Newt Gingrich on Muslim infiltrators, Tony Blair – and some guy named Mitt
My esteemed AJC colleague Daniel Malloy ventured out of D.C. today to witness the following:
ARLINGTON, Va. – Newt Gingrich played surrogate Monday afternoon for Michele Bachmann, Tony Blair, his own accomplishments from the 1990s, and – oh, yes — Mitt Romney.
Though it might have been hard to tell, Romney’s campaign organized the news conference at Belmont TV, an electronics retailer a few miles from Gingrich’s home, as one of 18 events by major Republican names across the nation intended to drive President Barack Obama’s “You didn’t build that” remark into the skull of every swing voter.
After owner Ken Sickmen, who took over the business from his father, lamented that the shaky economy means fewer people want to buy big-screen televisions, Gingrich took the podium for the kind of delightful, self-referential skewering of the president that was the basis of his primary stump speech. The former Georgia congressman also picked up on the news of the day, that his former White House foil Bill Clinton will keynote the Democratic National Convention.
“I think that will be a terrific opportunity for those of us who served with President Clinton to point out Barack Obama’s no Bill Clinton,” Gingrich said. “You look at the Clinton economy, you look at the balanced budgets that I helped write and Clinton signed. You look at welfare reform which Obama recently tore apart and reversed.
You look at all the things that were done to make the economy better for the American people, there’s a huge gap between Bill Clinton’s efforts to take the Democratic Party to the center and Barack Obama’s effort to take it to the left.”
Gingrich even had an Olympic-themed riff on Obama’s gaffe: “I can imagine an Obama speech saying ‘You didn’t win that gold medal, everybody won the gold medal.’ Well, that ain’t how it works.”
(As pointed out by Jon Stewart, Romney actually did say something similar at the 2002 Salt Lake City games: “You Olympians, however, know that you didn’t get here solely on your own power. For most of you, loving parents, sisters or bothers encouraged your hopes, coaches guided, communities built venues and held competitions. All Olympians stand on the shoulders of those who lifted them.”)
But the reporters in attendance mostly wanted to hear about Gingrich’s op-ed backing Minnesota congresswoman Bachmann – and Coweta County Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, among others – in their pursuit of an investigation into whether Muslim Brotherhood elements have infiltrated the U.S. government.
Despite objections from Republicans John Boehner and John McCain – the latter said singling out State Department aide Huma Abedin had “no logic, no basis and no merit” – Gingrich said the threat is real and praised the group he dubbed “The National Security Five.” As he often does on the stump, Gingrich said the “elites” are ignoring extremist threats in the name of political correctness. Former British Prime Minister Blair agrees, Gingrich added.
Asked directly about Abedin, he replied: “I think all they asked for was an investigation, and I can’t imagine given our track record over the last 70 years that we want to start with the principle that anybody is automatically exempt. Therefore I think it’s not illegitimate to raise the question.”
Gingrich didn’t mention Romney until asked about his former primary foe. After pursuing Romney’s tax returns in the primary, did he want more disclosure now?
“Well I tried to raise the issue, I frankly think the results of the primary also indicated the American voters are pretty comfortable that this is a guy who’s had good accountants, good lawyers, he’s obeyed the law, and that he will have released two solid years of information.”
And what about a big speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa? Gingrich said he will be there but he doesn’t know what his role will be. His follow-up reply, though, gave a hint that you won’t be seeing him addressing the delegate throng.
“I personally am very comfortable not giving a speech, because I think, frankly, there is a whole new generation of candidates out there and people who represent the future,” he said.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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129 comments Add your comment
hiram
July 30th, 2012
11:42 pm
@ td
When did you get off on Clinton and FDR? Why not compare Obama to Andrew Jackson, or Henry the 8th?
hiram
July 30th, 2012
11:44 pm
td,
You know less about Romney’s finances than I know about the string theory. Why even bring it up?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 30th, 2012
11:45 pm
… and I did help found the Rush listening club, helped with the first chapter of the Young Republicans and do not forget I received the highest grade in Newts “Renewing American Civilization” class.
Uh….
The derision is self evident.
Oh My!
July 30th, 2012
11:46 pm
td I don’t care about mittens tax returns or off shore accounts for that matter. he’s not fit to hold office and you know it. your a defense kinda guy, what’s his stance on defense. what’s his stance and the border protection. careful before you answer that, his pops is a latin brother. what’s his strategy to create jobs? all of them have been pushed away with nafta.
td
July 30th, 2012
11:46 pm
Oh My!
July 30th, 2012
11:41 pm
“what has all that gotten you??”
Let us see I own two businesses, have a great looking conservative wife and two achieving children that I hope will study and do better than I have in life.
What has been believing in redistribution Marxist thought done for you?
honested
July 30th, 2012
11:48 pm
Nut Getrich had ‘accomplishments’?
Pray tell, what were they?
td
July 30th, 2012
11:50 pm
hiram
July 30th, 2012
11:42 pm
@ td
When did you get off on Clinton and FDR?
Just throwing out some Dems to compare the messiah and chief too. I want to hear you libs tell us that Obama is a better President then Clinton and FDR.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 30th, 2012
11:50 pm
We all know that all you Dems want to do is say “look Romney does not pay his fair share”…
1) Who granted you the authority to speak for “all” about “all”?
2) I have never claimed that “Romney does not pay his fair share”.
I don’t know what’s in there, I believe his tax records to be legal. But being legal doesn’t preclude his tax records to be politically damaging.
honested
July 30th, 2012
11:52 pm
tiny dog,
President Obama is coequal to President Clinton (given the mountain or republican dung he had to shovel out of the way to make progress) and FDR is improved through the lens of history (sort of like the republican distortion of the slash and burn failures foisted on America by ray-gun).
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 30th, 2012
11:53 pm
Nut Getrich had ‘accomplishments’?
Pray tell, what were they?
He believes in traditional marriage so much that he had three of them.
td
July 30th, 2012
11:53 pm
Oh My!
July 30th, 2012
11:46 pm
Here is all I need to know about Romney. He will not tell Harry Reid to table or veto the House Cantor, Ryan, Backmann agenda. He will not appoint SCOTUS judges that Obama would appoint.
honested
July 30th, 2012
11:55 pm
tiny dog,
The simple fact that ro(money) would ‘appoint justices President Obama would not appoint’ identifies the knee-quivering fear the average voter has of the man and why he will NEVER be President.
hiram
July 30th, 2012
11:57 pm
“Let us see I own two businesses, have a great looking conservative wife….”
You are hilarious – you do realize that if those achieving kids are smarter than you, they will morph into liberals?
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-scientific-fundamentalist/201003/why-liberals-are-more-intelligent-conservatives
td
July 30th, 2012
11:57 pm
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
July 30th, 2012
11:50 pm
“I don’t know what’s in there, I believe his tax records to be legal. But being legal doesn’t preclude his tax records to be politically damaging.”
Exactly the same thing I can say about Obama’s transcripts or he would have released them a long time ago and would not have spent a great deal of money to make sure they stay “private”.
Oh My!
July 30th, 2012
11:58 pm
why can’t you just have a great looking wife? why the conservative thrown in there. are progressive women ugly or do liberal chicks turn your stomach? my wife’s great looking and my kids are hard working, ask for nothing, go get it their darn selves types.
I don’t get the whole marxist comments. having the tax rate go back to the ’90s to help off set some of the debt we’ve encountered following a couple of wars, housing crash and overall heavy debt. I get why a rush or hannity would be a little upset since they actually make some $$ but you are joe six pack out here trying to make it like everyone else but thinking you’re actually one of them.
honested
July 30th, 2012
11:58 pm
hiram,
There you go bringin’ in them fancy facts.
That ain’t in the bible so it cain’t be true!
honested
July 31st, 2012
12:00 am
Oh My!
I can’t think of a known ‘conservative’ woman that gives me a rise.
Every day, I feel sorry for Carville!
The rest of them require too many drinks and staying up far too late at night to warrant a second glance.
Oh My!
July 31st, 2012
12:02 am
I hear ya honested. how many drinks would it take to be able to have a conversation with ann coulter??
td
July 31st, 2012
12:02 am
honested
July 30th, 2012
11:55 pm
What are you and your other Marxist friends going to do on Nov 7th if Romney is elected President? Will you come to these blogs under the same screen names? Will you come back under different screen names and deny (like you all did when Deal was elected governor) that you knew he would lose?
Nov. 7th is going to be an interesting day.
honested
July 31st, 2012
12:03 am
Oh My,
Just nuzzling on that adams apple makes me queasy!
hiram
July 31st, 2012
12:05 am
@oh my
Don’t forget Bachmann. Could you imagine waking up to that?
honested
July 31st, 2012
12:05 am
td,
Why exert any effort being concerned about something that will NEVER HAPPEN!
All the cons can stomp their little feet and shake their little fists and wear their little tri-corns to barbeques in the park, and it will all end up as so much digested beans.
Deal points out why stupid people should not be allowed to vote.
honested
July 31st, 2012
12:07 am
hiram,
That brings up the Ultimate Test:
What does bachmannnn look like on a cold, rainy, sunday morning when she is far from her paint pots and trowel?
G Mare
July 31st, 2012
12:07 am
td, I also graduated from Kennesaw State University, cum laude, at age 51. One of my cherished photos is me in cap & gown holding my year-old grandson. Fortunately, my degree did not require Newt’s course. Newt, Bachman, et al: NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME. On the plus side, President Clinton will give the nominating speech at the Dem convention. His morals aside, this man, unlike Newt who will be relegated, along with Bush 2, to a footnote, will be ranked among the most successful presidents in our history.
Oh My!
July 31st, 2012
12:09 am
td,
Nov 7 will be no different than any other day. if rommney gets elected I want to see you on jan 21 2013 when you all of sudden get buyers remorse. will you come back with your screen name or will it change? you haven’t properly vetted williard. you won’t because you know there is not much substance there. you guys dare not look behind the curtain.
td
July 31st, 2012
12:10 am
Oh My!
July 30th, 2012
11:58 pm
“are progressive women ugly or do liberal chicks turn your stomach?
I did not say any woman was “ugly”. IMHO: Conservative women are better looking on the inside so they are better looking then lib women.
“my kids are hard working, ask for nothing, go get it their darn selves types.”
Then you did not raise your children to be liberals and we shall have good conservatives in the future.
Oh My!
July 31st, 2012
12:15 am
why do you have this notion that liberals are lazy and live off the gov’t? what about all your boys back at LM that are tea party folks that are anti-Obama but yet have no issue showing up to work, do nothing and expect a check at the end of the week. in fact, they raise holy cain if they can’t get overtime. are they good conservatives too? that’s what they say they are.
td
July 31st, 2012
12:17 am
Oh My!
July 31st, 2012
12:09 am
As compared to what a second Obama term would look like I doubt there will be any buyers remorse at all.
I have been here under the same screen name for almost 4 years now. I heard all you libs tell me day after day that Barnes would be elected Governor. I heard all you libs tell me that the Dems would hold the House. There are a great many of you libs that have left the blogs and many of you that have changed your screen names and I am still a conservative voice in the valley of liberalism.
Bernie
July 31st, 2012
12:19 am
Newt certainly was not open for an investigation when his relationships were in question thats for sure. Funny when the mirror was on His Tiffany’s charge account his outage could not be contained nor ignored. Funny how these same characters Newt and Bachmann were so off putting when their personal records were up for examination and they were running for elected office. Now to start a witch hunt on such baseless and unsubstantiated claims is enough to make anyone take either of them seriously again!
Newt don’t you think its time for you and Calista to find another Zoo to visit? preferrably, somewhere way far away!
td
July 31st, 2012
12:21 am
Oh My!
July 31st, 2012
12:15 am
I do not think all my old friends at LM are cons because they belong to the union.
It is a proven fact that the base of the Democratic party are poor and the Republican party is the party of the rich. Are their exceptions, yes. The fight for both parties is always over the middleclass.
hiram
July 31st, 2012
12:35 am
td,
Forgive me for changing the subject, but what can you tell us about Romney’s magic underwear?
Bernie
July 31st, 2012
12:39 am
Dearest Calista, I think its time for another one of those overseas cruises and a trip to the jewelry store before Newt starts to wonder off again. Surely, you can find other things for him to do, now that his political career is OVER!
Its your time my Dear, you have given him his chance at being President and he failed miserably. Now give us a BREAK! Why not, take him on home with you and tell him to give you the much needed attention that you truly deserve and desire. For we have surely had enough of his washed up antics!
Like a punch drunk defeated Boxer…Newt does not know when to leave the ring!
DING! DING! Newt its OVER!
see you in the funny papers!……BYE!
Kris (voteed NO)
July 31st, 2012
12:53 am
Still could not find a legal cure for stupid.
Having said that, I leave with this…
Impeach DEAL, RECALL Reed
Help derail the crooks. Vote the GOP scum out.
There is a cure for greed and corruption.
Vote NO tsp-LOST.
Bernie
July 31st, 2012
12:57 am
Strange, how the Republicans have become such experts at BEATING UP on the WOMEN of America!
It appears its the NEW and IN thing to do to ALL of AMERICA’S Women….I for one have had enough and hope that many of you out there who see these words join with me and say!
ENOUGH!……… we have had our fill and the women of America should not be treated like TRASH! and second class citizens!
Ladies…….. its time to VOTE “NO”
They are truly asking and begging for it!……. why not oblige them?
Kris
July 31st, 2012
1:07 am
Ladies and non GOP men check this out.
https://waronwomen.com
If you are a Democrat
If you are an Independent
If you are a Republican who rejects the war on women
If you are raising strong, independent daughters
Vote NO tsp-LOST
Attack Dog
July 31st, 2012
2:32 am
At least Newt admitted that he worked with Clinton on getting legislation passed. John Boehner? Not so much.
Truth-O-Meter
July 31st, 2012
2:35 am
@ td
McCain released two years of tax returns during the campaign; however, you failed to mention that as a sitting senator he was releasing returns during that time. Cumulatively, he released more than two years. If one is audited I believe the IRS can go back as many as seven years. Mitt should release at least 5-7 years of his returns.
Since when did college transcripts become a litmus test for the presidency? No one asked for “W’s” transcripts as we all know that many Ivy League schools have legacy enrollment policies___your daddy/momma attended and gave money, Junior can also attend.
Did you give Pres. Obama credit when gas prices dipped to $2.99 in some areas a short while back? Then you can’t give him credit when the price rises again.
Look in the dictionary for hypocrisy and there is td’s picture.
Attack Dog
July 31st, 2012
2:41 am
Notice that there is very little comment about Romney? Dixiecrats have always had problems with Yankees, Mormons, offsprings of foreigners (especially Mexicans), Moderates, draft dodgers, pro-healthcare, B-students, those with advanced degrees, and Flip-Floppers. So, what is the real reason a Dixiecrat would vote for Romney?
Attack Dog
July 31st, 2012
2:51 am
Obama is an “appeasing” rock star who has won back our allies and killed our enemies. Romney is an embarrassing flop who starts unprovoked battles with our allies and our enemies.
newt
July 31st, 2012
3:59 am
hey, this your hommie, GRINGRICH with two x-wives and hot blonde that loves the bling.
just like to remind everybody that newt likes to star a fund to pay off for last presidential run.
CALISA loves the hard rock bling and loves to travel and NEWT new plenty of BENJAMINS.
can all foodstamps OBAMA freeloaders tea-bagers send plenty of checks, newts and calisa need
the money. FEEL the pain my HOMIE BROTHERS RHINOS
Last Man Standing
July 31st, 2012
7:02 am
Shine:
“What is Mitt Romney hiding? Release the tax returns….the same number of years he gave John McCain”
When should he do this? Do you think the appropriate time would be immediately after Obama releases all the ’sealed’ information concerning his life? No one can get information on Obama’s college transcripts or even his social security card, but you want Romney to lay bare his life? Oh, wait. Never mind! That is the way the democrat communist party works!
Eustis
July 31st, 2012
7:15 am
Obama is playing you conservatives for suckers. About the time you’ve worked yourself into a dither over his transcripts, he’ll release them. Then you can go to the next phase of claiming forgery.
zeke
July 31st, 2012
7:25 am
td, so paris hilton does not need to pay income taxes on her inheritance yearly earnings….you are nuts….passive income needs to be taxed too. if not income then intangible. romney has homes and stocks and bonds and he should pay hefty % of defense budget to protect those assets and his ability to earn. and you could not hold obama’s jock strap.
TiredOfIt
July 31st, 2012
8:04 am
Mitt was for socialized healthcare before he was against it.
Bernie
July 31st, 2012
8:15 am
As far as the Republicans , Tea Party and their Leadership is concerned, ” You can NOT, Fix Stupid!”.
However we all can say ” NO MORE!” and Vote them ALL OUT!
Starting 7/31 its time to start saying “NO” as they have so many times said to the American People. Say “NO” to the Republicans and the Baggers. This November and beyond, until they are ALL gone!
That is the only solution and fix to STUPID!
hiram
July 31st, 2012
8:25 am
@ bernie
Deprogramming people like LMS, would be equivelant to deprogramming Tom Cruise. It is mission impossible. They are zombies.
Will
July 31st, 2012
8:27 am
The thrice divorced, self-confessed adulter is living, walking proof that one should always remember that nothing a politician says while running for public office rises above being “just politics”.
When this self-confessed adulterer ran for the republican nomination, he was critical of Governor Romeny at each turn. Did he mean it? Yes and no. The self-confessed adulterer is millions of dollars in debt because of his fool hardy belief that even republicans thought he was worthy of their nomination. If he repeats his primary season criticisms of “Mitt the Twit”, republican dollars will not come his way, thus leaving him hopelessly in debt.
Watch for the self-confessed adulterer’s place and time on the podium at the convention to get a better idea of his percevied worth to republicans. Or course, you may have to set your clock to after midnight or before 6:00 am if you want to catch him live at the convention!!
Donna
July 31st, 2012
8:28 am
There’s a big difference between acknowledging a support team who helps an individual achieve something spectacular, as Romney did, and telling that individual, “You didn’t build that.” No matter who lends support to an Olympic medal winner (orto a successful entrepreneur), it is wrong and stupid to say that the individual did not excel.
ideas
July 31st, 2012
8:36 am
Hey Hiram and G Mare, to see the LOONEY BRIGADE all you have to do is look in the Mirror…
Bernie
July 31st, 2012
8:46 am
On another interesting topic
Truett Cathy’s comment that “I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, ‘We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.
Interesting how so many of the Republicans and their supporters have such a unique insight on God’s thinking about GAY marriage and other topics so intimately. Its also interesting how they were not aware of God’s plan to call his Public Relations Director home when he did.
I suspect Mr. Donald Perry, now truly knows God’s position on Gay Marriage and other Hateful and painful comments by these same supporters. Too bad he cannot share those positions with Mr.Cathy and his supporters now in real time!
For he would surely tell them that we are all GOD’s children and he Loves us ALL equally.