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
3:34 pm

RIGHTISWRONG, that is very Patriotic! We the people should take care of others. You are absolutely correct! However, I THINK that I can best determine who I should donate money to care for, not Uncle Sam. I do donate. I am in the process of adopting myself (2nd adopted child). We give time, talent and treasure to various charities. If there is no ‘opportunity’ for those mentioned in your post, then why do immigrants have a greater chance of becoming rich than Americans? Why are illegals breaking down the door to get here? There is plenty of opportunity. However, the left has convinced our own citizens that they can’t make it without government help.

Junior Samples

March 2nd, 2011
3:35 pm

i see the words”faux news” used a lot referring to fox news. is that part of the liberal play book that goes out to all the dems. Seems a little strange..that’s all.

Ryder

March 2nd, 2011
3:35 pm

BMDPD,,,you have to be kidding me. Seriously, you don’t think we were hearing Bush and repubs saying “Saddam was hurting his own people”. You must be using selective memory. I can find quotes if needed.

You’re also ignore many many comments that Bush admin cherry picked the intel to support invasion.

Now even with that said, Repubs agreed to nation-build, while using borrowed funds from nuke power, and economic competitor China…which only makes them stronger.

Am I missing something there? Those comments seem to go directly against what repubs stood for. But you guys went along with it. Nation building with US troops, on borrowed funds.

And its been the biggest U.S. policy blunder ever. No wmd found, and 8 years later, and 3 terms of Iraqi leadership, we’re still babysitting a “transitional government”.

Like I said, if we spent as much protecting U.S. borders as we did in Iraq, we’d have a pretty tight border. But repubs sent that money to Iraq.

I don’t see where any of my comments are off-point…or wrong. You may state different goals, but the event mentioned still hold. We’re nation-building, and we had no funds to do it.

chillen

March 2nd, 2011
3:35 pm

The title of this article is misleading. It makes it seem as if Gingrich has done something wrong and therefore was suspended.

I’m sure that was unintentional. Certainly there is no agenda.

JB

March 2nd, 2011
3:36 pm

FOX LIES…………….You are correct about not being educated…These folks elected Obama, who was no more qualified to be President than Sara Palin………..Whoops, she was more qualified.

RetiredSoldier

March 2nd, 2011
3:36 pm

Babs-

Ask Obama about the jobs.

Ryder

March 2nd, 2011
3:37 pm

I meant to say, “We WERE hearing the lament Saddam was hurting his own people” Anyone that thinks repubs were not pushing this as a reason to nation-build has their head in the sand.

Get Real

March 2nd, 2011
3:37 pm

I am still waiting on the delivery of my rose colored glasses from the Liberal Progressive store. I want to see all the unicorns, fairies and magic bunnies too.

I sure hope they arrive soon…

BMDPD

March 2nd, 2011
3:38 pm

Ryder, I acknowleded that Iraq was a mess, but the ‘hurting his own people argument’ would be needed to get support from those on your side.

dawgrific

March 2nd, 2011
3:38 pm

JB, right on, you stole my thunder! I have had my share of “unfairness” and hard times in my youth as well, but I am now an educator, and my wife and I contribute a TON to our church and other charities. I simply don’t want the government wasting any more of the money it steals from my family every year. How much more horrendously screwed up programs are we Americans supposed to support in the name of “compassion and fairness?” Let ME decide on what organizations to give to, and that will be a much more efficient of use of “money for good” than the government could EVER carry out.

Gary

March 2nd, 2011
3:38 pm

BMDPB. The flaw is that you want to put everything on the backs of tax payers and businesses. Then you wonder why they can’t find a job that pays well or has decent health care when they graduate from college. Why do we tax savings and investment. I should be able to max out a 401k. Why limit it to 16.5k? Should we not incourage people to take car of themselves. If I invest in a company that will provide jobs to others I am punished with a tax for creating this opportunity if my risk pays off and I make a proifit. Why on earth would we create a system that discourages savings and investment. I am taking care of myself and creating opportunities for others and I will be taxed. No capitol gains tax. Create tax free savings accounts for retirement. Create a strong economy. Every dollar the government takes is one less dollar for me to spend save or invest. How does that help anybody. I gues it helps someone by smoke so they can sit home and watch judge judy rather than work.

JB

March 2nd, 2011
3:39 pm

Obama misses the mark. He thinks extending unemployment checks will get him votes…it amazes him that some folks actually WANT to go back to work.

BMDPD

March 2nd, 2011
3:40 pm

FOX LIES, once again you proved your ignorance and your inability to follow directions. Read the NY Times article on the Tea Party demographics. I did not say google fox viewership. And you are completely and fully ignorant if you actually believe that the left is better educated than the right.

Ryder

March 2nd, 2011
3:40 pm

RetiredSoldier ..funny how repubs now think the feds have everything to do with jobs, when it wasn’t the same under Bush. However, read your news to find out how repubs cuts impacts job creation.

You repubs can’t have both. You cut fed funding of State programs, you cut jobs. You can’t have both. Feds can’t create jobs without fed investments.

So which you do want…oh wait, I know. You want to make sure feds can’t create jobs, so you can complain about feds not creating jobs.

BMDPD

March 2nd, 2011
3:41 pm

Gary, I think you are talking to the wrong person. You should be talking to RIGHTISWRONG.

Jim Pierce

March 2nd, 2011
3:42 pm

Ryder : the only jobs the “Feds” create are government jobs. Have you not noticed that?

dawgrific

March 2nd, 2011
3:43 pm

I am sick and tired of the message that Republicans/Conservatives don’t care about the less fortunate. We DO want people who can do for themselves to do just that, but we would NEVER want children or the elderly to be “victimized” because of some ecomomic misfortune. I would LOVE to see the collective tax forms from libs and Conservs reagarding charitable contributions. Those numbers would be staggering (favoring Conservatives and Republicans), and yes, even from Repubs/Conservs in the already “stolen from” highest tax brackets.

Destiny

March 2nd, 2011
3:43 pm

Sometimes I forget I live where people need to pull up their collars so the red neck doesn’t show. What does PRESIDENT Obama’s college records have to do with how he’s running the white house? I’m confused as well on why people care on what he wrote a dissertation on? Please grow up and get over it. We had eight years of a bully who was an idiot. At least now we are slowly getting our respect back.

Captain Midnight

March 2nd, 2011
3:44 pm

Jim Pierce & JB “2012″ Yall!!!

Jim Pierce

March 2nd, 2011
3:45 pm

WHO respects Obama?????????????????

Ryder

March 2nd, 2011
3:45 pm

JB you said “Obama misses the mark. He thinks extending unemployment checks will get him vote”

PS…it will. You think stopping people from getting their unemployment, social security, and medicare checks will GET votes? LOL

PSS….repubs will do everything they can so not to do the above. They started the process already by extending the date to shut down the gov. They did so by taking Obama’s recommended cuts of 31 billion, instead of forcing through the 61 billion budget repubs first demanded.

They backed off…why is that? Oh wait, you think they don’t want the votes that will come to repubs when they stop the unemployment checks

Your a political genius…you sure know the pulse of the people. I love that you repubs think the way you do.

Jim Pierce

March 2nd, 2011
3:45 pm

A sweeping election in 2010………. and you are right… 2012 will SHOCK the democrats.

Captain Midnight

March 2nd, 2011
3:45 pm

BMDPD

March 2nd, 2011
3:46 pm

Destiny, you think we are getting our respect back. World leaders like Obama because he is weak.

Jim Pierce

March 2nd, 2011
3:46 pm

Ryder: May I ask your age? Be honest.

Dr. J

March 2nd, 2011
3:46 pm

Fox is beating all news networks added together in viewership. Look it up each day if you don’t believe it.

'bama boy

March 2nd, 2011
3:47 pm

Voice of Reason?

Now that’s funny no matter who you are.

Captain Midnight

March 2nd, 2011
3:48 pm

All the Rebublicans have to do is not run an “idiot”.
Ie.Carter/Reagan ‘80
It’s gonna be a bloodbath just like the mid-terms.

Captain Midnight

March 2nd, 2011
3:51 pm

I mean can’t you just see the campaign ads showing Obama bowing,bowing,bowing? Mmm,Mmm,Mmm. Hehehehe.

BMDPD

March 2nd, 2011
3:51 pm

Captain, I disagree unless that house continually tries to cut the budget and ensures that it is publicized greatly when the Senate blocks the legislation.

You idots voted for Deal too....

March 2nd, 2011
3:53 pm

Just saying…

Ryder

March 2nd, 2011
3:55 pm

Jim, if you guys run Palin, Dems would love it. Please try and make that happen. Bachman will help also. We know you won’t put up Romney, since he did a healthcare program to save his State some money…bad repub message.

Please prop up Palin.

How low will repubs go, when they put a person in the Oval Office who saw fit to trademark their name for profit.

Get Real

March 2nd, 2011
3:57 pm

Destiny

Maybe my rose colored glasses were accidently delivered to your address. They certainly appear to be working though

Ryder

March 2nd, 2011
3:57 pm

Why do repubs think the rating for FauxNews means anything about the integrity of the show?

Family Guy has a large viewship. So to does American Idol.

So what does that say repubs? Ummm, maybe nothing? But you tell us….that means the shows have value???

NOLALady

March 2nd, 2011
3:57 pm

Herman Cain?

You have been in Georgia too long if you think the rest of the country would even think to go there….

ARTICULATE AND ENUNCIATE AND PRONUNCIATE…get it? Who talks like that? Who can tolerate listening to someone who does?

Get Real

March 2nd, 2011
4:03 pm

Ryder

Do you have Rachel MadCow poster over you bed or what…

Captain Midnight

March 2nd, 2011
4:04 pm

Nolalady. I hear you. He may be smart but it takes him 5 minutes to get 1 sentence out. Nails down a blackboard. It ain’t gonna happen.

Destiny

March 2nd, 2011
4:06 pm

Respecting someone’s culture does not make them week. It makes them respectful and democratic. The president can’t get to his agenda because he’s still cleaning up “W’s” mess.

Get Real

March 2nd, 2011
4:10 pm

Destiny

Those glasses most be more powerful than advertised if you think the world responds to a weak president that shows little if any leadership capability…

BMDPD

March 2nd, 2011
4:11 pm

You are right. He is not week, but he is weak. Don’t you understand that the US is the envy of all nations? They love it when we have a weak leader. They believe that they can push him around. They hated W because they couldn’t push him around. Now W made some mistakes. At least I am objective enough to see thay. You however, are not objective enough to see that both parties have made a series of mistakes and bad decisions to get us into this mess. How long have the Dems had control of the senate? Yet, you still blame W.

Captain Midnight

March 2nd, 2011
4:12 pm

The President of the United States DOES NOT BOW.

BMDPD

March 2nd, 2011
4:12 pm

Sorry, it should read ‘objective enough to see that’.

Jimmy

March 2nd, 2011
4:15 pm

Atlanta…Imagine if we could buy alcohol on Sunday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TOM_UuQzc0

BMDPD

March 2nd, 2011
4:15 pm

Captain, he does if he is weak.

Joan

March 2nd, 2011
4:17 pm

No matter what you think, Mr. Obama is one of the smartest men in the USA. The time was right. God is on his side. If God is for you, its more than all the world against you. I’m not zoning in on Mr. Newt G.. But for those who are always making negative comments about Mr. O. just think about how STUPID you sound.. You don’t have to agree with him. I don’t agree with everything. But I do know that he is Smart, smarter than you and Me. He is no fool. Think before you write!!

BMDPD

March 2nd, 2011
4:18 pm

Joan, God is on his side? Very interesting you say that. Hmmmm……

WHAT?

March 2nd, 2011
4:19 pm

IF YOU THINK GOD IS ON OBAMA’S SIDE YOU ARE A MUSLIM OR A SATANIST!

BMDPD

March 2nd, 2011
4:21 pm

WHAT?, Read your Bible (OT). That comment can be taken in several ways. God did not always put a believer in charge. God gave the Israelites Saul when he was not ready to be king.

Get Real

March 2nd, 2011
4:31 pm

Joan

I cannot argue with your comments, Obama is very intelligent and quite charismatic and personable. However, governing experience and leadership capabilities are an entirely different discussion….