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Updated 2:48 p.m.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich helped revive his campaign -- twice -- with strong performances in GOP presidential debates.
The self-styled intellectual of the campaign, Gingrich has relied on expressions of support from debate audiences to convey strength in the gatherings, tossing red meat to the conservative audiences with attacks on the media and his Republican rivals.
And that helps explain why Gingrich, whose performance at a Monday night debate in Florida seemed subdued compared to recent appearances, is now threatening to skip any debate in which the audience is barred from participating.
"I wish, in retrospect, I protested when Brian Williams took them out of it, because I think it's wrong," Gingrich said this morning on Fox News, referring to the NBC Nightly News anchor, who moderated the bulk of the debate. "And I think he took them out of it because the media is terrified that the audience is going to side with the candidates against the media, which is what they've done in every debate."
Gingrich vowed to "serve notice" on future debate appearances, insisting that audiences be allowed to express support or opposition to candidates' answers. (A spokesman said Tuesday afternoon that Gingrich intended to attend all the debates, but would certainly protest rules barring audience participation.)
WATCH last night's entire NBC News/National Journal/Tampa Bay Times debate
The declaration wasn't necessarily a surprise, given the way in which Gingrich has made a conscious effort of playing to audiences at debates. Winning their applause by lobbing zingers at the media -- never unpopular among audiences -- is an easy way to improve perceptions of his performance, especially among television viewers.
He won his most raucous applause by assailing CNN moderator John King at a debate last week for asking a question of Gingrich about allegations from an ex-wife that the speaker had asked for an "open marriage" or threatened divorce.
“I am tired of the elite media protecting Barack Obama by attacking Republicans," Gingrich responded, winning a standing ovation from the audience, which wasn't barred from expressions of support.
Gingrich’s indignation with the “media” was such a hit, it was a major theme of his victory speech after handily winning the South Carolina primary Saturday night, as well as his round of interviews on the networks' public affairs programs the next morning.
Americans are “just sick and tired of being told what they’re allowed to think, what they’re allowed to say,” he told NBC’s David Gregory. “The highest, the most intense passion in both debates [in South Carolina] was a head-on collision about what the news media is doing.”
Amidst cheers of "Newt can win," Newt Gingrich calls the S.C. race "humbling" and "sobering" to see so many supporters rally behind his political message.
But Gingrich has also relied on the news media, too, to help advance his presidential bid. Like all campaigns and candidates, Gingrich uses press accounts to press his attacks on his rivals and to bolster his own claims on the stump.
When his campaign was being nearly crippled by the broadside attacks made by a pro-Mitt Romney super PAC in Iowa, the former speaker frequently pointed to fact-checking work done by news outlets to support his contention that the charges were bogus, an acknowledgment that the media can get it right, at least when it supports Gingrich's claims.
More importantly, the evidence suggests that Gingrich’s campaign has largely been sustained by his performances in the 17 debates that have been nationally televised thus far. In exit polls released after voting finished in South Carolina, almost 90 percent of those voters interviewed said the two debates held in South Carolina were a factor in deciding which candidate to vote for -- and 42 percent of that group said they chose Gingrich, compared to 25 percent who picked Romney.
The debates have been so integral to Gingrich's rise that he has pledged to challenge President Obama to a series of seven, three-hour-long Lincoln-Douglas style debates. Gingrich wins laughter and applause among crowds of supporters with this line, especially when he jokes that he'll allow the president to use a teleprompter, if Obama wants to.
It's smart politics, because Gingrich has made his ability to effectively debate Obama a central selling point of his candidacy. It plays well especially in a primary environment in which Republicans are longing for someone to take a fight to the president.
There's just one problem: It won't happen.
The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD)is a nonprofit organization that has set the debate sites, moderators and rules for the general election in each cycle since 1988. They have already set the parameters for this fall's debates between Obama and his eventual GOP challenger. There will be three debates, held in October in Denver, Hempstead, NY, and Boca Raton, FL. The second debate will be in a town meeting format.
Gingrich probably won't be able to skip these debates if he's the nominee. But he might be reduced to protesting since, per the rules established by the CPD in every previous debate, the audience has been required to hold its applause through the duration of the meetings.
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Gingrinch is like rushbo running for office. If you are a ditto head, you will like gingrich. Like rushbo, the guy feeds off of a live audience. People who don't take the time to look up any twisted facts. But like the rushbo, the guy has a ton of baggage that will eventually bury him.
This is just a setup by the media so that when Obummer debates come on later they will be able to hush the audience.
Wouldn't want the voters to hear Obumer get booed at.
Don't think so??? Just wait...There will be NO AUDIENCE participation when OBummer debates!
Jello heads!
The only thing Santorum, Gingrich, and Romney agreed about was provoking a war with Iran. Ron Paul questioned whether war was a good idea, since it costs massive money, gets our soldiers killed, and ticks off the rest of the world. He thought we ought to pursue other means, such as verbal communication. He may not be a Republican after all.
Let Gingrich come to Massachusetts or Illinois and see how well his revisionist history, personal fantasies and outright deceptions play with people who have memories and think with their head and not their feet.
trazmo
Yeah, Illinoise for sure... Any governors there not in Jail? Blago return the money he took peddling Obummer's job??
Mark my words! The Audience will NOT be allowed to participate when OBummer debates!
How's that change going for you in Michigan?
Jello heads!
we are actually doing better, thanks for asking.
Mr grover, the gop, & the rushbo want the old style of govt. When populations were small. But hey population is growing at 350% every 80 years. There are sooo many people nowadays. 7B-today. 25B-2090 unless santorum is elected with 7 kids then expect 300B-2090.
Gingrich would discover that racial slurs don't cause as big a positive response in Florida. The educational average is higher, as is the culture. As the primaries move into states to the north, the audience will include more moderates and their responses may very well be hisses and boos. Most people don't have a nagging feeling of inferiority and perceived enemies to hate.
Good points! Anyone who thinks the state that started the Civil War and still flies the flag of treason over its statehouse represents the best of America is a fool or a racist.
I will add that the debate was not exciting to watch from viewer perspective.
People are allowed to laugh and applause at concerts, sporting events, comedy acts, plays, and even in church. Retaining a respectful silence is one thing and appreciated but suppressing spontaneous human emotion (laughter for those that remember Short Circuit) is over the top.
Watching the debate seemed so somber...when one of the candidates made a joke and I laughed at home only to hear silence, I was wondering if there was anyone in the room where the debate was or if I was laughing at something I should not be.
Even TV shows add a "laugh track" of taped laughter or have a "live studio audience" laughing after jokes which seems to blend in to the show but makes it more funny (oddly enough...maybe it is psychological about laughing together makes it a more enjoyable experience).
Anyways, from just a ratings point of view, I would prefer audience participation because this debate seemed boring compared to past debates and if they were all like this, I probably would not watch them either.
Is "Nutty Newt" having another temper tantrum? Again! Littie "Nutty Newt" loves to have people clap for him, cheer for him, and worship him. If little "Nutty Newt" does not feel the poltical love in the room? He can go home picking up his little EGO, and his little "Spewing Speeches."
Dear politicians,
Instead of telling "why" the other guy is bad and how his ideologies and policies are ruining our economy, foreign policy, and moral infrastructure, I have an off-the wall idea. Please just hear me out on this one, it may seem like a far-fetched and illogical way of thinking, but, what if............. WHAT IF, you just took a deep breath, step off your soap box, think hard, and come up with thoughtful, detailed plan on getting people back to work and back to prosperity? Maybe, just maybe..........(I'm thinking outside the box on this one), you could communicate THAT to the American people. I realize that it is easier to knock other people's ideas rather than come up with an original one, but by golly.........that kind of thinking just might win my vote.
Hitler used the crowds to stir up his hate speech as well.
Newt Gingrich is nothing but hate. Don't give him a platform to bring others into his hateful world.
The Republican Party is dead if this man wins.
Complete hypocrisy rules.
Cry baby newt. Whine some more.
Why does newt demonize everybody that does not bow down to him?
Those of us old-timers that remember what a Debate was and how it functioned.
Wish for its return.
The Debates between the Founding Father of Modern Conservatism: William F. Buckley Jr.
The leading Liberal of the day: Professor John Kenneth Galbraith
Now those were debates.
Todays debates ( use the term loosely).
This media show for the media as well as the candidates.
They both know they are bought and paid for by big oil, big business, corporations mainly.
Neither give a hoot about the common man and is not considered except as something to use and fool.
If you believe Newt was consulting on history to Feddie instead of being a lobbyist raise your hand.
hhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhaa
The debates have been less about debating the questions raised and more about baiting the moderator. I wish that the moderator would cut the mike of those that go off topic or fail to respond to the question that was posed. The debates should be televised but an in-house audience is not needed. Let the people that take the time to watch consider the questions and responses and make up their mind without the cheering and/or catcalls. Don't get me wrong, I think that would be more boring...but this is not wrestlemania.
Why don't they leave him out of a debate or two and see what happens?? I'm sure Romney, Paul and Santorum wouldn't mind a bit!
The easiest part about going after Newt is this...you don't even have to lie. Just tell the truth and it becomes obvious to all what a despicable troll this guy is. He has serious character issues and is totally lacking in any kind of moral base. It's almost embarrassing how so many are giving this evil person a pass because they hate President Obama so much.
Just what is this secret scoop Palosi says she has on Newt. This is something we need to know before next Tuesday's vote. Perhaps we need another live bench chat between Newt & Nancy. He can even have a live audience, if that's what blows his skirt.
Gingrich's debate-winning skills are based entirely on the lack of those in his opponents and on the desires of his audience for someone to attack Obama. It is the height of hypocrisy for self-anointed values voters to support vociferously a candidate who tells us that marriage has been one man-one woman for 3000 years (factually incorrect; check all the prophets in the Old Testament) and then have credible allegations of having a different standard for himself. Is it his position that questions of character, crediblity and truthfulness are not legitimate in a presidential election? Is it fair that the master bomb thrower who has called the President a Marxist, a threat to the country, etc. should be complaining about divisive politics making it hard to govern the country? His arrogance and ego are only surpassed by the gullibility of his audience.
You are wrong. It's his attacks on the media, not Obama. This holds true for all the candidates. But....
Newt Nomination = Obama Victory = House & Senate DEMs = USA Ruin
Way to go Newt. Your arrogance and 'historian' ego is a disgrace.
What is it Nancy has on you?
What else should we expect? He's an accomplished demagogue.
So what I am reading here is, in summation; The Pillsbury Dough Boy is a blow hard?
And I would like to say; "Wait a minute Newt! - I find you dispicable, a loser that has never finished one thing you have started or had one of your bright ideas ever come to fruition...
He has the GOP in a panic because he is defeating the only candidate with a chance to win and its getting too late for a savior to come out of the woodworks for them. I would love to see what they do if he actually gets the nomination.
Calista should check for cameras in their bedroom!!!
Calista had some installed to make sure he wasn't bringing any more staffers over for "strategy" meetings
NEWT NEEDS A HAND , LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ; give him a hand for being the biggest hipocrit that's come down the conservative pike. give him a hand for being able to get the gullible republican conservative tea partiers to believe he's a born again hipocrit. give him a hand for being able to change wives when one gets cancer ,and can't have sex on demand. give him a hand for getting rush limp-brain, that drug addict , oxy-cotin snorting, change wives like he change his drawers, to make him sound like the saviour of trickled down economics. give him a hand for being the best lobbying '' lizard '' in history. give him a hand for helping freddie and fannie make their point !!!!!!!!!!!!!!