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?
