January 27, 2012 8:55 PM

Gingrich hits Romney for "factually incorrect" statements

By
Sarah Huisenga
Topics
Campaign 2012

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. - After generally being perceived as underperforming in Thursday night's debate, Newt Gingrich tried on Friday to shift the focus to what he called "factually incorrect" statements by his chief rival Mitt Romney.

Speaking before a primarily Jewish audience in Delray Beach, Gingrich called Romney out for saying in Thursday night's CNN debate that he "never voted for a Democrat when there was a Republican on the ballot."

Gingrich called the statement the fourth version to be given by Romney. "In 1992, he gave money to three Democratic candidates for Congress and he voted in the Democratic primary for [Massachusetts'] Paul Tsongas, who was the most liberal person," Gingrich said.

He then referenced a tweet sent on Thursday by University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato, who wrote: "I don't believe Mitt told truth about 1992. He voted Tsongas in D POTUS primary when Bush 41 was facing Pat Buchanan, same day 3/10/92."

Romney, who was a registered independent in 1992, explained his vote for Tsongas by telling ABC News in 2007 that it was intended as a tactical maneuver aimed at finding the weakest opponent for then-President George H.W. Bush. However, The Boston Globe reported in 1994 that the former Massachusetts governor's vote came because he wanted to support his fellow Bay Stater Tsongas and because he preferred his ideas to those of then-candidate Bill Clinton.

Republican presidential candidate former House Speaker Newt Gingrich speaks during a Republican Jewish Coalition rally at the South County Civic Center, Jan. 27, 2012, in Delray Beach, Fla.

(Credit: AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

"My point being," Gingrich went on, "I am a Reagan conservative. I have been a Reagan conservative my whole career. [Romney] was an independent -- at best a moderate -- who was in fact voting in a Democratic primary for the most liberal candidate for president."

Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said in response that Gingrich "is desperate to distract from his record of failed and unreliable leadership" to try to bolster his campaign.

"It is laughable to see lectures on honesty coming from a paid influence peddler who suffered an unprecedented ethics reprimand, was forced to pay a $300,000 penalty and resigned in disgrace at the hands of his own party," Saul said.


  • Sarah Huisenga

    Sarah Huisenga is covering the Newt Gingrich campaign for CBS News and National Journal.

Add a Comment See all 33 Comments
by Rocko191 January 29, 2012 11:50 PM EST
It's a fact that he was fined 300,000. for fraud and forced out of office..

Unreal how anyone in their right mind would think Ginrrich could beat Obama..
Obama's people would hit Ginrich with all his disgusting dirt in his past..
Is wife having an affair while knowing Ginrich was married, what do you call her, not a First Lady... Does Palin call that Family Values) ...That would be ok with Palin and Hollywood but not for most..

Maybe Palin did have a rump in the sack with that Black basketball player, forgot his name...

Ginrich has an affair while his wife was in the hospital with cancer and imbeciles like Palin think he would make a good President, not in my book........I would not even want him as a partner in business..

He divorces one wife because she did not look like a First Lady, then the SOB lies about it. In an interview she said he wanted the divorce and did the file not like he said, she wanted and did the file..

The man is a piece of garbage and a accident waiting to happen, like Palin...She only endorsed Ginrich because he said she would not make a bad VP and if not VP then to head some agency...(give me a break)

Google: Sarah Palin and her witch, she is worst then O'Donald


It's a fact that he was fined 300,000. for fraud and forced out of office..

Unreal how anyone in their right mind would think Ginrrich could beat Obama..
Obama's people would hit Ginrich with all his disgusting dirt in his past..
Is wife having an affair while knowing Ginrich was married, what do you call her, not a First Lady... Does Palin call that Family Values) ...That would be ok with Palin and Hollywood but not for most..

Maybe Palin did have a rump in the sack with that Black basketball player, forgot his name...

Ginrich has an affair while his wife was in the hospital with cancer and imbeciles like Palin think he would make a good President, not in my book........I would not even want him as a partner in business..

He divorces one wife because she did not look like a First Lady, then the SOB lies about it. In an interview she said he wanted the divorce and did the file not like he said, she wanted and did the file..

The man is a piece of garbage and a accident waiting to happen, like Palin...She only endorsed Ginrich because he said she would not make a bad VP and if not VP then to head some agency...(give me a break)

Google: Sarah Palin and her witch, she is worst then O'Donald
Reply to this comment
by nearl451 January 28, 2012 6:23 PM EST
ALthough, it is rather the pot calling the kettle black, Gingrich is right in that Romney has no problem with bald-faced lying. No apparent conscience thereof.
Reply to this comment
by Herne42 January 28, 2012 3:19 PM EST
"factually incorrect", that's just too funny. I'll one day miss this. Unfortunately, our country is falling apart at the moment.

I want adequate representation.

Rich people do not represent the mass majority of the United States.
Electing either of these children would be a terrible mistake...and Santorum is a great Vatican Representative...He has NO place in American politics.

Separation of church and state is one of these most important parts of our Constitution.And can NEVER be changed......NEVER AGAIN.

Obama could do good things, but unfortunately, I fear, Congress has a bit of race relations issues to still deal with. Cleaning the white hoods out of Washington politics would be a good start.

I need a dream.

Ron Paul for 2012!
Reply to this comment
by Xeppo January 28, 2012 12:48 PM EST
Go newt Go

Almost everytime when the voters in three states have cast their votes, the "party leaders" begin to tell us that we have a presidential candidate and the others should stop campaigning. I am tired of Iowa, new hampshire and South Carolina choosing my party's nominee.

Go Newt Go
Reply to this comment
by msimamaji January 28, 2012 11:36 AM EST
The Hou$e of Lie$, that is the best title for the GOP primary contest. Every one of the candidates is a pathological liar.

They are telling the people of Florida that global warming is a fraud, in spite of overwhelming scientific evidence. So, I must ask several inconvenient questions. What will happen to Florida's property values when the sea levels start to rise? What will happen when sea water starts to seep into Florida's ground water?

The GOP hasn't told senior citizens in Florida that they will shut down Medicare. They haven't told senior citizens that they will have to pay a lot more for the medications when they eliminate so-called Obama-care.

Basically, the Sugar Daddies of the GOP are holding an audition. They want to see which candidate can lie to the public most effectively. That candidate gets to win the nomination.

If you want to see what's a head of you, look at Florida, which is run by Rick Scott, a Republican who made gobs of money defrauding Medicare. The unemployment rate in Florida is 10 %; in Republican South Carolina it's 9.9% - That's your future with the GOP.
Reply to this comment
by 2happy2ride January 28, 2012 11:23 AM EST
Strangely, the man with the most questionable character and ethics, of all the candidates, is the first to criticize others.
Typical politician, when things don't go his way, he whines, attacks and deceives & warps the truth for his benefit. Sounds like somebody already in the WH. Do we really want another from the same mold?
Reply to this comment
by Larry-and-Obama-4-ever January 28, 2012 11:39 AM EST
Newt was the ONLY ONE that was running a positive campaign in the beginning....he was leading in Iowa 42% 1 month before the primary, it was Romney that went on the attack. After Iowa and New Hampshire Newt was all but forgotten until that fateful night in SC and so goes the Romney attack machine and media puppets. The only difference this time is Newt aint gonna take it no more.
by Larry-and-Obama-4-ever January 28, 2012 9:37 AM EST
Newt turned in a very lackluster debate Thursday night giving a 9 point advantage in Fla to Romney. However, the crowds this week at Newt events have been described as "electric" with crowds ranging at various events from 4,000 and his largest was 6,000........the biggest that park had ever seen. Romney events have been averaging 250 people. Will we see a Florida surprise?
Reply to this comment
by Larry-and-Obama-4-ever January 28, 2012 9:41 AM EST
If you remember Newt was only supposed to win SC by 6 and got it by 12.
by skyk801 January 28, 2012 8:49 AM EST
"Factually Incorrect"? Say it like it is Newt.. This Perverted Parasite wouldn't know the TRUTH if it hit him in the BUTT!
Reply to this comment
by myopinionpal January 28, 2012 6:44 AM EST
Do away with the GOP debates and put all four candidates in a cage match and the last man standing wins the Florida primary and do the samething for the remaining primaries. The one with the most cage match victories gets the GOP nomination. It would be alot more fun to watch and viewership will skyrocket.
Reply to this comment
by andrewjsacks January 28, 2012 12:07 AM EST
Newt, if you got the nomination, it would be a lot better for Barack than if that Mormon does. In either case--OBAMA 2012!
Reply to this comment
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