Newtie Gringrich, piece of work

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(May 19, 2007 -- 09:39 AM EST // link)
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, as usual, is disgusted. This time, he's blasting the field of 2008 presidential candidates who, Gingrich believes, are "demeaning the presidency" by jumping through pointless hoops.

"We have shrunk our political process to this pathetic dance in which people spend an entire year raising money in order to offer non-answers, so they can memorize what their consultants and focus groups said would work," Gingrich said.

In a speech to the John Locke Foundation, a conservative think tank, the prospective Republican candidate said he will not consider running until he has created a wave of reform. [...]

"This idea of demeaning the presidency by reducing it to being a game show contest ... is wrong for America, and I would never participate in it," he said.



In principle, I don't entirely disagree. The process can be silly at times, and watching 10 candidates offer sound-bite answers -- when they're not raising their hands to yes/no questions -- can start to appear a little demeaning.

But for Newt Gingrich to complain about politicians offering "non-answers," crafted by "consultants and focus groups," is rich. Good ol' Newt practically invented this style of politicking. After all, how did Gingrich and Frank Luntz put together the "Contract with America"? They relied on the advice of "consultants and focus groups," which told him what would work.

For that matter, wasn't it Gingrich who circulated a memo called "Language: A Key Mechanism of Control" to incoming GOP freshmen in 1995? The document included a list of words Gingrich wanted House Republicans to memorize because consultants and focus groups said they would work.

It's a little late for Newt to complain about an atmosphere he helped create.

the presidential elections is a joke, its nothing but a reality show. we wont ever have a good president untill someone who isnt rich can get in there wich will be like uh never

It's too bad Newt would never make it, the guy is like a Thomas Jefferson and would do what a leader should do and overhaul a lot of things like Teddy Roosevelt did.

Rudy is really our only hope, the guy gets things done. Too bad even if he did win the congress will most likely still be controlled by the dumocraps who get their jollies inflicking suffering on people so they can pretend to help them.

not a fan of newt but i agree with what he said... it's a nice little sound-bite.


who knows...maybe he actually had a change of heart against what he helped to create. if that were the case...great. i'd never vote for him, though because i don't trust him.