Gingrich Strikes Back At Beck: His Agenda Is A ‘Very Destructive Model For The Republican Party’
Gingrich Strikes Back At Beck: His Agenda Is A ‘Very Destructive Model For The Republican Party’
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has been taking fire from conservative activists and far-right Republican leaders for endorsing Dede Scozzafava, the moderate GOP candidate running in the special election in New York’s 23rd district. These “purists” — including Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, Dick Armey, and Bill Kristol — are backing Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, revealing a wider rift within the conservative movement: the tea-party activist base versus “Big Tent” Republicans.
Gingrich explained his support for Scozzafava at a book signing event yesterday: “She is the nominee of the local party, my bias is to be for the nominee of the local party, and I don’t second guess the local party.” On his Fox News program yesterday, Glenn Beck attacked Gingrich. “I couldn’t disagree more with you on this one,” Beck said, arguing, “You vote with a person you agree with most…and it doesn’t matter what party they’re in.”
Last night on Fox News’ On the Record, host Greta Van Susteren asked Gingrich about the “heat” he’s been getting for endorsing Scozzafava, especially from Beck. Gingrich fired back, saying the right-wing support for Hoffman is based on “misinformation” and an abandonment of conservative values:
GINGRICH: I just find it fascinating that my many friends who claim to be against Washington having too much power, they claim to be in favor of the 10th Amendment giving states back their rights, they claim to favor local control and local authority, now they suddenly get local control and local authority in upstate New York, they don’t like the outcome. [...]
So I say to my many conservative friends who suddenly decided that whether they’re from Minnesota or Alaska or Texas, they know more than the upstate New York Republicans? I don’t think so. And I don’t think it’s a good precedent. [...]
And so this idea that we’re suddenly going to establish litmus tests, and all across the country, we’re going to purge the party of anybody who doesn’t agree with us 100 percent — that guarantees Obama’s reelection. That guarantees Pelosi is Speaker for life. I mean, I think that is a very destructive model for the Republican Party.
Watch it:
Conservative bloggers are now going after Gingrich for lashing out at his critics, with the Other McCain writing, “I was disgusted just now to see Newt Gingrich’s appearance on Greta Van Susteren’s Fox News show tonight.” “Newt Gingrich disappointed national conservatives again tonight,” Gateway Pundit added.
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Don’t listen to him, Glenn!
He’s just jealous of your fame!!!
October 27th, 2009 at 5:01 pmBoo Friggin Hoo, Newt! You know the old saying, ‘You broke it, you bought it!’ These guys had NO problem letting these guys inflame the ‘Tea-baggers’ when they thought it was beneficial to them. But, alas, it blew up in their face. Suck it up Repugs.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:03 pmJust a bunch of monkeys having a food fight, that’s all these Republikans are!
October 27th, 2009 at 5:04 pmHow long before Newt has to apply the inevitible kiss to the derriere of the right wing media machine?
October 27th, 2009 at 5:05 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
CAT FIGHT!
October 27th, 2009 at 5:07 pmCAT FIGHT!
Big tenters vs. teabaggers?
Hiss!!! Mrowlr!!!
And Newtie gets stuck afterword, cleaning up the feces-covered furniture.
Sweet.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:08 pmI see b-cup is channeling Murphis now, only with slightly better language skills.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:08 pmbackup says:
Gingrich is right.
To leave a wife with cancer?
That what you meant?
October 27th, 2009 at 5:10 pmI can’t believe they are going after Newt. That’s how wing-nutty the Repug Party has become. Even Lindsay Graham is getting flack from the crazies. Oh well. It Sucks to be them!
October 27th, 2009 at 5:11 pmIn this case, Gingrich is right. As long as Glenn Beck serves as a prominent mouthpiece for the party, the party is doomed.
HOWEVER…
Gingrich was instrumental in changing the culture of the party to one that gave rise to the Glenn Becks of the world. It’s true that Gingrich’s “Contract With America” in 1994 was a stroke of brilliance — marketing the midterms as a national election instead of a bunch of local elections certainly worked for the GOP.
But the “permanent majority” that was supposed to have resulted wasn’t sustainable, because the Republicans took their power and behaved like asshats with it. And that mentality is still making the most noise in the party (and continuing to drive the reasonable voices out of the tent).
Gingrich is right about Beck. But he needs to look at his own track record and learn some lessons from it.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:12 pmShut up, Newt!
You were saying, Mr Beck?
October 27th, 2009 at 5:15 pmWell, well, well, slimy Newt, you guys made these scum bags like Beckerhead and Rush Blimpblob and they are all yours, you Repukes made them, you feed the, you own them.
By the way, it seems everything repukes do now days reflects badly on them….
….mmmmm, I wonder why?
October 27th, 2009 at 5:16 pmIt’s a conservative plot to confuse the rest of us by having someone like Newt make sense.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:17 pmOnce and for all can anyone tell me who skippers this rudderless tub? The shoals are approaching and what remains of the crew is frightened and distrustful….
October 27th, 2009 at 5:18 pmOh God, There goes nutty Pat Buchanan praising Sarah Palin on ‘HardBall’. I think I’ll puke!
October 27th, 2009 at 5:19 pmGingrich Strikes Back At Beck: His Agenda Is A ‘Very Destructive Model For The Republican Party’
Espcially when compared to the productive and solid foundation the “Contract With America” was built upon ……….
October 27th, 2009 at 5:22 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Gingrich Strikes Back At Beck: His Agenda Is A ‘Very Destructive Model For The Republican Party’
How did what this Keebler elf have to say become important?
October 27th, 2009 at 5:26 pmI thought he resigned.
What office/position does he hold other than official has-been publicity hound?
Good to see Newt acting Presidential or is it his wife or which wife is running for President. It’s hard to keep up with these days. Republican Leader Rush Limbaugh can’t be happy with this. Wacko Beck has all the attention like the looney let loose. While the Media, GOP, wanabe GOP Candidates discussion stupid things like Obama’s male basketball game, no vote for unemployment, snicking money to Goldman Sachs and the Comedy Fox News Show our country is going down hill. As we sit back and let our country go to hell the GOP Law Makers are lineing their pockets as Americans do nothing. The US Constitute gives all the Government Rights to the American people not the Law Makers/Bankers/Wall Street/Big Businesses. Now we can either sit back and watch it happen or do something about it. Vote for a candidate that will follow the US Constitution and don’t look at a Party. Only President Obama and Vice President Biden seem to know they were hired to do the People’s work as the other Branches of Government are not. Pelosi and Reid have stand to long in the job time to go. Rush, Newt and other wing nuts need to be cut off and allowed to go back in the hole they came out of. It’s time for all the American people to stand up and stop this crime wave.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:28 pmGingrich fired back, saying the right-wing support for Hoffman is based on “misinformation”
Ummm , Newt ; where in the hell have you been ?
ALL right-wing support over the past 30-some-odd years is based ENTIRELY upon misinformation ………..
October 27th, 2009 at 5:28 pmWhen former Republican extremists start taking the road of reason it could signal trouble for the Democrats.
Once the Republicans self-destruct and rebuild on their former principles we could be in for a few years of two party sensibility.
Hope I live to see it.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:29 pmA Republican backing a Republican candidate. Sounds reasonable.
A noise machine backing a third party fruitcake, sounds like Faux and company. Does this mean the Republican party is officially dead and the whackos are on their own?
October 27th, 2009 at 5:29 pmGingrich Strikes Back At Beck: His Agenda Is A ‘Very Destructive Model For The Republican Party’
– - One word: Steelcage.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:29 pmmissmolly has it right. As I said yesterday on the topic, “you reap what you sew.” Gingrich and his cohorts pushed us down this slope in the first place and were thrilled when they got the votes of the mouth-breathing wingnuts. Now that the mouth breathers are running the GOP, he and other “mainstream conservatives” are freaking out because they’ve lost control.
That being said, his remarks about the hypocrisy of the wingers on the issue of local control are spot on–but typical of the Right. “We want free elections in the Middle East”–right up until they discover the results aren’t at all what they had in mind.
And these are the same jerks who prattle endlessly about states’ rights and then try to bring down the full weight of the Federal government when Oregon passes a Death with Dignity law (twice).
October 27th, 2009 at 5:31 pmbackup says:
Gingrich is right.
– - Gingrich is almost never right and in this battle of twits, Gingrich is merely less wrong.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:31 pmIt seems Newt has been voted off the island. No more Ginger, no more Mary Ann.
Newt, maybe you should pay more attention to the Professor so you can refloat the Minnow.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:32 pmHilariously the Republican party has been taken over by hate radio shock jocks who don’t actually care much for the Republican party. How’s that going?
October 27th, 2009 at 5:33 pmYou made your bed, Newt. Now lie in it.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:33 pmI feel like a linebacker waiting for the right guard and center to stop fighting long enough so I can sack the opponent’s quarterback.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:34 pmShaddup and pass the popcorn.
Cheers,
October 27th, 2009 at 5:35 pmAs some have said, Gingrich is right. This race shows that all the sugar plum fairy dreams of Republicans repeating 1994 are delusional. The Republican party is in no different a place than they were in 2006 and 2008 and seems to be seeking a energized core of 20% for some kind of moral victory. Also, I’m loving the continued marginalization of Hannity. He has to be livid at all the attention Beck is getting.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:36 pmPass the popcorn, this is getting very entertaining. Sorta like a wrestling, only the players are uglier.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:36 pmSo, let me get this straight. Newt was one of the Republican Leadership that opened the door to these right wing yahoos as part of this master plan to make sure the Republicans stayed in power forever. He not only let them in the door, he escorted them to the table, winded and dined them, loofahed the appropriate one probably, to curry their favor.
Now that they’ve trashed the house, he’s saying they don’t belong and wants some sort of praise for it?
October 27th, 2009 at 5:38 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
I never thought I would see the day when NEWT seemed to be the normal one.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:39 pmThis is just like a visit to the zoo when the chimps are waging a poop fight–everyone looks on in horror and nobody really “wins.”
October 27th, 2009 at 5:43 pmIsn’t his a bit of pot calling kettle black? Newt is hardly a model of civility or the openness of the GOP…
http://www.political-buzz.com/
October 27th, 2009 at 5:46 pmNot crazy about the link to Robert Stacy McCain’s blog. That guy is not worth the click.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:47 pmwhether they’re from …, they know more than the upstate New York Republicans? I don’t think so. And I don’t think it’s a good precedent. [...]
Uh, is Newtie from Upstate New York ? As I’m from GA and remember him from GA, doesn’t his argument about outsiders knowing better kind of shoot him down too ?
October 27th, 2009 at 5:48 pmPass the popcorn, please.
The repugs have savored the disagreements between Blue Dogs and progressive Democrats — let’s enjoy the infighting within their party, as the hate-filled lunkheads of the airwaves take over the GOP.
I despise Gingrich as an immoral opportunist, but he is not stupid insofar as politics — he sees the destruction ahead for the party if Beck, Limbaugh et al., become the face of the GOP.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:53 pmOh, come on, b-cup — there’s the fresh fruit, the ocean view and utter lack of an intrusive nanny-state government.
You’ll love it.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:54 pmbcup sez:
Gingrich is right
You mean like banging his mistress while his wife is in the hopital with cancer?
For impeaching Clinton for have a sexual fling while doing the same thing at the same time?
Is that the right you are talking about?
Hypocrisy much b-cup?
October 27th, 2009 at 5:58 pmWasn’t Newt the guy who shut down congress for a couple of days because he was snubbed on Air Force One 15 years ago?
October 27th, 2009 at 6:00 pmNewt is a savvy politician, as disgusting as he is, but he actually opened the door for the crazies – he and Tom Delay, too – he’s right to strike at Beck et al., but some of his anger may be an unspoken recognition of his role in bringing all this about.
Too bad — I don’t feel sorry for him or the GOP, and I am happy to see their destruction continue — repugs actually throw fuel on our internal fights.
Be nice, Nooty, I’m guessing at least half of your potential base loves Beck.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:01 pmNewt must be horrified as he gets a taste of the train wreck the GOP has become, thanks to hate-mongers like Beck, Limbaugh, Bachmann, Palin, & all those moronic tea-baggers. Repubs sowed the hate & stupidity, now they reap it. Scary, isn’t it, Newt, that your party is being run by lunatic anti-Americans.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:03 pmI’ll make a good congressman just wait and see.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:05 pmDestroying the Republican party is not a bad thing, it’s the creation’s most potentially magnanimous gesture in all of human history! Go, gods, go!!
October 27th, 2009 at 6:06 pmNewt, you have sewn the wind with your hate.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:08 pmnow, you are reaping the whirlwind.
Gee, Newt, back in the early 90’s you put out the call for all Real Conservative Americans to stand up and be counted. Pushed that great agenda through and now you get to look at the faces of the folk who believe in you.
All 12 of them.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:10 pmThis is actually an interesting election. The former Rep is not Obama’s Secretary of the Army and apparently was a “moderate Republican.” New York has an unusual ballot which (if I remember correctly from years back) includes Democrat, Republican, Liberal and Conservative. Candidates often are nominated by two parties (Democrat & Liberal), but in this case the Conservative Party nominated their own candidate because the Republican (chosen in a smoke-filled room by the Party) is insufficiently Rightwing. According to the Christian Science Monitor, the least likely scenario is that the Republican win this traditionally Republican district, and there’s a good chance the Democrat will win because of the infighting.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:14 pmeh. Damn typos. Should be “former Rep is NOW Obama’s Sec.”
October 27th, 2009 at 6:15 pmCan someone please pass the popcorn over here?
October 27th, 2009 at 6:20 pmlove to see the GnOPers say no; to each other!!!
October 27th, 2009 at 6:20 pmHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Beck is funnier than Newt and Newt has a very annoying voice. They both say crazy things, but Beck has more ectoplasm in his madness and Newt has too much dogma. Beck is basically twisted dogma too but he’s more ’70s dogma with a dash of ’40s fascism, and Newt is ’50s dogma with a dash of the Roaring ’20s.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:22 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
backup says:
Oh, come on, b-cup — there’s the fresh fruit, the ocean view and utter lack of an intrusive nanny-state government.
You’ll love it.
Can me and my wife still play tennis?
The obvious question being, can you and your wife play tennis now?
October 27th, 2009 at 6:27 pmKnow what’s extremely funny about this topic ?
Newt and the other Republicans simply don’t understand that anyone with an “R” or “Conservative” moniker by their name , all suck total ass ; it’s like asking if cowshit is somehow more appealing than horseshit …….
October 27th, 2009 at 6:27 pmIs there anything sweeter than the Republicans and Conservatives fighting over 20% of the vote?
October 27th, 2009 at 6:28 pmHoodathunk says:
——————————————————————————–
Is there anything sweeter than the Republicans and Conservatives fighting over 20% of the vote?
October 27th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Yeah , there is ………………Them fighting over 1% of the vote …………
October 27th, 2009 at 6:30 pmThe GOP has created a “conservative” Frankenstein that they can no longer control. Now it’s threatening to destroy what’s left of their party.
Pass the popcorn, please.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:31 pm… you know what they say about sugar…
SIGN THE LETTER [please]
Senator Reid, thank you for standing up for America and putting a public health insurance option in the Senate bill. As you keep fighting for all of us, we’ll keep standing with you.
http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/page/s/thankreid
can’t hurt…
October 27th, 2009 at 6:31 pmMCMetal, we shouldn’t be greedy. But it is fun watching them fight over who gets the next dance with the devil.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:31 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
katy,
I can’t believe I thanked that spineless weasel (my apologies to any real weasels who may have been offended), but your right, it couldn’t hurt.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:36 pmBeefeater says:
——————————————————————————–
barfly says:
backup says:
Gingrich is right.
To leave a wife with cancer?
That what you meant?
Nah, I’m sure he meant that he should have screwed and knocked up a campaign worker and then denied his own son. That’s the democrat party way.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
We know that is an IMPOSSIBILITY inside the GOP……..Everyone knows that you can’t impregnate a fellow male …………Guess that’s why they’re so into it……..
October 27th, 2009 at 6:37 pmThe Republicans have no leader. What group does Obama confer for any practical or important issues? Just think of the President conferring with Glen Beck concerning Iran’s nuclear ambitions, or Limbaugh on matters concerning the World Bank. Obama has been dealt a raw deal with no loyal opposition to work with. The exchange with FOX News may have been triggered by the frustration dealing with the Republicans.
Gingrich, you party appears to be taking a teabagger’s holiday. Be careful the public perception maybe the Republicans are sandbagging while the country goes to hell.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:40 pmThis is another episode you Republicans will need to take ownership, and you Republicans don’t have the guts to take ownership of your big loss.
Sheeyit. What the heck is Newt’s problem? Doesn’t he understand that the destruction of the Republipimps as a national party depends on him getting in line with the rest of the purists and going over the edge with them? He can’t wimp out now and go all moderate or rational.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:41 pmV.P.
Before all this teabagging, Sarah Palin, Joe the Plumber nonsesne I always viewed Newt as one who had already gone over the edge.
Who knew there was another edge leading to much greater chasm?
October 27th, 2009 at 6:43 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
thanks rich h.
…
about this:
screwed and knocked up a campaign worker and then
denied his own son.
a new rumor??? who? when? new one to me!
October 27th, 2009 at 6:45 pmHey beefy? When was the last time you heard Edwards make a public comment after his one time fail? And how many times has your amphibian been out yakking after his, what, 3 time fail?
October 27th, 2009 at 6:45 pmmeant to add, rich – i understand your reluctance… me too…
October 27th, 2009 at 6:46 pmi’ve been mad at him for a while… i think he got the message…
so, i thank him.
“(My apologizes, had to work in Gilligan and the Professor – I’ll quit)”
Do you have every episode on DVD, backup?
October 27th, 2009 at 6:49 pmkaty,
I thanked him too, but I still reserve the right to kick him in the pants.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:50 pmkaty,
Our resident drunk (beefeater) is referring to John Edwards, funny how he’d do that as this thread is about Gingrich. I guess we could always ask him about Strom Thurmond.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:52 pmNo. But, I watched every episode as a kid when there was only 3 channels.
I lean Mary Ann. And you?
October 27th, 2009 at 6:52 pm“I lean Mary Ann. And you?”
I lean just Mary Ann.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:55 pmLeave Limbaughs Spawn Alone!!
October 27th, 2009 at 6:56 pm(Sorry)
October 27th, 2009 at 6:56 pmum…
screwed and knocked up a campaign worker and then
denied his own son.
those are not any facts that relate to edwards… unless there’s
another story i missed…
i wouldn’t classify the “videographer” as a “campaign worker”
(not in the usual sense) and the baby is a little girl…
for that matter, the way that flake came onto edwards, i wouldn’t
classify it as “screwed and knocked up” either…
she got what she wanted… well, not as much, but…
October 27th, 2009 at 6:59 pmThe Republican party has no politicians left. They all jumped ship. No politicians left. Just lobbyists.
Even lobbyists know how to obstruct and say “no”. They know not how to legislate and they don’t fool anyone.
Is there only two political parties?
October 27th, 2009 at 7:01 pm“You vote with a person you agree with most…and it doesn’t matter what party they’re in.”
Shorter Beck: Vote against your interests!!
October 27th, 2009 at 7:03 pmEvil-y-dee vs Evil-y-do
HAhahahah Newt Gingrich and his corrupt ‘take no prisoners’ war on Liberals actually spawned the hideous Beck and all the lies, hatred, fear mongering, and violence that comes with a hateful political agenda.
October 27th, 2009 at 7:04 pmLike Reid is a Republican.His values are also in the dumptster.
October 27th, 2009 at 7:08 pmMrs. Howell rocks my world.
October 27th, 2009 at 7:32 pmNOM NOM NOM
Has anyone made fresh popcorn…?
October 27th, 2009 at 8:59 pmJust made a nice big bowl of it, Zooey — with extra butter… Want some? Cuz this is getting GOOD…
October 27th, 2009 at 9:16 pmOriginal Super Cougar.
October 27th, 2009 at 9:31 pmDede Scozzafava?
October 27th, 2009 at 9:50 pm–
I am thinking Darlene Scott or maybe Dean Scuzman if ya wanna work in my hotel/motel….
is it a sin to derive pleasure from watching canibals eat their own?
October 27th, 2009 at 10:09 pmAnother Beck disciple turned murderer:
October 27th, 2009 at 10:50 pmA man stabbed and bludgeoned his sister and her husband to death in El Cerrito in 2006 because he thought the couple were too liberal, were raising their children wrong and because they hadn’t invited him over for Christmas, a prosecutor told jurors Tuesday.
I never thought I’d see the day where little Newton was considered “not conservative enough”.
You reap what you sow, Nootie.
Any popcorn left?
October 28th, 2009 at 8:02 amLook…over there! It’s the Republican Party, going down faster than the Titanic!
October 28th, 2009 at 9:19 amAn aside…
Please – the metaphor has to make sense.
Reap is to harvest. You harvest the seeds you have sown.
You reap what you sow.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:25 amGingrich knows his party won’t be taken seriously again unless they find a charismatic, moderate leader – much as he was. No one with any political clout believes in the Palins and Becks, and their radically conservative fringe is taking them out of the mainstream. http://www.newsy.com/videos/time_for_conservatives_to_shine
October 28th, 2009 at 9:36 amFights like this and now Sarah know-nothing Palin endorsing a third party candidate is representative of the split taking place in the Republican party. I have said in the past this would happen. Even though I like the concept of breaking up the GOP it worries me that we will likely see the emergence of an ultra hard right wing faction much like Hitlers.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:46 amPoor workerboob, desperately flailing about, trying to find something to divert attention from the implosion of his beloved Republican criminal enterprise. God, it must suck to be you.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:47 amYes, I knew the Republican party was going to die way back in September 2005. That’s when the general public finally woke up to the fact that people who believe government can’t work should not be running the government. Don’t worry about the Conservative party. They are just the most whacked out of the Republican coalition. Just like the Libertarians, those nutcases will never have enough votes to get a dogcatcher elected.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:55 amBeck sounds like an anti-war Democrat circa 1968.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:04 amWhat’s the matter workerboob? Don’t you like that I pointed out Katrina was the death knell for the GOP? You know it’s true, don’t you? It really does suck to be you.
October 28th, 2009 at 1:03 pmWow, and I always thought Gingrich was really far right. Just shows how radicaly far right the repub party has gone. Lame.
October 28th, 2009 at 1:43 pm“missmolly” your on target.
Have been watching/listening what the “Empty Barrels” have been doing and in a constant and curious way can sum up how this nation has turned against itself..Sad isn’t..
“Empty Barrels” make the most noise. and people listen.
That “Contract With America” opened the door for the Church influnence in Government and we are faced with a different culture in Politics…Bush Administration opened the door wide and supported this movement and seems to have brought on a lot of hatred from the “Guns and Bible” groups to the fore front to do battle.
Little is know about a project that Newt got off the ground at that time with the Religious Broadcasters and the Satellite for “Voice of America” that now can beam throughout the World including the Middle East. New technology at the time where most was used for military and research. Much later Karen Hughes was working on that project.
Grateful for Obama. We are in a crisis and to fight 3 wars.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:02 amIraq, Afghanistan, and the “Empty Barrels. My heart goes out to him.
tom