Gingrich: Hey, let’s have a character debate
posted at 12:45 pm on January 29, 2012 by Ed Morrissey
Gee, I don’t know. Does this sound like a good idea?
Following an onslaught of attacks in last week’s debates and on the Florida airwaves, Newt Gingrich amped up his criticism of frontrunner Mitt Romney this morning, aiming his arrows directly at Romney’s character and calling him “fundamentally dishonest.”
“I am saying that he would not be where he is today, the debates this week wouldn’t have been where they were, if he had told the truth,” Gingrich told me this morning on “This Week.” “And I think that’s a very serious problem for somebody.”
Gingrich said Romney has run a “campaign of vilification” that is based on “factually false” claims and “carpet-bombing with negative ads.” When I asked the former speaker if Romney had the character to be president, Gingrich said “it is a very serious problem.”
“You cannot be president of the United States if you cannot be honest and candid with the American people,” Gingrich told me.
Let’s stipulate that Romney probably did worse in the fact-check department in the last debate than Gingrich did, although that would have been the only area in which Gingrich prevailed. Even that’s a matter of, er, debate, as Gingrich had some trouble telling the truth about his history on the individual mandate, with USA Today providing a reference from just this past May of Gingrich backing a mandate for either coverage or a very large bond as a means to reform health care. Gingrich is right that Romney didn’t tell the whole truth about his only Fannie/Freddie investments coming in a blind trust — some of them came in a fund in which Romney invested outside of the blind trust — but then again, as Romney pointed out, Gingrich himself had similar investments in the GSEs, which imploded Gingrich’s attack in the debate and his momentum as well.
As far as “carpet-bombing” his opponents, it’s hard to see Gingrich’s point. The purpose of a primary is in part to see which candidate would do the best in a general election. The fact that Romney can out-slug Gingrich doesn’t make a case for supporting Gingrich, especially when Gingrich and his allies have conducted the same kind of attacks on Romney vis-a-vis Bain Capital. This sounds less like the cry of the truly aggrieved than it does like a complaint from someone who finds out that his opponent plays the game better than he does.
Mostly, though, it seems unwise for Gingrich to play the character card. Throughout his campaign, the subtext of Gingrich’s pitch is that his personal baggage — all of which redounds to character — is irrelevant in a campaign where ideology and fighting temperament matter most. As the Rasmussen polls showed the last couple of weeks, Gingrich scores very low on the character questions even among the Republican base. Even in a poll where Gingrich led nationally, he came in dead last in the current roster of four contenders for the Republican nomination on character — even below “Not Sure.” His evasive answers on his work for Freddie Mac, insisting to this day that he earned $1.6 million as a historian, don’t lend themselves to bolstering his standing on honesty and character, either, even apart from the massive issues in his personal life.
If Gingrich wants to regain the momentum, he’d better start talking ideology rather than engaging in character debates.
George Will tells Jake Tapper that the problem here is that Gingrich has been given enough time to hang himself, and has begun to do so. Click the image to watch.
Update: Bruce McQuain scoffs at “Newt the Victim,” and warns: “As was obvious Gingrich is as thin-skinned as Obama and if he thinks the Romney attacks (along with those by the Democrats) are tough now, he ain’t seen nuttin’ sport. This is just a warm up.”
Blowback
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Sometimes I can’t help myself, but I’m enjoying the back and forth, without the insults. These Romney cult members are hilarious! Oops.
Hot Air is fun and I don’t want to be banned.
BedBug on January 29, 2012 at 8:19 PM
I know people who are beginning to actually hate McRomney, to the point where I doubt they’ll be able to even hold their noses and pull the lever for him if he’s the nomonie He’s losing a lot of good will.
idesign on January 29, 2012 at 8:20 PM
So your theory is that Romney’s most, er, vociferous supporters aren’t so much Romneyite True Believers, in the Eric Hoffer sense, as much as they hate home-grown conservatives?
de rigueur on January 29, 2012 at 8:21 PM
Didn’t Freddie Mac force banks to give loans to poor people especially minorities who were unlikely to be able to pay them back?
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 8:22 PM
Okay. So you’re saying Rich Lowry, current chief editor and de facto guardian of Buckley’s legacy, is selling out for five grand? Wow. And you really believe that?
Ascribing the worst possible motives to one’s opponents is a very human thing. It makes it easier to demonize and dislike the other team and, most importantly, it helps generate enthusiasm for one’s own side. That’s why propaganda works. The problem? Believing in blatant untruths weakens one’s position since those fallacies are apparent to everyone but you. You convince yourselves Gingrich is a conservative, which he isn’t. You then convince yourselves he will humiliate President Obama in debate, which won’t happen. You also claim he is ethically superior to Mitt Romney, by far the most egregious example of magical thinking expressed by anyone anywhere throughout this campaign. And now you’re claiming Romney paid off the National Review with $5000 to garner a presidential endorsement.
I don’t doubt your sincerity. However, wanting a thing, no matter how badly, doesn’t make it so. You can’t wish it into being. Gingrich remains unelectable.
troyriser_gopftw on January 29, 2012 at 8:22 PM
Well, I don’t think there is a conflict, they like Romney b/c they hate “true conservatives”. They always mock “true conservatives”.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 8:23 PM
I don’t think you have to be especially minority to be poor, or unlikely to replay a loan. But back up to 8:21 PM.
de rigueur on January 29, 2012 at 8:24 PM
National Review is so awful these days they probably go in the tank for Romney regardless. But taking money from Romney and then endorsing him twice still looks bad. They can’t around that. I never took a journalism class but I got to think this was covered in Journalism 101.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 8:25 PM
From the Mail Online Via Drudge:
Hello Newt’s campaign people. I now know you read hot air. I won’t charge you for the consulting. I guess I finally beat it through your thick skulls that you don’t need to resort to class warfare, slime about where Mitt keeps his money – SIMPLY PRESENT A LIST OF WHAT HE FACTUALLY DID.
Now, also please realize, that just because I am cheering for you, as you tear down Mitt, I can’t forgive you for the “couch” with Queen Nancy and your suckering for global warming.
Please however, continue to batter Ken-Doll with his well earned record:
- Mitt Romney is a gun grabber, banning many popular firearms.
- Mitt Romney a believer in Global Warming and the Carbon Scam.
- Mitt Romney is a profligate spender.
- Mitt Romney placed scores of liberal judges.
- Mitt Romney supported Socialized health care.
Don’t piddle with his hair, his Old Navy model kids, his business history, or where he stores his legitimately earned money.
Hit him with his record. Hit him with it over and over and over. Bludgeon Mitt with it until your voice cracks. Hit him with it till the newspapers run out of ink. Hit him with it till the internet runs out of 1′s and 0′s. If you answer a question on what flavor of coffee you like, i had better include a list of Ken-Dolls “accomplishments.”
Do not stop beating that horrible liberal with his record until he is unconscious on the matt, and fight like our country depends on it.
Because it does. I don’t support you Mitt. I don’t even like you. But for right now, you are an ally against an enemy.
SilverDeth on January 29, 2012 at 8:26 PM
Why so many on an ostensibly conservative site like here? All plants, shills?
de rigueur on January 29, 2012 at 8:26 PM
Fixed my closer. WTB an edit button.
SilverDeth on January 29, 2012 at 8:28 PM
I think it was the minority thing that was the main driver in forcing banks to go against their own best interests to give loans to poor people who couldnt pay them back. In a sane business world, you dono’t loan money to people who can’t pay them back. But government wants businesses to throw that out the window to help black people even if it’s not going to help them in the end.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 8:29 PM
I agree with the other poster that had a huge problem with Romney and his Mormonism. Romney’s Mormonism speaks to the very character of the man. Mormonism is a cult. Plain and simple. Their beliefs are weird, at best, and yet this is what he believes in? A person’s religious beliefs are at the very foundational core of what defines an individual. Because of Romney’s cult beliefs, there is no way on earth I could vote for him.
jfs756 on January 29, 2012 at 8:30 PM
Most the Romney supporters here are moderates themselves. They do shill for Romney, nothing wrong with that.
There are some conservatives who fear only a liberal Republican like Romney can win, alot of it has to do with the way he looks and speaks, they don’t think he scares off the independents who will automatically be scared off by somebody like Newt Gingrich. I think that’s all crap but it’s what they believe. They let fear rule their world, I’m not that kind of guy, at least when it comes to politics.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 8:32 PM
Always nice to hear from the religious bigot contingent. And hey, want to hear my weird beliefs? I happen to believe a Jewish rabbi from an obscure province of the ancient Roman Empire was the actual, literal Son of God, that He was born of a Virgin (I know, I know, but bear with me), that He performed miracles, that He was executed for all our sins, that He rose from the dead after three days and–after about a month or so–literally ascended into Heaven in front of dozens of witnesses. I won’t even go into the whole ‘fishes and loaves’ thing or describe that ‘water into wine’ incident, or you might think I’m completely off the rails.
I thought the anti-semites in the Ron Paul crowd were insufferable. Now we get the Mormon-bashers. A preview of things to come, I guess.
troyriser_gopftw on January 29, 2012 at 8:34 PM
People don’t have to be paid or bought off to espouse Mitt Romney’s Democrat-like philosophy. Alot of smarmy citified beta male types out there, and I can say alot of nasty things about them – but they don’t need to be paid to be here.
So no, most are simply gentrified fools and city types that think a gun-grabbing, big spending, liberal judge appointing, socialized health care loving, global warming alarmist is what America needs right now.
That out of the way, you’d be an idiot if you didn’t think that Paul, Santorum, Newt, and Ken-Doll don’t have plants on all the big forums – paid social media “experts” who work within a given community.
But these are the minority.
SilverDeth on January 29, 2012 at 8:34 PM
Gingrich would be a disaster in a general election. Barack Obama is hoping more than anyone that Gingrich wins.
Check out all the latest data here.
bluegill on January 29, 2012 at 8:34 PM
No that was CONGRESS and the clinton expansion of the CRI (community reinvestment act)
the macs just gave them their loan money back! (ie bought the loan balances)
golfmann on January 29, 2012 at 8:37 PM
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a poll this far out from a general election showing a candidate that more conservatives prefer beating a liberal like Obama. This polls don’t have to be accurate now, they’ll get tighter and realistic as the election nears. Right now the goal is to to get us to vote for Romney.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 8:38 PM
jfs756, judging from your bigoted comments, I take it you were a Perry supporter. Not coping too well with the fact that Perry didn’t do so well, huh? Too bad for you that most Republicans aren’t bigots like you. You better get used to saying “President Romney”. Romney is going to win it all and be an excellent president.
bluegill on January 29, 2012 at 8:39 PM
Ok, these are just details, big picture is government forced banks to give bad loans to poor minorities.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 8:39 PM
Hey, “troyriser,” your pathetic response, calling me a “bigot,” will be reported to the moderators. I fully expect you to be banned for calling me out like this, as there are strict rules in place for attacking a fellow poster. Nice knowing you on here. You’re as good as gone.
jfs756 on January 29, 2012 at 8:40 PM
I wouldn’t count on that, they are probably just as likely to agree with troy and ban you for being a bigot. I’m not saying you are but people get batty about religious debates.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 8:43 PM
It’s generally counterproductive to talk about Romney’s Mormonism as it generates sympathy for him among most Republican voters. It’s going to be a problem for him in the general election though. We are all going to know a lot more about Mormonism than we ever wanted to.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 8:44 PM
I doubt it. What you said, or should I say the way you said it fits the bill for the word “bigot”.
Sultanofsham on January 29, 2012 at 8:46 PM
The “he’s nuts, he’s zany” attack that Romney uses on Gingrich b/c of his moon colony thing will be used by libs on Romney will his Mormonism being the foundation for it.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 8:47 PM
LOL good luck with that. Strict rules on HotAir equate to Rule of Law under the Obama administration. It is all arbitrary and most certainly closer to rule of man. They banned one person for posting poll results that were not positive for romney on several threads. A few days alter a pro romney person did the same thing, nothing at all…
astonerii on January 29, 2012 at 8:48 PM
You sure they banned somebody for posting poll results?
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 8:50 PM
Yes. They posted pre South Carolina results that showed Newt leading. Someone replied to it, even though they deleted the post and replaced with banned, I saw the reply lower on the thread with date stamp. It was just a poll.
astonerii on January 29, 2012 at 8:51 PM
Won’t disagree on the existence of plants for every candidate, nor argue that the majority of Romney supporters are simply fully-convinced moderates. And some conservatives who think that taking public positions like a moderate is the way to win. The puzzlement is how little moderation seems to count in their conversations here. Which is part of the fun, but also a real turn-off to a lot of sincere people.
It’s interesting that at least 2 completely different GOP Presidents, Nixon and Reagan, one a center/left politician (albeit running right) and a right-winger (having moved from center/left), were able to pull together a broad coalition of center left-to-right voters to pull off landslide victories. No politician is as adept today, and the factions themselves a lot less centripetally-minded. I think the party may be headed for a crack-up.
It’s a weird time, with the domestic social unrest that gave rise to Nixon not really evident (though not far below the surface), and the external threat that, in part, propelled Reagan, more inchoate than the old Empire of Evil. Yet the peril to nation seems more dangerous somehow, more insidious, probably because not so easily seen. And the GOP seems to be ignoring it completely.
de rigueur on January 29, 2012 at 8:51 PM
Actually it was the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992.
Wanna guess which Republican primary candidate voted for it?
joana on January 29, 2012 at 8:53 PM
Substance People, Substance. Mitt fears the things he DID in office.
Not his religion. Not his tax rate. Not his former private sector jobs. Those attacks should mean nothing to conservatives.
Gloaming into things like his religion and his investments are the sort of garbage that liberals sucker for. Let them have those arguments. Conservatives should be sticking to facts.
SilverDeth on January 29, 2012 at 8:53 PM
A subtext, maybe, but won’t be overt. That would invite scrutiny of Rev Wright and Black Liberation Theology.
de rigueur on January 29, 2012 at 8:54 PM
Eh, I seemed to remember Allahpundit posting polls himself that showed Gingrich had the lead in SC the last 3 days before the primary. I don’t think he was happy about it but he did post it. He didn’t ban himself. :)
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 8:56 PM
Yup. Many of the moderates have more in common with the democrats anymore. I won’t miss catering to them if they are allowed to continue to tear the party into bits.
SilverDeth on January 29, 2012 at 8:56 PM
You don’t understand the liberal media yet.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 8:57 PM
I dunno, maybe I can do a search and see.
astonerii on January 29, 2012 at 8:57 PM
Does everybody agree that Romney wins the nomination if he wins Florida? Or can he still lose? Lot of people seem to think FLorida seals the deal.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 8:59 PM
The problem is that Newt’s record in office isn’t any better. That’s why he has been focusing on Mitt’s career and taxes and debating skills and whatnot.
Only tonight I was reminded of Gingrich’s vote for the Housing and Community Development Act that expanded the CRI and would eventually result in the subprime crisis.
joana on January 29, 2012 at 9:00 PM
Right On…! Right On…! Right On….!
Seven Percent Solution on January 29, 2012 at 9:00 PM
People like Karl Rove, Ann Coulter, the Staff of the WSJ….
Why should just a few states get to pick for everybody?
Screw that.
Fight it out till bloody September if you have to.
SilverDeth on January 29, 2012 at 9:01 PM
Yup Newt’s record is pretty lousy when you get into it. You’ll get no argument from me. I don’t support Newt. What I want is Romney to crash and burn, and I am up front and honest about it. Newt’s got the megaphone to best fling poop at Ken-Doll.
I encourage him to do everything he can to irrevocably and permanently damage Mitt Romney politically.
SilverDeth on January 29, 2012 at 9:04 PM
Well FLorida voters are generally considered the Wise Men. Nobody ever trashes Florida voters based on how they vote. Iowa and South Carolina gets trashed all the time though b/c of regional bigotry. We saw that big time with Ann Coulter, who is fond of using southerners as props in her books (we don’t all like NASCAR, for example), but she sneered at SC voters as being Democrats b/c they didn’t vote Romney, although he still came in 2nd.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 9:05 PM
Nope. Romney wins when either Newt or Santorum get out and the last non-Romney doesnt pick up the majority of of the droppers voters. Till then its still up in the air.
Sultanofsham on January 29, 2012 at 9:05 PM
Addendum: Just so long as he sticks to conservative principles when doing so.
SilverDeth on January 29, 2012 at 9:06 PM
I never agree with things like that. He might end up with more delegates, I do not think he will get 50%, I sure hope not.
astonerii on January 29, 2012 at 9:06 PM
Newt’s got some blemishes his his record but he certainly has more conservative accomplishments than Romney and he never implemented RomneyCare. He fought against HillaryCare.
That ought to count for something to conservatives but Romney’s better looking and fit and that’s why we must nominate him.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 9:07 PM
Had Jake been ready, he could have done a great parody of Newt’s lashing at John King over asking if he cared to comment about Marianne’s allegation about his personal morals. I would have thought that marital fidelity says something about one’s fundamental honesty. A six year affair, while he was married, bespeaks an ingrained double-mindedness that I would never trust without some real positive evidence that he had changed. That impression is not lessened by his campaigning style of complaining about negative ads while he launches attacks on Romney that imply some sort of wrongfulness about success in business investments and merely having accounts in foreign banks as if they had no legitimate reason other than tax evasion or money laundering. There’s a kind of desperation in such attacks that suggest a deep ambition that is almost like a physical need.
flataffect on January 29, 2012 at 9:07 PM
a prime example of why so many us consider you ‘nistas cultists. and you dont even realize why this comment is cult-like
chasdal on January 29, 2012 at 9:07 PM
Normally, yes. But Ken-Doll decided to turn this primary into a blood feud. He’ll get every cent of what he bought.
SilverDeth on January 29, 2012 at 9:07 PM
Not only he voted for that disaster, he actively promoted it.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-15/gingrich-said-to-be-paid-by-freddie-mac-to-win-republican-allies.html
Newt ignored the advice of conservative economists and helped Bill Clinton.
joana on January 29, 2012 at 9:09 PM
The actual vote count should be interesting…
… Just sayin’.
Seven Percent Solution on January 29, 2012 at 9:10 PM
Can you provide my statement so I can respond to it?
I like Palin but I don’t think you can call me a Palin SuperFan because I did have some criticisms of some things she did. I thought she had to finish out her term as govenor, regardless of the bogus ethics violations, if she wanted a political future. I didn’t understand her seemingly pointless bus tour back in the spring and I thought she need to jsut get in it if she wanted to win it. A Palin SuperFan always agrees with Palin’s decisions…that’s not me.
Romney has his cult followers too. Ann Coulter hasn’t written a column in months that isn’t pro-Romney. Yet you’ll cite her as reasonable. :)
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 9:13 PM
For all you Romney-haters that claim the media is on his side – the facts show quite a different story. It’s obvious that the media is doing its best to push a longer, drawn out horse race and this shows in the results of the latest Center for Media and Public Affairs research out of George Mason University
Romney: 78% negative, 22% positive Gingrich: 48% negative, 52% positive
First Newt threatens to sit out debates if the audience is required to hold back applause, then he complains that the audience is stacked against him. Now Newt claims “he cannot debate someone who doesn’t tell the truth” – do you think Obama will be telling the truth during the perhaps 1 or 2 presidential debates? And these presidential debates will be very stacked by both audience and moderators on Obama’s side. Many of you claim that Newt’s debate skills are the reason for him to win the nomination but using this information – what debate skills? If you listen to the actual stump speeches of Mitt versus Newt, it’s sad to see Newt’s speech is pretty much one long complaining tirade – imagine the “carpet bombing” of negative ads the left would throw at Newt and it’s obvious, he doesn’t have the temperament to take it and remain a positive presence on the campaign trail
BabysCatz on January 29, 2012 at 9:13 PM
You realize the only difference between a “cult” and a “religion” is the amount of people who ascribe to it? Regardless, all religious systems are inherently irrational and illogical due to their supernatural nature. To believe in one and assault another based on “weirdness” is hilariously hypocritical.
Kriggly on January 29, 2012 at 9:14 PM
All religions are crazy and a bit cultish:
All religions are crazy, silly, weird, and cultish. Based on your criteria, no one should be president because most of us belong to some weird, crazy cult like religion. Even athiests have wierd, crazy and silly beliefs like life forming spontaneously and then some how evolving into intelligent life.
Conservative Samizdat on January 29, 2012 at 9:15 PM
I don’t think it’s a long drawn out race if it goes past 4 states. It’s amazing how quickly the Romney cultists want to wrap this thing up. I don’t think that’s realistic or fair to the voters in other states.
We are not a Union of 4 states.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 9:17 PM
Subtext, not overt. No one’s going to come out and say “he’s nuts/he’s crazy because he believes xyz.” It will be along the lines of “Some worry that voters might have concerns about his connection to a group that believes xyz.”
No argument about the strategy, but I know the tactics quite well.
de rigueur on January 29, 2012 at 9:17 PM
Romney’s only won 1 out of 3 primaries so far, and NH was basically his home state so it’s kind of irrelevant. Florida will be the first state he wins that’s not his home state. I don’t see why he has to be the nominee just b/c he wins 2 out of the first 4 states. Florida has a lot of liberal Republicans down around Miami and Orlando and I’m not sure if they are the best sample for Republican voters.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 9:19 PM
If Romney wins Florida, it will help him get his momentum back, and he’ll probably win the nomination after Super Tuesday at the latest.
Conservative Samizdat on January 29, 2012 at 9:20 PM
Did I read some of these comments correctly? Are conservatives actually attacking the Mormon religion? First it was capitalism, now religion – this must be the Democratic party primaries for sure….
BabysCatz on January 29, 2012 at 9:21 PM
The thing is, few Newt supporters overlook his baggage and bad decisions and heresies agaisnt conservatism.
Nearly all Romney supporters overlook the fact he is a very liberla candidate and a serial flip flopper.
Who are the SuperFans and the cultists in this primary? I’d say the Romney supporters are.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 9:21 PM
Gingrich doesn’t have any SuperFans for them most part. That’s why I started calling him my Newtie Poo a few months ago, b/c I felt sorry for him in that regard. :)
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 9:23 PM
Basically any criticism of the liberal ROmney is an attack on conservatism and capitalism and religion and puppies and ice cream and America.
It’s a weird twisted logic, but this is a weird primary.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 9:25 PM
yea in one sense, but the KEY to the crash was the BUYING up of loans. It didn’t take banks and mortgage brokers very long to figure out there was no risk to them to meet the rules(not a coincidence, btw) and a bunch of the loans were not even REAL loans on property just paper. SWEET!…
Origination fees AND fees paid by Uncle to “service” ie collect payments on these worthless loans while they lasted.
FHA didn’t buy loans up but have guaranteed who knows how many billions of under water houses now.
Saprize saprize!
golfmann on January 29, 2012 at 9:26 PM
People always leave out the most interesting part of the Bain Capital ad fallout, and that was Romney’s defense of his tenure at Bain as being the same thing as what Obama did when he took over GM and fired people. This is the man you want to champion as a capitalist, Guardian of the Free Markets? A man that compares his job to a socialist seizure of a private sector company?
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 9:28 PM
Depends on the size of the blow-out in Florida. If there’s a 10 pt. gap in Romney’s favor, I’d imagine it’s over– although Romney has to slog for 7 more months through 53 more states to sew up the delegates. February is Romney Month, hard to see how any regains momentum against him in March. So, most likely, support dwindles, the money dries up, and the opposition folds in March.
And the media kicks in: all favorable coverage of Romney or his campaign ends, his attacks on Obama never get out (unless he keeps up the spending at the pace he’s doing now, draining his coffers for the general), and the drip-drip-drip of anti-Romney stories begins. By the time he reaches the convention, he may wish he hadn’t been a lone target for the half the year.
de rigueur on January 29, 2012 at 9:30 PM
If your trying to paint all conservatives with the same brush then no, you didnt read these comments correctly.
Sultanofsham on January 29, 2012 at 9:32 PM
Presidential debates usually focus on the issues and don’t devolve into nasty personal attacks which hardly look “presidential”. If Obama is going to lie he’s going to be lying about his record, not Newt’s ethics violations from 15 years ago.
If you consider debating skills as being who is able to pile on the most “dirt” on the other guy in the shortest amount of time, than I guess Romney is a better debater.
tkyang99 on January 29, 2012 at 9:36 PM
I never said he’s not going to fight for repeal. I said that he, himself, cannot repeal the act, only Congress can do that. I don’t know what part of starting the first day of office he’ll sign an Executive Order giving a waiver to all 50 states, effectively nullifying Obamacare. He has also said he will do whatever he can do to get Congress to finish the job.
This was in answer to the naive posters who keep whining about Romney can’t be trusted to repeal the bill. I’ll say it again, only Congress can do that. He has also said that once the repeal is passed by Congress, he’ll sign it immediately.
This whole Romney vs Obamacare is made up drek pushed by the media, Axelrod, and the rightside fringe who still believes everything they hear on far right sites without any checking on their own.
I cannot figure out what conservatives believe, other than saying they are conservative somehow makes them superior. 2/3rds of the electorate do no identify as conservative.
I have voted in every presidential election since 1968. I vote Republican every time. I vote Republican because they are for smaller/more limited gov’t, lower taxes, a strong military, love of country and patriotism, pro-business, and pro-life. Now we have so-called conservatives who do not seem to care about this country at all, they only care about somebody else’s purity and the politics of personal destruction. They will not engage in discussion or debate and cut every question off with, “well he/she isn’t a conservative,” when no one even knows what that means. There is nothing I’ve seen advanced as the conservative position that isn’t the Republican position, so I refuse to say I’m anything but a Republican.
Pal2Pal on January 29, 2012 at 9:39 PM
Newt’s a better debater than Romney, and that’s one thing that pisses off the Romney supporters b/c they generally like to pitch their guy as the best debater and Gingrich takes that away from them.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 9:39 PM
A Romney-Obama eleciton season is going to be a case study in doublespeak, particulary on healthcare.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 9:41 PM
Yes, the views you expressed constitute religious bigotry. As it happens, I grew up in an area with a large Mormon community and went to school with lots of Mormon kids–and count one of those kids as one of my closest, lifelong adult friends. Every Mormon I’ve known personally and had as a friend has been decent, honest, and kind.
I can’t speak to the particular tenets of the Mormon faith. Haven’t read their book and only know the bare-bones of their history. Do know Romney is–in all probability–a better man than you’ll ever hope to be.
troyriser_gopftw on January 29, 2012 at 9:42 PM
Romney’s a great guy if you don’t have a problem with liars and shifty politicians. Part of having character is being sincere and honest with people, nobody thinks Romney is sincere and honest with people.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 9:46 PM
Newt is great at playing the victim. We already have a whiner in chief in the White House, we don’t need another.
What a baby.
HarryBackside on January 29, 2012 at 9:49 PM
That is totally false. I am sure every one of his crony capitalist’s are certain that he is telling them the truth about how they can strip America of her wealth with him as president.
astonerii on January 29, 2012 at 9:49 PM
If an election is only a character contest, Santorum should be running away with it as he’s run a positive campaign on the issues and abstained from dishonest attacks. Romney hasn’t done that.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 9:50 PM
Romney did a lot of whining when he lost SC. People have short memories.
It’s kind of like how people forget that Jordan was cocky and arrogant and a sore loser when he lost, b/c most of the time he won.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 9:52 PM
Winning makes you the good guy in America regardless of the truth on that score. Romney’s a prick, everybody knows it, but he gets away with it as long as he wins.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 9:55 PM
A “character debate”, huh? Gingrich should win that easily because he’s the biggest character in the race.
cavalier973 on January 29, 2012 at 10:29 PM
Newt’s still trying to use his almighty power of persuasion to get Rick to drop out. Snort.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2012/01/gingrich-nudges-for-santorum-to-drop-out-112702.html
Philly on January 29, 2012 at 10:34 PM
Newt should get out and endorse Rick.
Philly on January 29, 2012 at 10:35 PM
Newt also claimed to not be a lobbyist, but below is audio of him lobbying people in the Florida house. Newt is a liar, and has always been a liar. You can click the link and listen to the audio, because it is there in its full glory.
Chudi on January 29, 2012 at 10:42 PM
Obama is the most dishonest politician I’ve ever seen so…
apparently Gingrich is ceding the primary rationale for his candidacy.
Gingrich cannot debate Obama.
MadisonianRombot on January 29, 2012 at 10:46 PM
Chudi does not understand that as a citizen Gingrich has the ability to talk to government officials. I wonder if all those people asked to testify before congress are lobbyists?
Is Gingrich presenting ideas, or is he lobbying?
The complete audio of Gingrich’s speech, which includes a glowing shout-out to speaker-in-waiting Marco Rubio, is here.
astonerii on January 29, 2012 at 10:51 PM
Philly’s a big Romney SuperFan.
People are going to hear Romney supporters fake like they are Santy supporters, b/c they do know that a support for Santorum at this point is a vote for Romney.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 11:03 PM
Romney’s dishonesty is more of a cypher. Obama cannot run from his 4 years as President in the debates. It is all publicly well known stuff.
Romney’s lies are far less easily debated as they come from too far outside the realm of credible.
For instance, Romney said his company did no business with the government, particularly medicare. Um, yes he did, in fact his company was cheating medicare out of hundreds of millions of dollars, that way Romney could make money.
astonerii on January 29, 2012 at 11:16 PM
Thank you, Troyriser. I was raised Catholic and over the years have struggled with faith significantly. My struggles are personal. I envy those who so freely dedicate their lives to their faith. It’s a beautiful thing. I know a thing or two about Mormonism because I very gladly went to my sister’s beautiful Mormon baptism. I participated in their services many times and even had dinner in their homes with their magnificent families. My sister isn’t running around with tinfoil on her head and hasn’t committed herself to seven sister-wives. She’s happy, healthy and right with God. I envy her.
leftophobe on January 29, 2012 at 11:25 PM
jfs756 8:17 PM:
Wow! Talk about religious bigotry. Do you feel similarly about Papists, Jews, Quakers, Pentecostals, Lutherans, Baptists, Church of Christ, Methodists, Presbyterians, etc.?
But you will vote for Newt, a Papist now, but he changes his religion like others change their shirts. I think he is on his 3rd one now.
The only reason the LDS church might seem weird is because it is based on the early church of Jesus, who was a Jew, whereas all others, are built from the Council of Nicea pronouncements 300 and 400 years after the death of Christ.
Pal2Pal on January 29, 2012 at 11:42 PM
And I suppose you don’t have any character issues with Newt being a serial adulterer, being forced from the speakership, being forced from Congress due to ethics charges or influence peddling for Freddie Mac and Medicare D after leaving Congress?
Newt has more personal and political baggage than the lost and found at United Airlines.
bw222 on January 29, 2012 at 11:50 PM
Mormonism seems weird b/c it’s based on what a crackpot, Joseph Smith, said.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 11:51 PM
That’s what is so annoying about Romney calling Newt “zany” and “erratic”….the man believes Joseph Smith had God on speed dial.
Dr. Tesla on January 29, 2012 at 11:51 PM
You and blue gill would make a lovely couple!
KOOLAID2 on January 29, 2012 at 11:53 PM
.
Catholics eat a little cracker every Sunday and believe it represents the body of Christ. That is Newts princess bride religious conversion, as of now anyway. Is that considered Joe Smith nutty ?
FlaMurph on January 29, 2012 at 11:55 PM
It has already been stated that they don’t want what Obama is selling. Obama is selling Obamacare.
Romney wants to repeal Obamacare.
The choice will be with Romney.
csdeven on January 29, 2012 at 11:57 PM
Thanks Doc!
I’m hoping we get to at least half-way through the 57 states before anybody else folds. Heck, I’m wishing more would jump in!
KOOLAID2 on January 29, 2012 at 11:59 PM
Yeah, but I drink blood too!
KOOLAID2 on January 30, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Gingrich is a born lobbyist, He’s connected he’s persuasive, he is an excellent salesman. This goes back to the whole character thing, working for Freddie Mac shows that he will be anyones dog for a bone.
V7_Sport on January 30, 2012 at 12:07 AM
I’m a MoMurph – very nice to meet a fellow Murph. Hey Doc, I had the pleasure of converting two AstroNewts to Romneybots this evening over dinner. Didn’t take much… just the facts.
leftophobe on January 30, 2012 at 12:10 AM
Nothing!
Next door they were at 299 for quotes of the day, but it’s going strong now…so at 599…just had to make this one 600 before I turn in. (:>)
KOOLAID2 on January 30, 2012 at 12:33 AM
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