If this is the best, that conservatives can come up with, this country is in serious trouble.
"You are AFRAID of him"
No nisl --- we are NOT afraid of Newt just like we were not afraid of Palin, Pawlenty, Huckabee, Trump, Bachmann, Perry, Cain or any of the rest of the collections of clowns, con artist or outright morons you teapublicans are serving up as presidential candidates.
Smitty, Charlie - have a Xanax on me, lil buddies...
" Would you trust Newt with your wife" ? - "Would you trust Grinch with your Country" ? "Would you trust Mr. bang bang with your money" ? Now Newt is to carry the T-Retard flag for his party ? Newt is a lowlife and his political baggage will be his down fall. Also I think the debate in Iowa is all trumped up for the Newt.
@ Patriotic American Do you realize that using the word "retard" is as offensive to some people as the word "ni**er" is to other people. I call people like you "@!$%#s" or "douche bags"...
True-Give it a rest...I work in that field and it is a real sign of a shi**y person to use that word...Also, MSNBC...Tennessee...not Tennesee...Spell check would have caught that one...
@give it a rest! - Retard is also a word which simply means "delay or hold back in terms of progress, development, or accomplishment". You take offense to it why? Stop being a baby. It's a word.
Newt is a proven serial adulterer, a proven liar, and the epitome of a corrupt politician. Sounds like the perfect GOP candidate to me!
NISL
Tis only funny to the very few with the overactive whishful thinkin So don't try to make a living off comedy. You have to have an element truth - not what you want to believe as truth. No conservative would worship any man - they know that is a huge mistake - it's anybody's race yet.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign kicked off its offensive against Newt Gingrich in earnest on Thursday, deploying surrogates who accused the former House Speaker of being "not a reliable or trustworthy" conservative.
What they forgot to mention is that neither is Romney!!!!! Romney is the least reliable and trustworthy politician in this country!
Newt/Cain 2012!!!
nisl, I heard Newt advised Jesus about the sermon on the mount speech and taught him how to turn water into wine!
Just make sure Callista doesn't let the Newt'rs get too patriotic!
Phine - It is true!
Funny story, you know how Jesus walked on water? You know why? Because it was raining and Newt didn't want to go and fetch his newspaper, so he sent his minion Jesus to do it for him.
I knew it. I just knew it. I knew there had to be more to that walking on water story that met the eye!
Seriously, the moment I read this comment from the Romney camp, my first thought was, "Really? That's just asking to be hoisted with their own petard".
So, What's the difference between Romney and Obama - they both are using surrogates to do the dirty work, so they can look clean. To bad for Romney - this is not tolerated in the Republican party
NISL - are you Newt bashing, Catholic bashing, Republican bashing, Christ bashing? A couple of those will act like a boomerang.
I would suggest they order the 'Rootie Tootie Fresh & Newtie' pancakes over at IHOP!
There ain't nothing fresh about the Newt.
Talk about the dream ticket. We should ask Rick to add that to his prayer list.
Good Morning everyone,
I'm officially on vacation until Jan 3rd. So I'll have lots of time to watch the new hit reality show called Republicans Devouring Each Other. Although the cast changes daily, There's never a dull moment :)
Morning again fuzzy. So who's going to be the next GOP candidate kicked off the island?
'who's going to be the next GOP candidate kicked off the island'
my favorite PIG hopefully...
Fantasy Island will be down 1 person in the next 2 weeks. It would be unfair to the other viewers to leak this info. So, you'll have to stay tuned.
OK, here's a hint He's got alot of baggage and is steadily packing :)
Would really to be funny if it was Mittens. Imagine, campaigning for 6 years and you still can't win. Although, truth be told, they should all just abandon the island. But then, who would we have to laugh at?
Let the amphibian feast begin! Republicans eating their own. Gingrich makes Romney look steady.
I like a little hot sauce and lime juice on my amphibians.
I'll pass up the Willard part of the buffet altogether. Looks great, but then you realize all the food is plastic.
And Romney is?
You can rely on Mitt to say whatever will get him up in the polls.
And you can definitely trust Mitt to do whatever benefits him monetarily
At least Romney hasn't cheated on his poor sick wives, been convicted of ethics violations, and left Congress in disgrace!!
I know, I know...... those things aren't important to you.... lol
At least Romney hasn't cheated on his poor sick wives
Oh, snap! That was funny! But you do know mainstream Mormonism no longer condones polygamy, right? Do you have some inside info on old mittens?
But come on, just because Mitt hasn't had an affair doesn't mean he hasn't tried. Mitt says he hasn't had a political career but THAT is certainly not for lack of trying. Maybe women find Mitt as unattractive as the Republican base does and Mitts monogamy is due to Mitt getting shot down a lot.
Some couples view monogamy in marriage as a critical piece of their covenant to one another. This is unheard of in some circles, I know. And if your marriage is not one of a holy covenant, then you probably don't understand this. In such a marriage, no matter how often you have the opportunity to cheat, you choose to remain faithful, in order to keep the promise you made to your spouse.
I'm guessing Willard is just a little better at hiding it.
With politicians, I will continue to assume they all cheat. It just goes with the lifestyle. Long hours, longer egos, a lot of time away from home, plenty of women around who seemingly are attracted to power like flies to a porchlight (which is why they probably work around politicians to begin with).
So if clinging to this artificial view these showmen work hard to create about their family lives, etc., is your cup of tea - that's fine. Myths can be useful. It's just not for me.
God Bless America,
I know of and have seen many "marriages...of a holy covenant" end in divorce because of adultery. Christians break the same rules...sin the same way...and ignore the Bible just as much, if not more, than a none believer.
If the God in the Bible existed there would be no blessing to America. A nation of people who feel it a burden to take care of the weak and sick and poor. A nation with culture of greed and money...a nation that starts wars when it shouldn't. Most of all....a nation with Republicans. Republicans who fight to keep more of the money in the hands of wealthy. A group that doesn't support universal healthcare for all....
Sorry went a little off track there.
Note...Dems wouldn't be much better in the eyes of God.
Newt is a pig - You really need to do some fact checking. Newt and his wife mutaally agreed to and filed for divorce 2 months before she went into the hospital to have a benign tumor removed.
The only things correct about your version is that the then Mrs Gingrich, was in the hospital, and Newt visited her with their daughter.
Repeating such rubbish might make you popular with poltical partisans (haters) but it does your credibility with the true independents that check facts.
We should all join Perry's war on God. Or is it war for God? What God was Perry talking about in that ad anyways? Oops.
I believe Governor Perry is referring to the beliefs of our founding fathers, who founded our country on Biblical, Christian principles.
God Bless America...
I hope you are kidding. Are you talking about the same founding fathers who thought it important to seperate church and state?
This nation was founded on Biblical, Christian principles??? Strange --- I've read every word of the constitution several times and I have yet to find a single mention of the Bible, Christian, Christianity, Christian principles or God in that document.
God Bless, you are deluded. Our founding fathers were sensible, intelligent people, not crazy, phony religious freaks like Perry, Bachmann and their ilk.
Our founding fathers read the enlightenment philosophers, and used those definitions of God, freedom, justice, and liberrty to create the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. They also worshipped in churches that interpreted scripture in the light of historical criticism. They believed biblical literalism to be a heretical misuse of scripture. And they would react with horror to the religious views of both the far right and far left.
These radicals drive people away from Christianity by telling themselves they have to force the rest of us to be Christian. This isn't Christianity, it's self-worship in the name of Jesus Christ.
And the worst thing is - this kills churches that want to practice loving our neighbor as ourselves, and creates churches that love their political ideology more than God.
Vip - view on the forefathers is skewed. What they did not want was any specific religion to rule over the central government (Roman Catholic Church ruled over several countries in history) or have the central government to use any religion sect to rule over the people (England and Russia). They also did not government to favor or punish specific sects or religions - unless they murder or cheat people.
BTW the Government violates these restraints.
The government created 501,c,3's (tax exempt status for charitable organizations). Any orgainzation can get this as long as - they restrict their speech and do not collect money for political campaigns. Gee it seems Certain Democrats do this on a regular basis, but, if Republicans do this well you lose your exemption status.
This makes Willard Mitt look desperate and weak and frankly, very clumsy.
I'll start in reverse order. To broadcast that you are having a concerted effort to bring down Newt looks very clumsy and stupid. Has Willard heard of the word "subtle?" Willard Mitt could have had various people like Sununu go on TV and radio every day or so and criticize Newt - kind of like Coburn last Sunday - which would have been far more effective than an orchestrated blitz announced to the world! This comes across as very amateurish and dumb.
Willard Mitt looks weak. By making such a public display that he needs HELP - and tons of it - from this orchestrated group of surrogates leaves the impression that he does not have enough fire power of his own to do the job.
And Willard Mitt looks very, very, very DESPERATE! Now - in addition to rolling out this group to attack Newt - Willard has agreed to go on FOX News Sunday this coming Sunday. That of course is not a bad thing - but when you have religiously shunned these shows since March 2010 it makes you look desperate to suddenly agree to appear ONLY after you are tanking in the polls.
One other note. Willard Mitt in just about every recent poll has LOST about 5 points. That may not sound like much but if you are starting at about 25% and you drop 5% that is a 20% decline!
I think historians will look back at December 8 as the day that Willard Mitt's campaign officially began its downward spiral into defeat. This conference call was the white flag of surrender.
There is something seriously wrong with our country when a major political party fields such flawed people such as Newt and mitt and santorum and bachmann and cain and paul and perry . The inmates are running the asylum. Do they really believe what they say? It is like listening to the Goebels Faux news channel over and over again. What is funny about the whole fiasco is that there is only one sane----so-called Christian family man in the race and that is Obama.
Newt can't be God. Today, that distinction goes to Albert Pujols, former first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals. He apparently was given a contract worth $250 million by the California Angels!
What economic slow down?
You gotta wonder why Trump is going all out to back ( and even court ) Newt... i wouldnt trust either one of them with anything, let alone the presidency...you also have to wonder what kind of favors Trump is expecting if newt is elected... I'm sure he doesn't want his bathroom remodeled. So trump decides to have a debate and load the questions in favor of Newt..... so transparent.....I think trump has his eye on the vice presidency BECAUSE he's such a control freak...and probably plans to control the White House from the back seat, like cheney did.Don't forget what a mistake THAT administration was
For those saying it's a pot/kettle situation, you've been drinking too much anti-Romney Kool-aide. His flip-flops don't even begin to approach Gingrich's. Also, his change in stance on abortion was based on conscience, not money the way Gingrich's flips all seem to be self-serving. Romney has never flipped on his Mass healthcare plan, despite all those who carelessly accuse him of changing positions for political expediency.
Basically, Mitt is trustworthy and reliable. His entire life and accomplishments are testament to that fact if you can actually hear anything about the real man through the chorus of smears. If anyone has a legitimate question about his ostensible flip-flops, have a look at this site: Some of the claims of flip-flopping use more recent references, but they're all based on over-simplifications and mischaracterizations of completely reasonable policy positions with few exceptions that have other reasonable explanations. For those grown ups who want a leader to actually fix our country, not a figure head who does a great Jon Stewart guest appearance, Romney is the man we all need.
The link was stripped from my last post, but the site is whyromney dot com. It's hard to get in all the explanations for an un-ending barrage of smears, most of which now from journalists who don't even bother with the out-of-context supposed contradictions, instead just saying "his flip-flops are well established" which is completely lazy journalistic BS feeding the caricature that so many people love to indulge. So, if you're looking for answers, here you go.
Romney 2012.
Which is the same thing as saying Failure in 2012, Leona.
Nobody 2012
There is nothing oversimplified or mischaracteristed about 2Mitts' positions on Rowe vs Wade for example. 2Mitt lacks conviction and courage to stay on any one position. He is only for keeping the status quo and will do nothing to make things better for the average american.
Liberals like to shed suspicion on Republican candidates ........but where are the suspicions about Obama, Holder and the Dems who don't have a budget, and are blocking the Canada pipeline that would create thousands of jobs here??
The Congress gets stonewalled by Obama & Holder on Solyndra & Fast & Furious.......but the Democrat state of Massachusettes is looking for old Romney documents??
For sure, Breuer will be the fall guy for Fast and Furious. What can we say about an Attorney General (Holder), though, who is sworn to uphold the nations laws , who feels he is above the law and lies to Congress about info he got.
No wonder Obama likes him. That's Chicago style at it's finest.
Hey, Eric Holder is the same guy who said that it's not a problem for the New Black Panthers to stand out in front of polling places in Philadelphia with billy clubs in hand.
"Liberals like to shed suspicion on Republican candidates"
Leona -- the ones shedding suspicions on Republican candidates are other Republicans.
Very true. In fact, by the time the GOP's wannabe candidates are done shedding, there won't be enough left of all of them to assemble one whole candidate.
But Newt is much worse, he'd sell his soul for a $1.5M. The entire GOP slate is a joke, maybe with the exception of Huntsman. But he is too educated and therefore too much of an elitist for the TPers. Huckleby, you should've said no to the Faux news and run. You'd be nominated for sure.
Well, Newt becomming a Catholic hasn't change him a bit.Do you think he tells the truth in confession?
Republian politics are the most vile and counterproductive form of public discourse I've ever seen, even among thier own. It has little to do with issues and everthing to do with personal demonization.
all that is needed for the douchebag-in-chief to get a 2nd term is to run a fu--ing idiot like newtie.
So Romney thinks Newt is not trustworthy. WOW!!! That's like saying the earth is round. Even the people who support Newt know he's not trustworthy.
If King Bo Bo created a playbook for his re-erection, this must be it. Our Gubmint (Rep) leaders are about the dumbest stuff on TV. You just can't make this poo up. Go ahead GOP. great job of re-erecting Bo Bo Gee whiz, idiots everywhere.................
Trustworthy or not. He sure sent our real estate market down the tubes with the support of bad loans and foreclosures. Not to mention the derivative trading on the bad loans and the take down of our entire economy and the world's. Gingrinch has no moral compass.
Are you people crazy? Practically all of Congress and the President are liars and cheats. Most of you continue to elect the same ones and expect change. What a bunch of idiots! Don't you realize that the reason our government is in such a mess is because of these career politicians?
Best post yet and the perfect description of insanity
The one thing that Newt said (right wing social engineering is just as bad as left wing social engineering) that makes sense, is the one thing that his opposision is blasting him for! It would appear to me that the republiccan party just cant handle the truth!
The hell with Newt not being concerned about conservative principles. He isn't concerned with our country, only how much money he can squeeze out of the sideshow that he is running.