Newt apparently gave South Carolina Republicans the red meat they sought. He took on members of the press and blasted them. He did it twice. First he roared at Juan Williams, ironically of Fox News, and then he went Rumpelstiltskin on John King of CNN. His audiences loved it.
Let’s take a look at what happened with Williams. Days before, while in New Hampshire, Newt announced that if he were asked to addressed the NAACP, he would carry on the following conversation from cbsnews.com:
Gingrich, during an appearance in Plymouth, New Hampshire, spoke about remarks he would theoretically make if invited to speak to the NAACP.
“I’m prepared, if the NAACP invites me, I’ll go to their convention and talk about why the African American community should demand paychecks and not be satisfied with food stamps,” Gingrich said.
The former House speaker has made a habit of calling President Obama the “food stamp president” — a nickname he used on Thursday as well — and has often painted the contrast between himself and Mr. Obama as a choice between paychecks and food stamps.
“The fact is, if I become your nominee we will make the key test very simple: Food stamps versus paychecks,” Gingrich said. “Obama is the best food stamp president in American history. More people are on food stamps today because of Obama’s policies than ever in history. I would like to be the best paycheck president in American history.”
Juan Williams who was a debate moderator posed the following question to Gingrich last Monday:
Newt used the opportunity to go on the attack. He gets it. Newt lived in Georgia. He is speaking code. The Fox Five didn’t get it. He said he was going to address the NAACP. When he targets that group as his audience, it becomes racial, regardless of denials and regardless of trying to convince us all it is about economics.
Newt can use all the mock rage he wants. He doesn’t fool me and he doesn’t fool Juan Williams. Juan Williams is correct. He didn’t answer the question. The Food Stamp president indeed!
Gingrich directed his mock rage at the media again targeting John King who asked the question if he would like to say anything to say about the second Mrs. Gingrich’s interview with ABC news. He said no but he would. Apparently once again the audience loved his attack on the media.
It leaves me with the distinct impression that many (NOT ALL) Republicans in South Carolina care more about telling off the media and beating President Obama than they do any principles. Am I wrong?
Newt even accuses the weekend foxies of not being fair and balanced.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/dont-you-have-some-sense-of-balance-gingrich-slams-fox-panel-for-asking-about-ethics-docs/
What a slime ball. When I start feeling sorry for the foxies, something is wrong.
This guy is a time bomb.
He invented the word ” deflection.”
I have mixed feelings about Newt. I think he correctly points out that NAACP constituency is being screwed over, yet it still blindly follows Obama. There have been enormous opportunities to make strategic decisions that would improve the economy (build the pipeline from Canada, allow drilling off the coast of Virginia, reinvest in the military) that would provide thousands of jobs, reduce fuel costs, and create conditions for extended growth, yet Obama always finds a reason to say no. These decisions have and continue to result in the largest number of people dependent ever on food stamps — food stamp presidency is not an unfair characterization. So he speaks truth and blasts the media in such a way that he is inoculated from their attacks. It is easy to appreciate Newt for saying what everyone is thinking but no one else could get away with saying so publicly.
On the other hand, his previous lack of conviction is troubling. It is hard to tell whether his claims of personal redemption are sincere or not. It is easier to believe him, however, than Romney. Newt admits to previous mistakes while Romney still takes pride in and ownership of Romneycare, even after claiming to be a conservative. That is a huge contradiction. People in S.C. definitely believe in personal redemption, so they gave Newt a pass on his previous behavior and political missteps.
Newt’s tactic worked in SC among conservative Repugs, but it will not work in a general election among moderates and independents. He will easily lose in the general against Obama.
@Starry, I think you are right on this one. I think Romney has a fighting chance. Gingrich does not.
The jobs bill would have created a lot of jobs also as well as improved our infastructure.
How about GM? All I heard was criticism over that rescue. How many jobs did that save? Is the govt being paid back? Yeeesssss.
The pipeline deal isn’t over and I am not so sure I want drilling off shore Virginia. I don’t think Obama has anything to do with that.
But good deflection. You are learning from Newt. Let’s talk about his mock rage. Let’s revisit the NAACP. Why are they getting a raw deal? Blindly follow Obama? How do you know who they follow and in what way? He was insulting to say he would address food stamps with THEM. Why them? How could that conversation NOT been racially directed. More white people by far are on food stamps. The SNAP program has been greatly expanded during the recession because more people are unemployed. That’s a no brainer.
How does a person married 3 times con his way into a church that says no divorce? As for redemption, it sure hasn’t made him a nicer person.
Waaahhhh!!! Cry!!!!!!!!!!! I am agreeing with Ann Coulter. Someone just shoot me!!!! Well almost agreeing with her. re Mitt Romney vs Newtster.
Also, Newt’s attacks on Romney for his money, taxes and vulture capitalism were very effective. Newt sounded a lot like the OWS crowd. This is very, very good news for those of us concerned about income inequality in this country. That message plays well among working class Americans.
@Moon-howler
I agree that Newt’s statements were racially directed, but not unfairly so. In 2008, Obama got better than 90% of the African American vote. Even now, his support among African Americans remains in the mid-80’s, despite dropping substantially for other races. So the upcoming presidential election will be affected by racial considerations.
The unemployment rate among blacks is on the order of 15% (even with all the statistical games being played). Although more whites are on food stamps, a much higher proportion of the African American population is on food stamps because a much higher percentage lives in poverty.
I would argue that Obama’s policies have extended the recession and led to higher rates of unemployment and higher rates of poverty. In short, his economic policies have not worked. The African American community has borne the brunt of the bad economy, and hence is getting a raw deal.
@Kelly,
Does it surprise you that Obama got 90% of the black vote? Why wouldn’t he? That doesn’t surprise me at all. I expect he will get 90% of the black vote again. I expect lots of democrats and independents will vote for him also.
WaPo:
Yea, that is insulting and it is racially directed. It will not serve him well in the future. He was playing to his ‘southern audiences.’ It’s just not something a politician should be saying. He was talking code.
A long drawn out slugfest of a primary.
I LOVE IT!!!
Lets keep this thing moving along………. Next up is Florida (also like SC and NH get a 50% delegate penalty). Pretty expensive market. This primary is good for state economies. 😉
It’s counter-intuitive, but it is happening because there’s no one good to vote for. Who’s excited about Romney?
Romney just isn’t exciting. @Rick. Most of them aren’t exciting.
These are the same toads who whined and complained about Clinton? Geez. Why not just get branded with the big H!