Just out of the gate, Gingrich 2012 bid stumbles
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich gives the keynote address during the Georgia Republican Party Victory Dinner on May 13, 2011 in Macon, Georgia.
/ Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty ImagesJust days after Newt Gingrich announced he's running for the Republican nomination, his campaign is in trouble.
His candidacy has been marked by a lot of missteps straight out of the gate, and top Republicans are now saying that his campaign is in jeopardy.
It started with his appearance on a Sunday talk show. He was rolling out his presidential campaign when he suddenly took aim at Republicans, specifically Congressman Paul Ryan's budget plan.
"I don't think right-wing social engineering is any more desirable than left-wing social engineering," Gingrich said. "I don't think imposing radical change from the right or the left is a very good way for a free society to operate."
Leading conservatives went ballistic, saying Gingrich had hurt the party and all of those Republicans who were supporting the Ryan plan.
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Then there was embarrassing news on Tuesday for Gingrich that came from his wife's financial disclosure form, which revealed that they recently had owed American Express between $15,000 and $50,000 dollars. He also owed between $250,000 and $500,000 dollars to upscale jewelry story Tiffany's - not a good message when voters care most about the economy and how they are going to make ends meet.
So the question now is how does Gingrich survive with all that's happened in the last week? Will he be able to hold on to some of his big-money donors, or will they take a walk?
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Ok, I am an Independent and have been for all of my life. But I will have to give Newt credit on this one. Most of us in the middle think this way. If the republicans really want to get back into the good graces of the "Average American" they really need to just drop the excess baggage of "Social Conservatives" that have been pulling the party down for years. Case in point: I live in Iowa and we have had Gay Marriage here for about 3 years. I can honestly say that I am far less affected by 2 guys getting married that I am by $4 a gallon gas prices. I think the government needs to worry about paying for itself and not what is going on in everyone's bedroom.
But look at what's happened since. Banning funding for Planned Parenthood, defunding NPR, the list goes on and on.
It's not how they campaign, it's how they govern.
a stinky poot,
a stinky poot.
Newt is like a stinky poot,
That fades away too slowly.
the voting, they are sadly mistaken. It is alive and well heeled with donations from the wealthy and
too careful not to be detected. Maybe Newt doesn't think political engineering is a good thing, but
take a look at the current elected members of congress who let the high powered lobbyists convince
them to do anything they want-for a price that is. And the American public are paying the bill!
In the long run there is only One who is in command, and I would not want to be in any of their
shoes when He says "Enough".
tricks pulled by a few, such as the swift boat sleeze balls ruining the reputations of good Americans
like John Kerry for no reason other than the money and power to do it. Let's have a reform of the kind of tactics that can be used and have cleaner elections. This man is not the way to start.