Sounding Presidential? Newt Gingrich Knocks Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin

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by Steve Krakauer | 9:03 am, October 27th, 2009

» 5 comments

We’ve written about the hotly contested Congressional race in New York’s 23rd district, in which many high-profile Republicans are endorsing the third party candidate over the Republican choice.

The most high-profile Republican endorsing the GOP choice, Dede Scozzafava, is Newt Gingrich, and he defended his decision On the Record with Greta Van Susteren last night.

Here’s how Van Susteren introduced the issue on Fox News last night: “You’re getting heat from Glenn Beck and others because you have endorsed the Republican candidate,” she said, before moving away from colleagues and citing Sarah Palin, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and other political figures. Said 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, and they don’t like the outcome.

Beck didn’t just give Gingrich some “heat,” he had the third party candidate, Doug Hoffman, on his show just a few hours before Gingrich’s appearance. “They can vote for principles or they can vote for party,” said Beck as he described the race.

With Gingrich hinting he might run for President in 2012 (Michelle Malkin says “no thanks” because of Scozzafava), these shots at potential political rivals take on extra meaning: “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 here’s a good shot that has a couple meanings. When Van Susteren asks about Scozzafava’s socially liberal beliefs, Gingrich says they are “about where Rudy Giuliani was when he became Mayor.”

We probably won’t see Gingrich on Beck’s show any time soon, but if he begins getting asked about the race in prime time again, but on Bill O’Reilly‘s or Sean Hannity‘s show, it could make for an interesting discussion with a traditionally agreeable guest.

Here’s the NY-23 part of the interview:

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Dede Scozzafava, Doug Hoffman, fnc, fox news, Greta Van Susteren, New York-23, newt gingrich, On the Record, Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty

m

This is a really interesting development within the Republican movement, because it’s the exact opposite of Howard Dean’s strategy when he became head of the DNC back in early 2005.

Democrats today who are upset with “Conservadems” in Congress just don’t realize that they’re the reason for the large Democratic victories. Yes, they push legislation to the middle – and getting votes becomes sorta like herding cats. But being in power is better than having no power at all. The best way to assure electoral victory is to move to the middle.

I think we’ll know by 2012 how this strategy turned out. My bets is big failure.
ChrisNH

After the year that we’ve just had, RINOs are clearly losing some of the support they thought they could count on. I agree with ‘m’ that this bit of chameleonship’ by ‘Newt’ (pun intended) will fail. True conservatives have NO interest in ‘moving to the center.’ The lesser evil, I suppose, is to throw RINOs under the bus whenever and wherever they appear. To support them is to take 2 steps back for every one forward. In the end, you’re still moving backwards. Many people (myself included) just don’t want to do that ’2-step’ any more.
m

So basically, you want the Republican party to become smaller and increasingly marginalized?
ImNotBlue

Well, M… I think the difference is really politics versus principal. Do the Republicans risk the available seat, in favor of someone who most represents them… or do they play it safe, and win for the sake of winning. Both strategies have their merits and their flaws.

Although, I wouldn’t worry as much about 2012. When it comes to the big race, as always, the parties will fall in line. “Our guy,” even if we don’t agree 100%, is still better than “your guy”… or so the theory will go. It may be focused enough to win over the House or Senate… but the Presidential race is too big too take to chances.
timzank

Sooner or later, the conservative folks in this country have got to stand up and stick to their principles. I’ve always thought the world of Newt, he is brilliant man and a great author. I especially admire his knowledge of history, he is fascinating to listen to.

That being said, I don’t want him in charge of a damn thing anymore. He doesn’t speak for me anymore politically. I’d love to see him fade away to a University and teach and write books. These are not the times for “making concessions”, “looking the other way”, or “reaching across the aisle” to make nice with people that are digging this country’s grave.

He can knock Beck and Palin all he wants, it doesn’t matter anymore. They get it. They understand why we are pi$$ed off. Get out of the way and go write a book Newt, your political clout is fading as fast as the true meaning of the constitution.