Newt Gingrich’s Folly

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Newt Gingrich’s Folly
Written by Ann Shibler Tuesday, 03 November 2009 14:50


Newt Gingrich is getting some exposure as he moves from anointed conservative to far-left Republican, with his latest endorsement of liberal Dede Scozzafava to fill a New York congressional seat.

Dede Scozzafava is not known as a conservative, but instead for her liberal positions. She has received the “Maggie Award,” from Planned Parenthood, supports gay marriage, is supported by NARAL and SEIU, plus ACORN, is iffy on cap-and-trade legislation, and happy with Obama’s stimulus, among other things.

Gingrich endorsed the liberal Scozzafava, turning his back on a viable Conservative Party candidate — Doug Hoffman — by saying, in essence, Scozzafava’s reach is broader than Hoffman’s, that a purge of the Republican Party across the board will have no good effects, and that the election of Hoffman would somehow ensure Obama’s reelection while guaranteeing Nancy Pelosi as “Speaker for life.” He said this quite arrogantly while extolling her supposed conservative virtues on Greta Van Susteren’s show:
Dede Scozzafava is endorsed by the National Rifle Association for her 2nd amendment position, has signed the no tax increase pledge, voted against the Democratic governor’s big-spending budget, is against the cap-and-trade tax increase on energy, is against the Obama health plan, and will vote for John Boehner, rather than Nancy Pelosi, to be Speaker.

Now that’s adequately conservative in an upstate New York district. And on other issues, she’s about where the former Republican, McHugh, was. 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 good precedent. And I think if this third party candidate takes away just enough votes to elect the Democrat, then we will have strengthened Nancy Pelosi by the divisiveness. We will not have strengthened the conservative movement.

However, Gingrich's endorsement of Scozzafava proved to be embarassing for him (if he is capable of being embarassed) when she suddenly dropped out of the race and endorsed Democrat Candidate Bill Owens.

In response to this action, Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser issued the following statement:

By her actions today Dede Scozzafava has confirmed why it was so important for conservatives and people who care about the GOP to get involved in this race.

Doug Hoffman's candidacy is based upon the core principles of limited government, lower taxes and strong family values.

When a GOP candidacy is not based on fundamental conservative values, the party and the principles are inevitably betrayed at critical moments.

Glossing over the problem areas with the specific endorsement, Gingrich’s brand of being “adequately conservative” is not in line with the conservative movement across the country. George Stephanopoulos labeled Gingrich’s plan “pragmatic.” But the current plight of the Republican Party is not attributed to there being too many conservatives, but too many liberals in the party, so the pragmatic defense goes out the window.

It is Gingrich and other party leaders — Pete Sessions’ (R-Texas) National Republican Congressional Committee also endorsed Scozzafava dumping $567,000 into the campaign, with the Republican National Committee reportedly contributing a six-figure sum as well — who are clearly out of step and are introducing divisiveness among conservatives, weakening the effectiveness and chances of candidates dedicated to real change, thereby continuing the socialist agenda of the current congress. Clearly, party bosses learned nothing from the 2008 election.

Michelle Malkin blogged, “The conservative base is wising up and pushing back. And constantly invoking Reagan isn’t going to erase the damage Gingrich has done to his brand over the years by wavering on core issues and teaming up with some of the Left’s biggest clowns.”

In a RedState post came this: “I don’t take kindly to being lectured to by a man who has just endorsed a flaming-liberal candidate, precisely the kind of Republican I don’t give a d*%# for and would not give a dime to support.”

Over on Hot Air the comments on what could be Gingrich’s folly, as well as the Republican Party’s, were also interesting: “The Republican Party of Gingrich dies, unloved and irrelevant.”

If these and other comments are any indication of the grasp that many are experiencing over Newt Gingrich’s policies and agendas, there will be more bolting from the Republican Party and crossing over to third party candidates, making those candidates seriously electable.