UPDATE: Which Party’s Nomination Is Newt Seeking?
By Ken Falkenstein | Monday, May 16th, 2011 | Politics
No sooner did Newt Gingrich announce his candidacy for president than he proceeded to attack the congressional Republicans’ plan to reform Medicare as “right-wing social engineering” and praise Barack Obama for his unconstitutional mandate that everyone purchase health insurance.
We shouldn’t be surprised. Remember Newt’s television commercial with Nancy Pelosi calling for action on the myth of “man-made climate change”?
Nancy Pelosi Newt Gingrich Agree on Climate Change
So, which party’s nomination is Newt Gingrich seeking?
UPDATE: Gingrich, whose specific appeal as a candidate is supposed to be his sophistication on policy matters and adherence to conservative principles, is now in full save-my-political-ass flip-flop mode:
Gingrich appears to be in damage control mode today. A campaign spokesman told the Weekly Standard that there’s “little daylight” between Gingrich and Ryan. Gingrich then put out a web video saying he is “completely opposed to the Obamacare mandate on individuals,” calling it “fundamentally wrong” and “unconstitutional.” He followed it up with a statement “Gingrich Committed to Repealing Obamacare.”
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About the author
Ken Falkenstein has been a staffer in the United States Senate and the Virginia House of Delegates. He has managed political campaigns. He was a military intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army in West Germany during the Cold War. He is currently the Vice President of the Down Syndrome Association of Hampton Roads and practices as a civil litigation attorney with the law firm of Poole Mahoney PC in Virginia Beach. His concern for his kids' future is what most informs his writing.
Comments
4 Responses to "UPDATE: Which Party’s Nomination Is Newt Seeking?"
I may be wrong but I’ve never felt Newt is serious about the nomination. I assume he is doing this for publicity, speaking fees etc. To the extent that he criticizes Repubs he will get more face time with the MSM.
He’s already tried to walk that back. Which is too bad, because he was right. If he follows his usual m.o. in a week he’ll be denying that he ever said it.
Policy arguments aside, much of the enthusiasm, or, if you care to call it this, anti-Obamaism, is wrapped up in Health Care. So the first thing Newt does is neuter that argument?
If that’s one of the issues Republicans want to challenge Obama on, Newt’s trying to say it’s not a worthwhile debate to have?
Um…not a winning strategy.
Tea Party movement is cracking up laughing at this bloviating rino. Mitch – Condi is looking better hour after hour. Do any conservatives consider him relevant or still take him seriously? Remember the Scozzafava endorsement Newt threw his heft behind? Maybe Newt should come out of the closet with Nancy Pelosi as his running mate. No Newts is good newts.
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