Gingrich sends voters mixed signals as he kicks off SC tour

Rainier Ehrhardt / Reuters

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista, greet supporters Wednesday during a campaign stop at the Beacon Drive-In in Spartanburg, S.C.

 

SPARTANBURG, SC -- Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich attempted to set his campaign on a new track after landing in South Carolina Wednesday morning but seemed to change his tone by the end of his first day campaigning in the state.

"I'm frankly pretty fed up with the whole tone of America politics and the American government," Gingrich told the roughly 300 people at his town hall in Rock Hill, where his event had a rather populist tone.


"And crony capitalism, where people pay each other off at the expense of the rest of the country, is not free enterprise," Gingrich said. "Raising questions about that is not wrong."

The former House speaker has raised questions in recent days about Mitt Romney’s record as chief executive of Bain Capital. Some Republicans, including Romney himself, have pushed back at Gingrich over this. Romney on Tuesday accused "desperate Republicans" of teaming up with President Barack Obama in trying to divide America over envy.

At Gingrich's second town hall of the day Wednesday, an attendee questioned his tactics on the subject.

First reported by POLITICO, a South Carolina man told Gingrich: "I'm here to implore one thing of you. I think you've missed the target on the way you're addressing Romney's weaknesses. I want to beg you to redirect and go after his obvious disingenuousness about his conservatism and lay off the corporatist versus the free market. I think it's nuanced."

To which Gingrich responded: "I agree – I agree with you. I think it's an impossible theme to talk about with Obama in the background. Obama just makes it impossible to talk rationally in that area because he is so deeply into class warfare that automatically you get an echo effect which, as a Reagan Republican it frankly never occurred to me until it happened. So I agree with you entirely."

It appeared that Gingrich walked back his earlier comments about Bain, but the campaign says that's not the case.

"This issue at hand is neither about Bain Capital, private equity firms, nor about capitalism. It is about Mitt Romney's judgment and character. It was Governor Romney's decision to base his candidacy, in large part, on his background as a portfolio manager. Thus, it is entirely legitimate to ask questions about whether he is accurately presenting how he conducted himself during that career," Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond said in a statement.

But Gingrich did not bring up crony capitalism at all during his third and final event Wednesday in the Palmetto State, which votes Jan. 21.

Hammond says the campaign is "absolutely not" having doubts about the Romney attacks or "contrasts" thus far.

Gingrich’s campaign had billed Wednesday as a pivoting point in the race, saying Gingrich was to deliver a "defining" speech because people are "frustrated" and Washington hasn’t been listening. While the first speech did take on a few new themes, by the end of the afternoon, his stump speech was back to what he has been saying for a few weeks.

Discuss this post

Newt - the gift that keeps on giving to progressives! lol

Willard is well on his way to the GNOP coronation, but, Newt is going to make sure he is battered & bloodied in the process!

Democrats couldn't ask for a better nominee then Romney!

Willard is going to make Bob Dole in 1996 look like a champion!

  • 8 votes
Reply#1 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:25 PM EST

Feisty, your excitement is merely a mask to hide your desperation (and it's fun to watch). It's funny because the most recent poll, yesterday from CBS, has Romney beating Obama by 2% points if the election were held today. Ouch, huh? That, and the fact that almost ALL major poll outlets STILL show that a majority of American citizens DISAPPROVE of the job Obama has done as president. That HAS to feel great, less than a year from election day, eh? LOL!! Carry on with your drivel!

  • 2 votes
#1.1 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:28 PM EST

There is no desperation. And WOW 2 WHOLE PECENTAGE POINTS!!! That is a rounding error my friend. Keep dreaming.

  • 1 vote
#1.2 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:04 AM EST

Oh I'm sorry, I thought you understood how polls worked. See, 2% points is actually a pretty decent number within national polls concerning a presidential election. I don't need to dream, the data is right there for me to look at. It appears that it is YOU who is unable to deal with the current reality...

  • 1 vote
#1.3 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:56 AM EST
Reply

Awww, look - they woke up.

  • 3 votes
Reply#2 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:25 PM EST

Obama vs Mitt. Woopy doopy do. It don't matter which wins, it'll still end up being Junior's 4th term. Forget false equivalencies; how about false contrasts?

  • 2 votes
Reply#3 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:35 PM EST

Gingrich got close this morning to a startling admission--that crony capitalism is not true capitalism.

The 'free-marketers' always fail to recognize that regular folks can't access the 'market' and the economic game is rigged by the 'cronies' who line each other's pockets at our expense.

Too bad he reversed course. Newt might have had his real epiphany (not that I believe he's capable of a real conversion to economic fairness).

  • 4 votes
Reply#4 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:42 PM EST

I hope they get this voter ID thing instituted before the general.

The video of ballots being handed to dead people is quite troubling.

  • 3 votes
Reply#5 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:48 PM EST

What video?

  • 4 votes
#5.1 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:51 PM EST

I hope they get this voter ID thing instituted before the general.

I do too - first order of business is prosecuting O'Keefe (who is already on parole) & his minions to the FULLEST extent of the law!

However, in highlighting the non-problem of voter fraud in New Hampshire and elsewhere, O’Keefe’s agents appear to have committed voter fraud themselves. Section 659:34 of the New Hampshire code defines voter fraud as when a person (highlights are ours):

In addition, O’Keefe’s group may have run afoul of New Hampshire’s law against hidden recording devices. Granite State law requires both parties to consent when recording devices are used, a fact that even O’Keefe’s own website notes. However, the video gives no indication that poll workers were aware they were being filmed.

One section of footage not released by O’Keefe, however, was when a surrogate was caught at the polls trying to impersonate a dead voter. The Boston Herald notes that the man “disappeared before police could corral him.”

Setting aside the legality of O’Keefe’s stunt, it is important to note that virtually no one – outside of O’Keefe’s agents – actually commits voter fraud. A seminal Brennan Center study on the matter, entitled “The Truth About Voter Fraud“, found that people were far more likely to be stuck by lightning than ever impersonate another voter at the polls. The study examined possible voter fraud in New Hampshire during the 2004 election, but was unable to find evidence for anything close to widespread fraud. Even if four questionable incidences proved true – one involved a “domestic violence victim, who voted from an old address in order to avoid disclosing her current domicile – it would amount to an overall fraud rate of 0.0006%.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/01/11/402756/james-o-keefe-voter-fraud/

  • 9 votes
#5.2 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:52 PM EST

there are people who should not have guns and there are people who should not have cameras ... the pen is mightier than the sword and when used to lie more harmful.

  • 8 votes
#5.3 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:58 PM EST

The occurrence of actual voter fraud in the US is smaller than the number of people killed by lightning strikes.

Force the spending of millions of taxpayer dollars to fix another non-problem. Brilliant

  • 6 votes
#5.5 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:04 PM EST

Rob, I wouldn't drink his koolaid even with your lips.

  • 4 votes
#5.6 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:05 PM EST

Watch the video and judge for yourself....

  • 2 votes
#5.7 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:06 PM EST

Check out Feisty hatin' on the guy exposing the problems.

No one commits voter fraud? They busted a bunch of Dems in Georgi just a month ago. 24% of the voter registration in Wisconsin bad.

Ah, but Feisty can point to a study. Yeah, that dispositive these days.

Man, seems like just yesterday Time had a big old cover story/photo on whistle blowers.

Guess they are righteous when they shine the light on Big Corps or the GOP shenanigans, but not when they expose dems and government corruption.

But Feisty is made at the people seeking ballots for dead people and not the people passing them out.

But somehow I suspect that Feisty would fault the liquor store owner who sold alcohol or cigarettes to minors without ID.

But I did just want the video. Astounding. Kinda takes away the argument that ID should not be absolutely required.

  • 3 votes
#5.8 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:07 PM EST

Force the spending of millions of taxpayer dollars to fix another non-problem. Brilliant

Leave it to the right wing idiots to fix something that isn't BROKEN in the first place!

It always has been & always will be about disenfranchising those who tend to vote Democratic!

All the spinning & twisting in the wind isn't going to change a thing!

Raaab - Daily Caller? Really? lol

  • 7 votes
#5.9 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:11 PM EST

The only walking dead person was O'Keefe.

  • 5 votes
#5.10 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:17 PM EST

Just take a minute to think about all the research that would be required to figure out who died, where they lived, in which precinct they are registered to vote, etc. Then there is the risk that one of the volunteers will know the deceased … busted

Then understand the tens-of-thousands would be needed to change the outcome of an election.

  • 6 votes
#5.11 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:18 PM EST
Reply

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11352/1197406-373-0.stm

Interesting article particularly the quote from a democrat talking about the rampant fraud that takes place in African American precincts

  • 2 votes
Reply#6 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:18 PM EST

Why not give us a link to Tiger Beat or the National Enquirer (which happens to be the NJ nit wits FAVORITE news source)....

Drop the bone Raab - no one is picking up the crap you are laying down! K?

  • 7 votes
#6.1 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:20 PM EST

How about Gallop? Do you trust Gallop? Do you trust the American people?

A recent Gallop poll asked who was the best President EVER?

1. Ronald Reagan 2. Abe Lincoln

That has to sting a bit, huh?

  • 2 votes
#6.2 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:42 PM EST

BY the by, it was the national enquirer that broke the biggest political story of the past 25 years with John Edwards.

And think progress broke what? Wind?

  • 2 votes
#6.3 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:51 PM EST

Satisfaction moving from No.1 to No. 5 stings also ... that kind of polling is time sensitive.

  • 1 vote
#6.4 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:54 PM EST

Link?

  • 1 vote
#6.5 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:06 PM EST

can't post them ... did a 'best rock song' search

  • 1 vote
#6.6 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:17 PM EST

Hey Feisty,

Wasn't it the National Inquirer that brought down ya boy John Edwards, his affair, his love child, all while his wife was dying of cancer during the 2008 Democrat election circus? LOL!!

  • 2 votes
#6.7 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:09 AM EST

And in the greater Chicago area, the fraud is not confined to the poorer neighborhoods, or even a specific ethnic group....it prevades everything. "Vote early and often" is a phrase that I grew up with. Rewards for supporting the "machine" have been plentiful-all you have to do is look to all the Chicago pols who now find themselves in Washington DC or downstate. All of them trained in guerilla voter tactics dating back to the days when organized crime was viewed as running the city. Nothing much has changed, just the players as time goes by and the old guard dies out only to be replaced by those that they have won over with all the perks that come from being a political insider. The system perpetuates itself. Often wonder what would really happen in Chicago, in an aldermanic or mayoral election if all the ballots cast had to match up with real, viable, people who actually have the right to vote.

    #6.8 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:20 PM EST

    Rob, I'll give you this you are open about your hate and open about the fact that other than here you spend all of your time on right wing hate sites. Bet you dollars to donuts that O'Keefe goes to jail over this one. Of course he insists he did nothing wrong, but he did.

    As for John Edwards, he brought himself down. He's an idiot with a zipper problem.

    Here's the poll link about popular presidents. As usual Rob has forgotten some contextual information

    • 1 vote
    #6.9 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:46 PM EST
    Reply

    Feisty, Who are theNJ nit wits.

    • 1 vote
    #7 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:24 PM EST

    Rest assured lisa - it is NOT you!

    Apologies if I offended you...

    I appreciate your voice from the center!

    My bad for the plural!

    • 5 votes
    #7.1 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:25 PM EST

    Feisty, Thanks for your answer. I like to think I am mostly center. On some issues I am to the right and some left. I try to base my beliefs on life experience not on what others tell me to think. It's not always an easy place to be these days.

    • 5 votes
    #7.2 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:32 PM EST

    lisa,

    It is always the best place to be … just maybe not the most popular.

    • 6 votes
    #7.3 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:38 PM EST

    Feisty, You didn't offend me. I like having civil conversations on the problems of this nation. Have a nice evening

    • 5 votes
    #7.4 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:39 PM EST

    Dennis, Columbus,Ohio, Thanks for your response. You are right about it not being the most popular. It's interesting that people in the center will probably decide the next election. Maybe then we can get back to reaching out to each other as Americans. I sure hope so.

    • 5 votes
    #7.5 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:43 PM EST

    Have a nice evening

    You too GF - that clock is ticking down! Only wish I was able tol be there!

    Know I will in spirit! {{{hugs}}}

    • 1 vote
    #7.6 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:18 PM EST

    I like having civil conversations about the problems of this nation..................

    Lisa: Sharp jabs and smug meaningless comments are civil conversation? You must be on the same wine as Feisty.

    • 1 vote
    #7.7 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:18 AM EST

    imnotlost. I don't think any of my comments could be considered sharp jabs and smug meaningless comments. But please let me know if you disagree.

    • 2 votes
    #7.8 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:41 AM EST

    Lisa: Wasn't actually talking about you (directly) . Review some of the comments of the company you keep.

      #7.9 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:00 AM EST

      imnotlost, Even though Feisty and I often disagree about policy we have managed to keep our comments to each other very civil. I think that's a good thing.

        #7.10 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:33 AM EST

        Lisa: You are one lonely person. Everyone else who disagrees with her gets slammed with snide remarks, volatile hate speech, meaningless gibberish, and other outbursts that make some question her state of mind. I know, I've been there, done that, and I'm still seeing it. Join her chat group, she'll welcome you, after all she did call you GF. That's her fav byword to those in her nest.

        • 2 votes
        #7.11 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:53 AM EST

        imnotlost, I think Frank "Grimey" Grimes is also treated pretty fairly.

          #7.12 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:08 AM EST

          Lisa: I've read some of Grimey's stuff, and believe him to be at best center left with no axe to grind so he's safe from the wrath of Feisty and the gang. He was on a forum with Mark Murray last week that tilted left.

          Do you know Mark Murray? Feisty does.

          BTW Being in the center during a political conversation will make more enemies, people don't trust what you say.

            #7.13 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:40 AM EST

            imnotlost, No I don't know Mark Murray and I do know that Feisty does. I don't understand why being in the center or being reasonable makes me untrustworthy. When I grew up we talked politics at the kitchen table and we did so in a dignified manner. I wish there was more of that civilty in todays politics. I truly believe that we would be better off as a society.

            • 2 votes
            #7.14 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:50 AM EST

            I agree, I see Feisty all over the message board on nearly a daily basis. She rarely actually argues or debates substantive points in any kind of intellectual or philosophical manner. She merely uses sarcasm and insults to denigrate anyone who disagrees with her point of view. She represents the very far delusional left that permeates the Democrat Party. Citizens such as her give the Democrat Party a bad name. I have seen Feisty degrade herself to the point of merely cursing out other posters, using language like a$$hole (but actually spelling it out) and making comments about the size of other posters' genitalia...for no reason other than being disagreed with. And of course, never any repercussions from the moderators (since she is a liberal). Only conservative posters who cross the line get reprimanded by the MSNBC moderators... Either way, Feisty gives us all a nice look at the dense pseudo-intellectuals that exist on the far left...

            • 2 votes
            #7.15 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 12:04 PM EST

            Roanoke1: Thanks. Stay on top of it.

            Lisa: Mark works for MSNBC. He and Feisty are good friends. Some other snoopers have showed me that he was a welcome visitor to a "protected" chat room on News Vine, whose members were Feisty and gang. There was a "hacking" last year. Before the infiltration was discovered there was a lot of information obtained. I'm convinced the NV Code of Honor was broken to pieces, and a truck load of complaints have been sent to NV moderators but it goes on. They have since shut down the chat room and moved on to another site, but it's only a matter of time, I'm told.

            Do a little research, see what you come up with.

              #7.16 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:14 PM EST

              I must say that I have wondered if Feisty wasn't an automated response as it is uncanny how often she has the very first opinion expressed on every piece of news reported. Either that, or she has not other life and is never off line (haven't been able to determine which) By the time I read the "First read", I am usually coming in on page three or four or later in a discussion and have to backtrack through the other posts to figure out if there are points that I agree with or points that haven't been covered or points that simply have nothing to do with the news article seed.

                #7.17 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:24 PM EST

                Sue: She's "in bed" with MSNBC for sure. As of now it's not clear how far above Mark Murray this thing goes but someone has to be protecting her. Her avatar alone is a violation of the Code of Honor. It represents a personal attack on every conservative commenter on the forum. Also check out Frank-669022. Elephant with a Nazi swastika. News Vine has made it very clear that they will ban anyone who calls another poster a Nazi, but everytime he makes a comment with that avatar he's calling us Nazis. Many of us have griped, but no action or response. It's frustrating, but we won't give up. We have 10 months till the election.

                BTW At the bottom of many articles like this one there is a place to sign up for early emails. MSNBC will automatically send you fore-notice of articles they will be posting soon. This is how Feisty, and others beat you to the punch. They roll out of bed early, check their emails, select the ones they like, get their comment ready in advance, then when the headline hits the homepage they pounce, usually before most of us even think about turning on our computers. I don't subscribe because it's insane, but it's easy to sign up if you'd like to try it. Hope I've explained it well enough for you.

                  #7.18 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 5:56 PM EST

                  Sue: She's "in bed" with MSNBC for sure. As of now it's not clear how far above Mark Murray this thing goes but someone has to be protecting her. Her avatar alone is a violation of the Code of Honor. It represents a personal attack on every conservative commenter on the forum. Also check out Frank-669022. Elephant with a Nazi swastika. News Vine has made it very clear that they will ban anyone who calls another poster a Nazi, but everytime he makes a comment with that avatar he's calling us Nazis. Many of us have griped, but no action or response. It's frustrating, but we won't give up. We have 10 months till the election.

                  BTW At the bottom of many articles like this one there is a place to sign up for early emails. MSNBC will automatically send you fore-notice of articles they will be posting soon. This is how Feisty, and others beat you to the punch. They roll out of bed early, check their emails, select the ones they like, get their comment ready in advance, then when the headline hits the homepage they pounce, usually before most of us even think about turning on our computers. I don't subscribe because it's insane, but it's easy to sign up if you'd like to try it. Hope I've explained it well enough for you.

                    #7.19 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:44 PM EST
                    Reply

                    Team Red-Voter Fraud

                    Team Blue-Voter Suppression

                    Have fun!

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#8 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:26 PM EST

                    You got a saddle on that fence dangerfield? ... asked with a smile

                    afterthought ... should all balance out when the votes are counted.

                    • 3 votes
                    #8.1 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:29 PM EST
                    Reply
                    Comment author avatarJohn Ellervia Facebook

                    are there any wind farms in s carolina?

                      Reply#9 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:58 PM EST

                      I am thinking that in general, as opposed to be a forum for the exchange of ideas and information, NV is the last bastion for the liberals to get up on their soapbox and tell the rest of us why we are crazy. Crazy to want to keep the money that we actually earn. Crazy to keep our jobs, even though they may not be union. Crazy to respect those who risk sums of money that we can only dream of to start and expand business, provide products, services. Crazy to believe in God (of any variety). Crazy to think that human life is at least as important as PETA views the treatment of chicken and cattle. Crazy to want Americans to benefit from America before the rest of the world. Crazy to want to preserve the American Dream for our children and grandchildren. Crazy to not want government controlling the smallest aspects of daily life with yet more convoluted legislation and punitive taxation. Crazy to question the research and studies that tout things like global warming. Crazy to doubt politicians in general and certain politicians in specific based upon previous history.

                      • 2 votes
                      Reply#10 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:11 PM EST

                      Sue: Well said 100% factual.

                        Reply#11 - Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:05 PM EST
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