Fox News suspends Newt Gingrich while he sorts out presidential ambitions
On Tuesday night, those following Newt Gingrich’s dance toward a presidential race were confronted with two contradictory messages.
The Des Moines Register quoted Gingrich confidante Joe Gaylord as saying that the former U.S. House speaker would announce the formation of an exploratory committee on Thursday in Atlanta. Yet an urgent message from Rick Tyler, the Gingrich spokesman, arrived at 9 p.m., playing down the importance of Thursday’s joint press conference with Gov. Nathan Deal.
One wonders if the Tuesday night decision by Fox News to send letters to both Gingrich and Rick Santorum, suspending their work as contributors for the network, may have played a role as well. From the Los Angeles Times:
Dianne Brandi, the network’s executive vice president of legal and business affairs, said in an interview that the channel made the move because Gingrich aides told Fox News executives that the former House speaker is stepping up his exploration of a presidential bid.
While Gingrich is not expected to announce that he is forming a federal exploratory committee this week, he is expected to say in Georgia on Thursday that he is meeting with advisors to explore seeking the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, a Gingrich aide said….
Brandi said the network acted out of journalistic principle.
“We can’t have Speaker Gingrich on our payroll while he is in the midst of an exploratory committee to see if he’s going to run for office,” she said. “It’s a clear conflict.”
Fox News still has two other potential White House contenders on the payroll: former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
“As soon as each of them shows some serious intention to form an exploratory committee, we would take the same action,” Brandi said. “Huckabee is on a book tour, so I think his present intention is to sell books.”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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282 comments Add your comment
BMDPD
March 2nd, 2011
2:22 pm
JB, of course the right is racist. They don’t believe in a lot of public assistance. They believe that public assistance makes people dependent on government. Therefore, the right is racicst, right?
JB
March 2nd, 2011
2:24 pm
Libs don’t want Newt to run, because in a debate, unlike pasty McCain, Newt will eat Obummer’s lunch.
BMDPD
March 2nd, 2011
2:25 pm
Newt is tainted and burned out. He won’t win.
RetiredSoldier
March 2nd, 2011
2:25 pm
I agree with you JB. Not sure Newt is the horse I’ll ride in the primary, but an Obama/Newt debate would be priceless.
Fox is laughable
March 2nd, 2011
2:28 pm
Run him! (Or Palin, or another joke). It’s so funny seeing the Pubtards get their panties in a wad! All bark, no bite (and no solutions, only obstruction to progress). By the comments here, it’s easy to see why Fox has decent ratings. Repubs are anti-education and stupid.
JB
March 2nd, 2011
2:29 pm
BMDPD………….I believe in Assistance for the worthy who REALLY need it. The blind, the feeble, the cripple, the mentally handicap etc……. Young healthy women standing in line at Kroger with four young’uns hanging off the cart paying with 200.00 worth of food stamps, no…..If that me me racist, so be it…..But thanks to my kind ( tax payer) they can get the food….They think it comes from Obama….They have no clue what part I play…..
Southerngurl
March 2nd, 2011
2:29 pm
Retired Soldier
That is very admirable that HC was the CEO of a large business that alone qualifies him. Granted, Obama may not have had the experience that HC was privy to, but this man is extremely intelligent and has so far managed to slowly pull a sinking ship out of the water. Give the guy credit. Herman Cain is not the candidate. As a matter of fact, you guys really do not have anyone right now, correct. Look how all those votes are going to be split. See, they even have major discord within their own party. HMMM HMMM HMMM
Ryder
March 2nd, 2011
2:30 pm
Newt cheated on a dying wife. Even the RNC is concerned about his less then stellar past when it comes to his integrity. But I’m sure the repubs posting here can ignore that…when a Repub does it.
BMDPD
March 2nd, 2011
2:30 pm
I love it when the left left call people on the right stupid. Hey lefty, go ahead and g oogle tea party demographics and get an education. You just proved your ignorance to everyone.
wdm
March 2nd, 2011
2:31 pm
There is one thing that can make or break Newt and his presidential run and that is the state of America and the world. If there is continuous uphevels in the mideast, a bad or weak American economy, union uprisings and protest, Newt will have a chance of winning the nomination and the presidency. Newt is clearly the sharpest politician (other than Obama) in America today. There is a time when who was screwing who way back when isn’t going to matter and unfortunately for all of us, that time appears to be drawing near.
alpha
March 2nd, 2011
2:32 pm
All you libs who think Obama is going to coast back into office in 2012 are in for a big disappointment.
BMDPD
March 2nd, 2011
2:32 pm
wdm, do we really want a “politician” as president?
Good Grief
March 2nd, 2011
2:33 pm
Southerngurl -
You realize at this point in 2007 that the Democrat Party had not settled on a candidate, right? Just because a party does not have a single heralded candidate nearly two years before an election does not mean that party won’t come up with a candidate. Give it time. Go watch American Idol or a Vin Diesel movie while your waiting.
wdm
March 2nd, 2011
2:34 pm
Only a politician can become a president in America. That isn’t necessarily the way I want it but that is the way it is.
JB
March 2nd, 2011
2:35 pm
” Obama is extremely intelligent”?……..HUM…. Marine Corpse…..57 States…. He’s a con artist. and a foreigner……
JB
March 2nd, 2011
2:37 pm
The votes that put Obama over the top are the fools that said they voted for him because he’s cool and has a Blackberry………………Geez….
dawgrific
March 2nd, 2011
2:37 pm
I find it quite amusing that the Dem’s don’t want to admit that they have had Congress since the 2006 elections, and, that their hero in the White House promised to first minimize the damage and then fix everything. Well, things have gotten FAR WORSE economically, and we have become a joke in World Affairs. What was his statement about how the unemplyment rate would never get above, what was it, 8.5%? How high is it now?! Plus, it has been artificially held down by temporary stimulus-induced jobs, that we should have learned don’t work long term, way back during the New Deal (see recession of 1937, in the middle of the Great Depression, lol) . UGHHH!
RIGHTISWRONG
March 2nd, 2011
2:37 pm
BMDPD, you are right, WE (the rich) DO pay our taxes! Thanks for lowering my liability, although I still do not think it was the right thing to do for the country. Still none of my employees can afford health insurance. Hmmmmm, they don’t have healthcare but I have more disposable income. All I ask is what President Obama asked for, that the top 2% pay the same tax rate that was proposed, passed, was not a problem, and led to economic recovery under you guys MESSIAH, Ron Reagan. Do the research, come back, I’ll wait….
JB, good for you buddy on Cain. He went to my alma mater, so I think that he is a good man with good intentions, going about it the wrong way. But, solutions can come from both sides if both sides are willing to negociate. The Right generally has a “It’s my way or the highway” attitude. Also, a lot of folks I talk to that are retards, I mean republicans, don’t like Herman and have NO reason not to like him other than his color. They are on the same ship! Wow
Ryder
March 2nd, 2011
2:38 pm
wdm: I think the upheaval in the middle east, demanding democracy, flashing signs of Obama’s phrase “we can” will be good thing for Obama, not bad. We’ve seen repubs placing troops in Iraq for almost a decade, baby sitting Iraq for years, borrowing to do it, losing over 4000 American lives in a nation-building effort. I’m sure intelligent Americans would rather see democracy come to these countries, without the U.S. being the nation-builder.
After all is said is done, we may see regime changes in 4 countries, while the repub drive to nation-build in Iraq, (cause Saddam was hurting his own people….which were shia muslims, who hate the U.S.) is still going on, after 8 years…and billions of dollars.
Travis McGee
March 2nd, 2011
2:39 pm
Enter your comments here
TOLD YOU SO
March 2nd, 2011
2:39 pm
Fox suspends Newt.Are they trying to pretend to be fair and balanced.
dee
March 2nd, 2011
2:40 pm
Should someone that been married 3 or 4 times like Newt and Donald run this country ?
John Radney
March 2nd, 2011
2:41 pm
I will never vote for Huckelberry, Palin or any of them I don’t like. I want one person that I feel I can trust. I just am sonn heve obamie. Remember Huckelberry pardoned ttwo men under pressure that kiied some state troppers.
benito
March 2nd, 2011
2:41 pm
FIRST!
benito
March 2nd, 2011
2:41 pm
Man!!! Someone always beats me!
Southerngurl
March 2nd, 2011
2:41 pm
Good Grief
I am sure that they will come up with a candidate. I am certain. Look at the current choices. Surely out of all of them, they will come up with someone. My My My. By the way, I do not waste my time on the likes of American Idol. By the way who is Vin Diesel.
dawgrific
March 2nd, 2011
2:41 pm
This man in our White House is smoke and mirrors (by the way, the smoke is fading and the mirrors are breaking). And NO, I am NOT a racist, nor do I care about the color of his skin whatsoever. I DO, however, take offense at those who ONLY support him because of his race (as I would NEVER do that), and also at those who claim “RACIST” whenever someone disagrees with him, or says ANYTHING negative about him at all.
Good Grief
March 2nd, 2011
2:42 pm
RIGHTISWRONG -
Regarding your point about Republicans having a “my way or the highway” attitude, is that anything like Obama’s reported “I won” statement to the GOP during a debate? Or does it have something to do with this administration’s obsession with high-speed rail transit?
Gary
March 2nd, 2011
2:42 pm
Put Newt and Obama on a stage with no help. No pre questions. Newt would run circles around him. Newt never uses teleprompters. He can speak for hours on policy off the cuff and provide you with more knowledge and education on the subject than any current elected official. Yet all the left will talk about is his dissasterous private life. Unfortunately, that is all they need. He would be brilliant and great as a president, but he is wasting his time.
Travis McGee
March 2nd, 2011
2:42 pm
If Fox news gets rid of all their paid contributors with presidential aspirations, why, they’ll have to resort to reruns — back-to-back-to-
back reruns of Ronald Reagan speeches or something like that.
Maybe a comedy hour of Bushisms.
They’ll be in big dodo if they all run.
RetiredSoldier
March 2nd, 2011
2:43 pm
southerngurl-
I admire your admission that Obama was far from qualified for the office he sought by conventional standards. I don’t think anyone disputs Obama is intelligent. What I disput are his policies. Frankly I can’t think of a single thing I agree with him. That doesn’t make him bad or evil in my eyes, just wrong. I think his policies are the most radical we have ever had with the distinct possibility of killing our great country if allowed to contine for a second term.
As far as the republican party is concerned of course there is disorder right now. Just like in 2007 for both parties. Unfortuately we nominated our weakest candidate in 2008 and did poorly. There will be a good candidate for the republicans in 2012. I hope you and all the Obama supporters continue to think re-election is a given. One thing as been proven many times in politics, on any given day anyone can be defeated. Just remember 2010 when you were spanked good.
Southerngurl
March 2nd, 2011
2:44 pm
dawgrific
Why do you assume that people only supported him because he is black? The only reason people want him out of the “White” House is because is black.
Jim Pierce
March 2nd, 2011
2:45 pm
Travis: wonder why Fox has 10 times the viewership of ANY of the other “news” stations?
Jim Pierce
March 2nd, 2011
2:46 pm
Southerngurl: Obama is BLACK?????????????? ***gasp
reebok
March 2nd, 2011
2:46 pm
That’s the first time I’ve ever heard the words “FOX” and “journalistic principles” in the same sentence.
BMDPD
March 2nd, 2011
2:47 pm
RIGHTISWRONG, in my opinion right is right, and I am not talking politically. Life is not fair. Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad people. Nothing about life is fair. Why make it more unfair by taxing people more who were born fortunate, worked hard to get where they are or had breaks. Why should we take money from them and give it to others?
dawgrific
March 2nd, 2011
2:47 pm
There you go, changing what I said. I didn’t say all who supported him only did so because of his race, but both you and I know that some did, and that is DEAD WRONG! Liberal S-Gurl, please don’t distort my message/words.
MJ
March 2nd, 2011
2:48 pm
FOX – STILL NUMBER ONE MOST WATCHED AND TRUSTED NEWS IN THE WORLD!!!!! #1
JB
March 2nd, 2011
2:48 pm
You folks do know that around 40 % of Fox News viewership is Democratic and independents. Watch it for a week and you will see 40 % of the Views and time are allotted to the left. gotta watch it to see though. The devil channels don’t give the right 40%. I’ve watched.
dawgrific
March 2nd, 2011
2:48 pm
RACE HAS NO BEARING ON HOW I VOTE, PERIOD! SO ENOUGH ALREADY!
Ryder
March 2nd, 2011
2:49 pm
Newt no Palin “I think that she’s got to slow down and be more careful and think through what she’s saying and how’s she’s saying it. There’s no question that she’s become more controversial,”
I can’t to see thin-skinned (insert trademark here) Palin go after Newt.
dawgrific
March 2nd, 2011
2:50 pm
By the way, you FOX haters fail to recognize that there is more to the network than Hannity and Beck
because your liberal news sources didn’t tell you that.
HDB
March 2nd, 2011
2:51 pm
The GOP has a much bigger problem than whom they will select as their Presidential candidate; they have an image problem that they refuse to address:
….from the Washington Post:
GOP’s anti-immigrant stance could turn Texas into a blue state
Don’t look now, but Texas is turning blue.
Not today, to be sure, nor tomorrow. But to read the newly released census data on the Lone Star State is to understand that Texas, the linchpin of any Republican electoral college majority, is turning Latino and, unless the Republicans change their spots, Democratic.
Figures released last month by the Census Bureau show that during the past decade, Texas joined California as a majority-minority state: The percentage of whites in the Texas population declined from 52 percent in 2000 to 45 percent in 2010, while the percentage of Latinos rose from 32 percent to 38 percent. Nearly half of all Texans under 18 – 48 percent – are Latino.
Texas is hardly alone in this epochal demographic shift. In the first four states for which the Census Bureau released detailed information – New Jersey, Louisiana, Mississippi and Virginia – the number of whites under age 18 actually declined in the past decade. The numbers of Latinos and Asians among the young, by contrast, are soaring, and they are highest among the youngest.
Nationally, whites are now a minority – 49.9 percent – of Americans age 3 and under. In eight states and the District, according to an analysis by the Brookings Institution’s William Frey, minorities comprise the majority in pre-K and kindergarten. Looking at all school enrollment, from pre-K through graduate school, Frey told the New York Times’ Sabrina Tavernise, whites were 58.8 percent of all students in 2009, down from 64.6 percent in 2000.
What these numbers mean is simply that the Republicans have an existential problem. As America becomes increasingly multiracial, the Republicans have elected to become increasingly white.
Have to address the image before addressing the candidate……wouldn’t matter who the candidate is!!
dawgrific
March 2nd, 2011
2:51 pm
RACE SHOULD HAVE NO BEARING ON HOW ANY THINKING VOTER VOTES, PERIOD! SO ENOUGH ALREADY!
MJ
March 2nd, 2011
2:51 pm
Most Liberals are like anti-God or something; they are so unfair! can’t talk with them, forget ever agreeing with them. FOX-haters everywhere! That s why FOX will run all of the scrappy left-wing media networks out of business very soon: Especiall CNN…..and MSNBC…..NBC…..Socialism news
JB
March 2nd, 2011
2:52 pm
Lot’s and lot’s of GOP folks got elected to Congress last November………In Heavy Democrat districts by the way, just Say’n. I don’t care who we run, if Gas is 4.00 a gallon and unemployment is still around 9%, Obama loses.
LeeH1
March 2nd, 2011
2:54 pm
Marc: seems you are pleased with Obama. Trillions of additional spending, trillions increased in National Debt… Liar from day ONE. Newt would rip Obama a new one in any debate forum.
Hmm. Seems like you can also say this about George Bush. He got us in this mess, while Obama at least is trying to get us out, in spite of Republican sabotage. Meanwhile, Georgey-Boy and his Neo-Con bankers are laughing all the way to the bank at us.
Wake up and at least see the coffee, even if you’re not bright enough to know what it means when you smell it!
Ryder
March 2nd, 2011
2:54 pm
@MJ, so what does your post about “FOX – STILL NUMBER ONE MOST WATCHED AND TRUSTED NEWS IN THE WORLD!!!!! #1″ mean?
And you’re using Faux’s quote on being the “most trusted”?
Like a child, you’re grabbing for anything to claim a win. Fortunately, we adults know the number of folks who watch faux means nothing. Family Guy carton has high ratings, so what. American Idol is watched by many, so what. USA today is probably most read News Paper in the U.S…..does that mean the views expressed there are the correct, balanced, fair, trusted?
Nope.
Fox is laughable
March 2nd, 2011
2:55 pm
Love it! Newt/Palin or Palin/Newt ticket! Lowest common denominator ticket! Run ‘em! LOL By the way, Obama would KILL lizardman in a debate (and we already know how great “You Betcha” is at debating).
LOL
Fox is laughable
March 2nd, 2011
2:56 pm
By the way, what is g oogle? Is that a new form of Google? Dumb Pubs crack me up.