Newt Gingrich Joins GOP Re-Branding Effort, But Michael Steele Still Not Invited

On CSPAN’s Washington Journal last month, former House speaker Newt Gingrich was asked if he had been invited to join the latest Republican re-branding effort, the National Council for a New America. “No, I’m not in office right now. I’m very happy for them to go do it,” replied Gingrich. Watch it:

But now the Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza reports that Gingrich is joining the group:

Newt Joins National Council: Former House speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) will join the National Council for a New America (NCNA), according to sources familiar with the move. The NCNA, the brainchild of House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.), drew some initial criticism from social conservatives within the party due to its heavy membership among establishment types like former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. But, with Gingrich’s addition — and that of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin a few weeks ago — those critics may be quieted somewhat. It still remains somewhat unclear as to what the NCNA will do to help the Republican Party re-establish itself as a major power in the country. To date, the sum total of its activities has been a single town hall meeting in northern Virginia.

In a statement, Cantor said that he was “thrilled” that Gingrich was joining the group because he “is a man of bold ideas, and brings unparalleled expertise in creating real solutions designed to help Americans from all walks of life.” When the National Council was first announced, ThinkProgress noted that RNC Chairman Michael Steele was conspicuously absent from the organization.

At the time, Cantor spokesman Brad Dayspring, said that both Steele and Gingrich were excluded because they worked for “partisan” organizations. Politico’s Ben Smith notes that while he “was ostensibly excluded for the same reason as Gingrich,” Steele “has not yet joined the Council.”