Newt Gingrich: No one understands me

Newt Gingrich

/ AP Photo

(CBS News) PALATINE, Ill. - Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich late on Wednesday expressed frustration with both the news media and the Republican Party establishment for failing to understand his "large ideas" for transforming American politics.

As calls for Gingrich to bow out of the race grew louder following his second-place finishes in Mississippi and Alabama Tuesday - two states he said he stood a good chance of winning - the candidate seemed to be in low spirits and offered a grumpy analysis of the state of the GOP primary to a crowd that gathered for a Lincoln Day Dinner in this Northwestern suburb of Chicago.

"The thing I find most disheartening of this campaign is the difficulty of talking about large ideas on a large scale, because the news media can't cover it and candidly, my opponents can't comprehend it," Gingrich said, while also vowing to continue his campaign to the convention in Tampa this summer.

Special Section: Campaign 2012Full CBS News coverage: Newt Gingrich

He called himself the only candidate of the four still in the contest "focused on ideas and ... solutions and not just the usual politics" and the only one advocating wholesale change to a political system that is "methodically and deliberately stupid."

Other parts of his speech covered topics ranging from President Abraham Lincoln promoting the transcontinental railroad to the anti-fraud system of the American Express credit card company. Gingrich spoke of the need for a "technological revolution" in government, but lamented that no one but him seemed to understand that.

"Let me just talk for a second about technology and grand opportunities," he said. "Other than Ronald Reagan, I know of no Republican in my lifetime who's been able to talk about this. That's why I'm still running."

The former House speaker from Georgia has recently focused his campaign on the issue of high gas prices, promising as president to restore them to no more than $2.50 a gallon. But he often also speaks at length on a wide range of topics, covering everything from brain science to space exploration to the need to utilize modern management practices to reform entire sectors of the government.

"I want to be the candidate of science and technology," he said. "Whether it's on energy, it's on stopping crooks in Medicare and Medicaid, it's on getting into space, which I was ridiculed (for), or it is on helping you make sure that your family doesn't suffer from something that could be avoided."

And he chided fellow Republicans for failing to see the need for a party makeover. The GOP, he said, has been governing like the Democratic Party since 2006, when it lost control of the Congress.

"We cannot be a normal party," he told the suburban Republican crowd. "If we run a normal campaign, trying to govern within the framework of the current system, we have no future, because people would rather have Democrats do it. They at least enjoy it."

[back_creek]

Newt, the world understands you too well. You are a idiotic liar who suffers from delusions of grandeur.

If the voters of the United States were to be so stupid as to elect you to the office of president, those voters would become the laughing stock of the world.

Hold your breath, kick your feet, and cry all you want. It will not help.

[saronne]

No, no, Newt- you have it wrong- it's "My wife doesn't understand me".. have you forgotten?

[mick7744]

Neut is well aware that to be misperceived as an intellectual...you must surround yourself with extremely NON-intellectual types.

This so that when asked to clarify your position on any given issue, you can shake your head ruefully, smirk in that condescending, intellectually pretentious manner of yours and reply, "You couldn't possibly understand"

What I have NEVER understood...is why someone who is constantly screwing up bigtime by saying and doing such incredibly stupid things is still being touted in some Reich-wing circles as a really intelligent guy?

If this beady-eyed, Pillsbury Dough Perv was even 25% as smart as he imagines himself to be...I might just be tempted (briefly) to overlook his total moral bankruptcy...his sordid personal life...his corrupt, avaricious, money-grubbing behavior while posing as a public servent...and perhaps even his vicious, mean-spirited attacks on any who oppose him...

But only briefly...

The man is TOXIC...The only good he could ever possibly do for America is to lie and scheme his way to the GOP nomination and thereby give the voters a real good look at him and the corrupt, venal party he represents...

The voters WILL understand...and hopefully get rid of the ungoing criminal enterprise known as the Republican party along with him.

[oroach]

All Newt has to do is leave, since no one understands the rubbish he is trying to sell. Not even his donors understand him. Newt you will never make it to the White House. You do not respect the position of the President. Each time you speak it is always Obama. How then would you want to be address as President?

[mythicwave]

He's just too elite for the elite media.

[addict42]

Actually Newt is partly right but his delivery is what is alienating not only the masses but the Republicans too. Poor Newt!

[w_roos]

It's everyone elses' fault. They're all too liberal.

[waynenipper]

If no one understands you it's because you're so full of sh++ your eyes are brown.

[Jaylah54]

It's always somebody else's fault. *stomps foot*

[cpgrant3]

Let me get this straight. Newt is complaining about his failure to convince the public of his true character. Since when is his failre as a politician the public's fault? At least he has succeeded in coming across as a whiner.

[Lindag10]

Poor, poor misunderstood fat Toad. "Why's everyone always picking on me?"