Pat Buchanan Says Newt Gingrich "Political Opportunist," Went "Too Far" on Mosque Issue

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Republicans

Conservative commentator Pat Buchanan casting Newt Gingrich as a "political opportunist" who is using the so-called "Ground Zero mosque" issue to position himself for a run at the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

Gingrich on Monday accused President Obama of "pandering to radical Islam" by expressing support for building an Islamic cultural center which includes a mosque two blocks from the site of the Sept. 11 attacks, adding: "Nazis don't have the right to put up a sign next to the Holocaust Museum in Washington. We would never accept the Japanese putting up a sight next to Pearl Harbor. There's no reason for us to accept a mosque next to the World Trade Center."

Buchanan, himself a former presidential hopeful, said on MSNBC that Gingrich is "trying to get out and be more flamboyant and more charismatic if you will, and more controversial than Sarah Palin, who is his primary challenger if he gets into Iowa and New Hampshire."

Continued Buchanan, who himself has made controversial comments in the past: "How do you get more attention than Sarah Palin, who's very good at this, is to go two steps further. I mean, I think bringing the Nazis into the argument is always absurd in American politics because there is no valid comparison there. And secondly, you know, you bring that in and that's all we start talking about."

"So I think Newt went too far with that comment - but I know why he's doing it," he added.

Gingrich has openly flirted with a presidential run and has used the mosque issue in his fundraising materials on behalf of the group Renewing American Leadership Action, telling supporters over email (as Salon reports): "Please SELECT HERE to STOP the Ground Zero mosque! Your decisive DONATION to Real Action will help us to RALLY and ACTIVATE all Americans, to TAKE REAL ACTION!"

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by Share_s_caring August 30, 2010 2:22 PM EDT: Don't you just love political, forked-tongued, double-speak?

Newt Gingrich is taking a political stance-- that is what politicians do!

Instead of commentator, Pat Buchanan taking a stance on the issue, or directing meaningful dialogue about the issue, he seems to misdirect the public away from the issue by attacking Newt Gigrich.

It's like a husband and wife arguing about who will be taking out the trash and one of them bringing up an old argument about who wrecked the car--the one driving, or the one who knew the brakes were not working and failed to get the brakes fixed. Stick to issues; maintain the focus of discussed issues.

Some of the posted comments, attempt to have a real dialogue on the issue. How can Mr. Buchanan determine "why (Mr. Gingrich) he's doing it"? Where did Mr. Buchanan obtain his mind reading skills? Is Mr. Buchanan attributing his own motives or agenda to Mr. Gingrich?; Reply to this comment


by mypitts2 August 19, 2010 3:41 PM EDT: Newt Gingrich has proven time and time again he is a man of very low character.; Reply to this comment


by WinkyCat August 19, 2010 11:39 AM EDT: Newt is simply making hay while the sun shines.
Meow; Reply to this comment

by f77111 August 18, 2010 6:07 PM EDT

You know you're a real nut-job when Pat Buchanan has to pull you back to the center. Newt Gingrich, isn't he the former Speaker of the house who resigned in disgrace ? The Family Values guy who was cheating on his wife while she was dying in the hospital ? Well, at least he's a typical Republican politician, a hypocrite and scumbag.

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by recoveringRepub August 19, 2010 3:23 PM EDT: Yes Newt is that guy. He also should be held In Breach Of Contract. His 100 day Contract with America, he failed to keep his end of the contract, in particular: Term Limitation. Never voted upon. And now his analogy of Nazi(s) (Nazi and Germans are not necessarily the same- nor are Muslims all terrorists). But there you have it, with little minds I guess all of the Germans are bad and could be his next target! NO SHAME. PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTION least you loose it.


by bradkt1 August 18, 2010 6:01 PM EDT: Republicans have come a long way when it comes to spiraling downward. It wasn't too many years that ago that their political campaigns tried to monopolize religion and basically said that Democrats were not religious and didn't respect religion.

Today, Republicans want to deny freedom of religion of those who practice a politically unpopular religion to locate a house of worship where they see fit. The imam spearheading this project has represented U.S. interests in the Middle East, including personally representing Secretaries of State Madeline Albright and Condeleeza Rice. This man is a moderate...not a radical as the political right is trying to demean and protray him.

This mosque is NOT planned to be located at ground zero, but two blocks away...where today there is urban blight and xxx-rated businesses are located. That's not hallowed ground.

This effort to deny these PEACEFUL and law-abiding muslims to build a mosque where they have a legal right to do so is nothing but thinly-disguised demagougery, religious discrimination and intolerance. It sends a very clear message:

"You can freely practice your religion anywhere in this country...except where we don't want you to."; Reply to this comment


by rockin982 August 18, 2010 5:24 PM EDT: In other words, you are free to practice in worship of any legitimate religion, unless you are a Muslim living in lower Manhattan.

Because since 9/11, Islam is actually a terrorist group, not a constitutionally protected faith.

By the way, the term "radical Islam" is a lot like "pedophile Christianity" ... it's only because Islam is considered foreign to the US that it's fine to build a cathedral next to a daycare but not a mosque next to a commercial center.; Reply to this comment


by gig76 August 18, 2010 4:18 PM EDT: The United States military or Pentagon isn't party owned or party branded. If any military personnel are caught talking about party affiliations, they need to be court martialed immediately, and their right to vote revoked for a lifetime. Any armed services that calls itself one party over the other will also lose its funding and everyone in that platoon or administration will lose rights to vote for a lifetime. It's treason and unAmerican. Again, military isn't party affiliated but represented by its citizens within. If prerequisites are to be party affiliated, then we need to rewrite and revamp the Pentagon, armed services, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and strip all from their pensions. Get real and be real Americans.; Reply to this comment


by gig76 August 18, 2010 4:11 PM EDT: Sue Palin and Gingrich for their remarks about 9.11, one more time. They have stabbed individuals like my daughter in the heart, for she thought possibly this year, she might have a happy birthday, 9.11 event. It's a very special year, and Palin.Gingrich took that happiness from her by one more time, making 9.11 a very bad day. She would like to move on but Republicans like Palin.Gingrich don't want to for it's a political push for them financially and possibly wins for their party. That's right their Hitler party of unconcerned cold hearted folks who only care about their political gain and no one else's feelings. Sue them and make them shut up once in for all. Vote Democrats 2010, 2012, and beyond. Make Republican know how to work, pay taxes, and give jobs to Americans. Republicans only know how to "not work", not pay taxes, take from others, speak before they think, and steal from others, steal their birthdays by holding Americans hostage one more year, one more time for Republican political clout. That's "crap", and this year Republicans are going to crap out big for their inability to connect with real Americans with real American issues, like entitled in having a real day to celebrate his or her birthday on their special day. But NOOOOOOOOO -- Palin has to stab my daughter in the heart one more time. Gingrich has to try to rewrite his failed life by trying to make his failed marriages, and his male "w" lifestyle rewritten in the story books. Gingrich will forever be enshrined as a male "w", forever! No new stories Gingrich, and stop harming real Americans with real American issues for your political gain. You will never ever be President in America. We real Americans will make sure you remember your past very well, very well indeed. Vote Democrats 2010, 2012, and beyond!; Reply to this comment

by rdupuy11 August 18, 2010 4:04 PM EDT

Freedom of religion is a basic right. One that Republicans used to understand, and it seemed that Democrats didn't quite understand.

But as time passes, you begin to realize that neither Republicans nor Democrats really believe in anything, its all populist politics.

Religious groups have to respect zoning laws, but if a church, synagogue, or temple can be built there - then so too can a mosque. That's basic and obvious.

Thank you Mr. Obama for respecting the rule of law.

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by mdukat December 6, 2010 5:43 PM EST: The only freedom of religion that Republicans have ever supported is the right to choose which flavor of Christianity to practice -- there has never been equal support for atheism or non-christian religions.

The history of our country is rife with Christian sectarianism, from the state sponsored churches at the beginning of our nation, to the anti-Catholic movements of the early 19th century, continuing discrimination against neopagans and now racial profiling and anti-islamic sentiment.

The religious right was a right composed exclusively of Christians; but then, to them, that is the only "real" religion.


by bsk2020 August 18, 2010 3:52 PM EDT: Nazis? It seems to me the correct analogy would be what if a German-Americans wanted to set up a cultural center/church two blocks away from Washington's Holocaust Museum. German-Americans didn't commit the Holocaust any more than did moderate American Muslims attack the World Trade Center. (I trust the FBI to monitor the proposed center & mosque.) As for there not being any reason to accept the mosque, well, if indeed it were modeled after the Jewish 92nd Street Y in on the upper east side of NYC, then as a Brooklyn resident I would welcome such a center closer to my home. Plus I don't not have many opportunities to interact with Muslims, so I would welcome the opportunity to get to know their communities and religion better. New York in particular, and American in general, have a long, difficult history of integrating immigrant groups & religions. Centers such as the one proposed is one small step in that process. If we slap down our Islamic moderates, we create hostility and foster radicalization.; Reply to this comment