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PANAMA CITY, Fla. -- In the final days of campaigning before Tuesday's pivotal Florida primary, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign is leaving no weapon unused against his chief rival Newt Gingrich.
At his afternoon rally Saturday, and on television, Romney's attack centered on Newt's history within the Republican party.
"He's an historian. But that doesn't give him the right to rewrite history," Romney said of Gingrich. "The Contract with America, that was a good thing. We took over the House, that was great news. What happened four years later? Well he was fined for ethics violations. He ultimately had to resign in disgrace. He can't rewrite history. We have to go back and look at history and say he may be a great guy with a lot of great ideas, but he is not the leader we need at a critical time."
Meanwhile, on television screens across Florida, the Romney campaign was up with a new ad titled "History Lesson," which excerpts an NBC Nightly News broadcast from 1997, in which anchor Tom Brokaw is seen reporting the news of Gingrich's ethics violation.
NBC News on Saturday wrote a letter requesting the Romney campaign remove all network material from the ad.
Romney campaign adviser Eric Fehrnstom said after the event that the campaign had received the letter and was reviewing it, but believed it fell under legal "fair use" guidelines. In the meantime, the ad will continue to air across Florida.
On a third front, Romney surrogates Saturday continued to appear at Gingrich campaign stops, chatting with reporters and jousting with Gingrich campaign spokesman R.C. Hammond.
Fehrnstrom described the surrogates -- Reps. Charlie Bass (R-NH), Connie Mack (R-FL) and Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) -- as a "truth squad," and said the Romney campaign got the idea from Gingrich, who has promised to trail President Obama around the country to seek out opportunities to debate the president, should Gingrich become the Republican nominee.
The Romney campaign would not say if the "truth squads" would continue after the Florida primary.
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I would vote for Jack the Ripper over Obama. This country can't take four more years of this--or his bucktoothed wife.
Of course you would.
Because you are uneducated, buy fear from anyone who will sell it and really don't have any idea about what's going on in the world.
Sorry you hate America.
yes you would his name is newt.now
mitt romney our next president paid 52% taxes you fools. he paid 37% as earned income then paid another 15% as interest and dividends on his assets by claiming this money. he is a very wealthy man that has worked hard and earned every dollar he has claimed. we need a man that will lead our country and not use half his time conniving to add to his bankroll as some do in that office. newt gingrich was a consultant to freddy mac and was paid 1.6 million for his expert advice. expert hell look at the mess they are in and still getting worse daily. his consultation speaks to why he would stink as a president. wanting to waste money on a moon colony project. he was not taught you need to walk before you run. we borrow 42 dollars out of ever 100 we spend as a nation /// those that do not understand this sure better wake up and learn. if we go much higher you will not need to think of what your grand children will owe. they will not have water gas electric or anything that we have always taken as normal. no country will buy our debt ridden bonds and we will be done as a country because of the thieves in congress. they stole the social security money and now call social security an entitlement. entitlement hell it is a crime.THIS IS SO FUNNY NO YELLING BECAUSE OF CAPITAL LETTERS. NEXT IT WILL BE BECAUSE OF LACK OF PUNCTUATION. MAYBE FORGOT A PERIOD / YOU KNOW A GOOD SECRETARY NEVER MISSES A PERIOD.
That's some more classic revisionist history from the Mormons. Romney admitted he only paid 13.46% on his tax forms.
His only "earned income" was about $370K in speaking fees and he says that he donated this to charity. He doesn't work, so there is no other earned income. He pays roughly 14% in taxes for investment gains. He may have earned every dollar but he never had to work for it. He' a hypocrite for claiming that he knows what it is like to be unemployed and to be laid off. NO HE DOESN'T !!!!
Jason Chaffetz represents Utah, not Arizona as stated in the article.
Heads up Good Old Boys of the GOP!
Former Florida State Attorney General Bill McCollum, raised questions about Romney's past service on the board of Damon Corp., a Massachusetts medical testing company that pleaded guilty in 1996 to billing Medicare fraudulently and paid a $119 million fine.
The issue is "fair game" and "raises a serious question about (Romney's) corporate judgment," McCollum said.
Also, using phrases related to Fire-ing people shows Romney's weak mind trying to express itself forcefully.
Referring to Speaker Gingrich, Im sure Romeny regularly fired those troublesome visionaries on his staff to cut down on the competition also? Isnt that true big guy?
Our choice for Presidential should be based on one question and one question only! Which candidate will go to Washington and kick the demons out of those corrupt Washington Congressmen?
"Greed is the root of all evil"
Romney's perception is NOT our reality! His income averages over $50,000 per day!
Newtsarmy2012.com
Imagine a Mormon accusing someone of Revisionist History! "Thee Church" bought their way into federally owned land that the Mountain Meadows Massacre occurred on so they could open an Interpretive Center to tell why they slaughter 100's of men, women and children migrating to California.
Mittmania as reported by the Onion appears to be in full swing with people from coast to coast coming to their feet upon hearing of the hardships of his stirring rise from exceedingly wealthy to excessively wealthy while still sharing the common guys worries of being laid off. I love the Truth Squad idea only Mitt will need to bone up on his own truthiness when he gets to the general election. Newt views himself as some doyen of American history while nothing could be further from the truth. His Masters studies were in Modern European and his Phd dissertation was "Belgian Education Policy in the Congo", he was such a success teaching at West Georgia College that he was moved to the Geography Department and denied tenure. This bloviating homage to self interest was a failed Assistant Professor at a middling institution while presenting himself as a Constitutional and Colonial scholar. He flat out lies vis a vis American history and the positions of both the Founders and American jurisprudence. I would love to follow him with a bullhorn shouting "You Lie" every time he misrepresents our history or his role in it.
jkh
"Nice!"
Jimee Johnson
"Nice!"
Ditto!!!!!!!
The only ethics violation they could make stick became a non issue. In 1999, the IRS cleared the organizations connected with the "Renewing American Civilization" courses under investigation for possible tax violations.
In January 1997, Gingrich said "I did not manage the effort intensely enough to thoroughly direct or review information being submitted to the committee on my behalf. In my name and over my signature, inaccurate, incomplete and unreliable statements were given to the committee, but I did not intend to mislead the committee." But he also apologized, saying "I brought down on the people's house a controversy which could weaken the faith people have in their government."
In the summer of 1997 several House Republicans attempted to replace him as Speaker, claiming Gingrich's public image was a liability. The attempted "coup" began July 9 with a meeting of Republican conference chairman John Boehner of Ohio and Republican leadership chairman Bill Paxon of New York. According to their plan, House Majority Leader Dick Armey, House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, Boehner and Paxon were to present Gingrich with an ultimatum: resign, or be voted out. However, Armey balked at the proposal to make Paxon the new Speaker, and told his chief of staff to warn Gingrich about the attempted coup.
On July 11, Gingrich met with senior Republican leadership to assess the situation. He explained that under no circumstance would he step down. If he was voted out, there would be a new election for Speaker, which would allow for the possibility that Democrats—along with dissenting Republicans—would vote in Dick Gephardt as Speaker. On July 16, Paxon offered to resign his post, feeling that he had not handled the situation correctly, as the only member of the leadership who had been appointed to his position—by Gingrich—instead of elected.
Republicans lost five seats in the House in the 1998 elections—the worst midterm performance in 64 years for a party that didn't hold the presidency. Polls showed that the attempt to remove President Clinton from office, by Gingrich and the Republican Party, was deeply unpopular among voters. Gingrich suffered much of the blame for the election loss. Facing a rebellion in the Republican caucus, he announced on November 5, 1998, that he would not only stand down as Speaker, but would leave the House as well.
Gingrich made this announcement only a day after being elected to an 11th term from his district. Commenting on his departure, Gingrich said, "I'm willing to lead but I'm not willing to preside over people who are cannibals. My only fear would be that if I tried to stay, it would just overshadow whoever my successor is."
being a republican who works for a living and votes againts there own benefits.is like being retarded
funny the republicans said let private sector pay to go in space..OK how will they get the money..to do so?
Congratulations on your second term, President Obama.
You gotta be kidding - there could be nothing worse for this country than to re-elect that jerk!
Nevertheless, Tag, at least half of the country seem to disagree with you. Isn't democracy great?
Tag...........have you even watched the GOP debates? I wouldn't want any of them managing a take out restauarnt.
so,
Romney is countering the current unfolding news of his taxes and off-shore accounts with dirt dug up from over a decade ago; AND it appears to be working (for now).
I almost (I said "almost") feel sorry for Republican voters right now; but the leaders of the party have been setting themselves up for this mess for years by snowing the conservative middle-class while lining the pockets of the rich;
now, during the key election year, it is all coming together to undo their bid for the whitehouse
do you people want private sector to make you pay your water. bills...I myself have to pay a private water company guess what my water bill is every month..150 dollars just water and sewer..no trash i have to pay another private company for that also...aqua is trying to privatize the USA water company ..like our toll roads..stop the insane Republican party before every darn thing is privatized.
hey, wait a second, there is a lot of money to be made by privatizing the army / navy / airforce!
hahahah you get the point
Hear are the "Fearless Leaders" running for the Republicans this year.
Romney:Mister I have millions in secret bank accounts overseas.Yeah, he cares about the American people,right.
Gingrich:Mister I served my cancer-stricken wife,divorce papers in her hospital room.Warms my heart with his "Family Values",real role model there.
Santorum:Mister I'm as right-wing as I can be,or as I like to call him Taliban-lite.
I'am sure these three wouldn't have a problem going to war.So they should get the warmonger vote,for sure.
Last but not least of the Republicans.
Paul:Hmmm,nothing to say bad about him except his age.But that didn't disqualify Reagan,so I don't see why it should him.
The only problem he has is he opposes war,and thinks we should stop meddling overseas, think about our own countries good.A radical idea for a republican I know.But he seems to have a lot of support on the web.Not so much at the polls though.But I do like him.Just afraid he can't win
I have to amend my lists details for Gingrich after reading about multi-billion dollar supporter Adelson.The casino owning billionaire,who is funding Newt's PAC.He made statements about America posted on MSNBC.He says:
"“All we care about is being good Zionists, being good citizens of Israel, because even though I am not Israeli born, Israel is in my heart,”
“I am not Israeli. The uniform that I wore in the military, unfortunately, was not an Israeli uniform. It was an American uniform, although my wife was in the IDF and one of my daughters was in the IDF ... our two little boys, one of whom will be bar mitzvahed tomorrow, hopefully he’ll come back-- his hobby is shooting -- and he’ll come back and be a sniper for the IDF,”
I thought Gingrich was low anyway.But being bankrolled by a guy that is ashamed he served America,and only cares for a foreign country.Now I've seen everything.
Speaking of Ron Paul's age: If elected he will be older on inauguration day than Reagan was when he had completed two terms. Maybe he plans on nominating his son for Vice-President.
Romney's Bain Controlled Company Linked to Medicare Fraud
Bain took the company public in 1991, and Romney served on the company’s board of directors. In 1993, Bain orchestrated a sale of the company to Corning Inc., getting a handsome return on its investment and earning Romney himself $473,000, according to The Real Romney. After the sale, Corning closed the main facility in Needham, laying off 115 people.
In October 1996, federal prosecutors announced that Damon was agreeing to pay $119 million in both civil and criminal fines after pleading guilty to defrauding Medicare. The company was providing doctors with forms that didn’t make clear what tests included, so doctors were checking off additional tests that weren’t necessary, according to the Globe’s summary of the government’s case.
The overbilling went from 1988 through 1993, prosecutors said. "This is a case, pure and simple, of corporate greed run amok," U.S. Attorney Donald Stern said when the settlement was announced.
Romney was never implicated in the case. His role became an issue later, in 2002, when he ran for governor. Romney claimed that he helped uncover the fraud, but Globe reporting put that claim into question. The Globe reported that court records showed fraudulent activity occurred under Bain’s watch, and that prosecutors gave the credit to Corning for stopping the fraud.
If newt gets elected can we have our wiener back...you people seem to have the ghost in y'all at this time
we should talk about something that is real news.like the battery factory claiming bankrupt.now that's real fox new story
how come fox always shows the women legs before a commercial...they want as many pussy whip viewers as possible.to brain wash them
Maybe fiesty is refering to willard the movie remember
It was a movie about rats!
Jim Hayes,
Well done sir, well done!!
A lot of folks don't realize that Mitt's first name is Willard - (and there was a movie by that name, and that is what they will think of.) To make fun of politicians goes with the territory, however, that being said, I'm not an admirer of Feisty Redhead from Illinois because her mindset is petty and close to most people that come from Illinois as does her prez. (Her's, not mine). Even tho' Illinois is almost near the middle of the USA on the map, they haven't progressed like many other states because they've found their little comfort zone and that is where they stay - good for them or not doesn't matter. So, James, you must consider the source and then it's easier to understand the lack of sophistication or courtesy you find objectionable as do others. We've found that it is an effort in futility to try to 'change' someone of Feisty's ilk.
Romney, just like G W Bush & Carl Rove (fellow Republicans) will say anything regardless of accuracy or truthfullness to benefit his own cause, he has no consience or moral values.
That is not to say that Gingrich or Santorum are not equaly capable of the same deceit.
Having read about Speaker Gingrich's main wealthy supporter and his Zionist spirit, and the fact that Speaker Gingrich wants mankind to go into space (one of the ideas I actually like), I am forcibly reminded of the trailer for HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART II (at the end of HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART I) by Mel Brooks.
Jews in Space! I actually think the six-pointed design of that space station there is rather spiffy, actually.
This moment of frivolity brought to you simply because I felt like lightening up. <G>
Quit being so perky!
I was objecting to the use of "surrogate" in the headline and what that word evokes (at least for me). I agree that out-of-state representatives should get lost. In-state reps have a direct interest and don't fault them for getting involved. But my initial post was just a gut reaction to the use of "surrogates" in the headline as a pejorative description which the media should not be using for Romney unless used for all candidates which imo they don't do. If there are frequent uses of Obama "surrogates" in the press then I'm not seeing them. I was called out on the definition and agree that technically it is not negatve but I still think it has negatve overtones. There are more important things to worry about, granted.
Adam,
i understand your personal reacion to the origanl language of the thread.
We both agree that out of state elected officals should not be running around Florida on behalf Romney.
Obama as the president is not opposed in any primaires. He has the nomination.
Remember we are still in the pirmary season.
Have a nice weekend.
Thanks Northstar, you too. The civility is appreciated.
I'll repost what i said on other blogs.
The two most successfull Presidents in recent history both needed two full terms to turn around much less onerous circumstances. Reagan & Clinton both used re-election "mandates" to turn things around, sometimes bullying the Congress. Clinton had a small surplus in year seven and handed GWBush the largest surplus on record. Instead of building on that or even maintaining those bipartisan rules, Bush and the GOP sought to overturn & erase all things Clinton. Good job George, two wars and the largest deficit EVER.
I commend Obama for not having walked away yet. I'm not sure anyone can turn this around any time soon, but I am certain that going back to the GOP is not an option.
The only thing to come out of these GOP debates so far, is rich material for Steven Colbert and Saturday Night Live.
billy bob,
Your analysis is accurate. This deep hole caused by the finical crises in2008 , gridlock in congress, and a major shift to a global economy going on for years is not something that can be changed, adjusted for the benefit of US workers in a few short years.
Obama is steady, willing to work with or without Congress to move forward.
And now SNL is coming on... it should be a great show.
How can anyone defend Obama? What has he really done for America? The only thing I can say about him is how he takes credit for anything good and blames others for all the bad. He is a chicago loud mouth and is one of those mixed up in the worst thing that has happened to the banks. Racism and the poor, and worked with those who got the banks to hand out loans to people who could not afford them, which hurt them more later than what they were hurting at in the past. It is truly interesting to know just what caused the banks to go down. It wasn't the fault of the banks> It was due to what they call blackmail. The ones who were to blame, the democrats.And this reflects on the innocent democrat. But the ones involved in this type of crime only got richer. Let's start getting rid of those who care nothing about the people, only what they can get from them. I hope an Independant jumps in there and sets America on the road to recovery. Romeny is more democrat than republican. Look at his health care package. Also, a good Christian would not be a flip flopper.
A good Christian like Gindrich? Yes, all Churches he belonged to, have been Christian, and all his spouses were females. That's consistent and not a bit flip-flopping.