Gingrich: Mistake To Skip Black Forum

Says Top Tier GOP Candidates Should Attend Forum On Thursday

(AP)  Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Tuesday that top tier Republican presidential candidates are making a mistake by skipping a forum focused on issues of importance to black voters.

Gingrich, in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America," urged the leading candidates to reconsider their decision not to participate in a forum on Thursday at Baltimore's Morgan State University to be moderated by talk show host Tavis Smiley and aired by PBS.

"I'm puzzled by their decision. I can't speak for them. I think it's a mistake. I wish they would change their minds - they still have a few days - and I wish they would in fact go to the debate Thursday night," said Gingrich, who is considering entering the race for the GOP nomination.

The top four candidates in the GOP race - former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney - all declined to participate in the forum citing scheduling conflicts and fundraising pressures.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and other longshot GOP candidates who have agreed to participate "deserve some praise for showing up and for carrying the message," Gingrich said.

"I think Republicans could have, if they had the nerve to do it, a tremendous message," Gingrich said. "There are a lot of good cases to be made that the African-American community has been hurt more by the failures of government than any other community."

Earlier this month, seven of eight Democratic candidates participated in a debate aired by Univision, the Spanish language TV network. A Univision-sponsored GOP debate was postponed after McCain alone among the top tier Republicans agreed to participate.

[prinzowhales]

The depravity of the mainstream Republican party is plain to see in the fact that this disgraced, wife betraying, fascist is accepted as a ''leader'' among Republicans.

bzzz-the same sound a fly makes...no criticism of Rep. Paul...just bzzzz

lawandorder7--The vile animal in the White House will sign the new gun control bill that the Israeli citizen, Senator Chuck Schumer, is trying to sneak through the Senate. Why don''t you go and join the Democratic wing of the Oligarch Party, since your Toe-Tapping wing of The Republican wing of that party is pretty much exposed and will be finished in the next election.

Why do you dislike Ron Paul?--He''s happily married...to a woman...he''s a Constitutionalist and he served honorably in the US armed forces during the Vietnam era...He has voted against big government, gun control and taxes throughout his 10-term career as a Representative of Texas.

[toldyouso21]

I am not black, but if I were I would feel insulted because how can you make an informed decision without having the opportunity to hear all voices. Posted by frb01 at 08:03 PM : Sep 25, 2007

I think blacks are smart enough to not want to experience some things. Hearing the voices of Republicans smearing others and telling blacks why they are better off with the GOP is like running T-Rex claws down a chalk board or raining water on people to show that it is wet or unleashing skunks to demonstrate stink. REpublicans are the most racist political part with the exception of the Neo Nazi Party which of course have dual memberships in the GOP. It is a given. when a party prides itself on running race baiting ads--where they bring up racial fear or the fathering of a black child as stigma, or their Senator calls an Indian a macaca (monkey) then really--there is no need to say anything--it was a farce--for the blacks to invite them and it would have been a joke if GOP had attended--we are getting to that point in America--where we just don''t want to pretend anymore. Republicans want segregation, censorship of rap, cheap labor in the form of minorities and low taxes for the rich--a given. Repubs is to racism like ******** is to stink and wet is to water. A given.

[cfcrta]

Why does 13 %of population get more coverage than the rest of population ?Why dont politicians cater to the majority ?Why did the movie amistaad get paid by black groups to un -include the ending ?The blacks got there freedom /went back home /started there own slave trade business . But that ending of a historical fact is not in the movie?Why does the state of virginia not include the fact that the largest slave holder at the time of the civil war was a black man ?I mean come on black people look up your history and quit blaming others .I defy any to do a family tree and Not find an ancestor who was not a slave .The only reparations i support are those that include holding accountable the originators of it .....which is basically all of historical folk /so as such sweep your own doorstep before you look to others .Then after you do that sweep hehe um you aint got a leg to stand on

[roger_inkart]

Gingrich, perhaps more than any one person, is responsible for the massive division in the country. He did so to gain power for the GOP, but the cost was the weakening of America. He slit the throat of nation for his own party''s selfish political gains.

He is a loathsome polical maggot. He is worthy only of our scorn.

[bizzzz-2009]

RON PAUL IS A PU$$Y AND IS THE ONLY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE HILLARY CAN BEAT!!!!!STAY AWAY FROM RON PAUL. HE''S A SPINELESS PU$$Y!

[bizzzz-2009]

Getloud, GetReal,
If we go to war with Iran,we won''t want to get out of Iraq. Iraq is a strategic footing in the middle East and an exceptional forward base to strike Iran.
You need to wake up Getloud and not hide under your bed (like Ron Paul) in the face of radical Islam

[frb01]

Every time an issue with race appears in this country, it is like putting gasoline on a fire. We and they need to continue to be working on that, and all of them who are running should be in that debate. Scheduling conflicts and fundraising should be no excuses. I am not black, but if I were I would feel insulted because how can you make an informed decision without having the opportunity to hear all voices.

[sgtrds]

Go Ron Paul.. The People''''s Champion!

Posted by GetLoud1 at 06:05 PM : Sep 25, 2007

I agree with some of the things he says (though not all) but the truth is that he has less chance of getting elected then my pet Shih-Tzu.

[getloud1]

RON PAUL IS NO GOOD. DO NOT GO TO THE WEB SITE.RON PAUL IS NO GOOD. NO GOOD. NO GOOD. NO GOOD.

Posted by lawandorder7

Before you say he is NO GOOD you should check him out he is the Only Person will to pull us out of Iraq and the only politican not paid for by the Corporations. Check him out before you pass judgement http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues He''s America''s Last Hope! If you value your Freedom before it is all taken away you will check him out and get Active! Go America... Go Ron Paul.. The People''s Champion!

[twylacrat]

You really don''t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that Republicans don''t give a dam* about anyone but the rich, the very rich and the ultra rich.

[jacksteen1]

Do I understand this correctly ? A BLACK University is sponsoring a forum and is inviting REPUBLICANS ??

This is tantamount to Jews holding a forum and inviting the SS Nazis.

Poor stupid Condie, Gonzalez, et.al., all the TRAITORS to their respective races and colours that have served in this Republishit administration HAVE to KNOW they were used for their race - - and NOTHING MORE.

The filthy Republiscum will do anything to get elected - as we have witnessed time and again.

Are there fool enough Blacks out there that think they can AFFORD to support the Republicrap ?

Start cutting your jeans shorter so your chains won''t get bound up.

[rafterman1]

Righties keep telling minorities about how Dems never do anything for them and that they should vote Repub, yet the Repubs never do anything to show why minorities should vote Repub. Almost like Repubs say "just trust us". Well, we all know what happens when you trust a politician.

[sgtrds]

I''m not surprised that they''d skip the black forums or debates. After all as they see it why should the plantation masters and overseers attend meetings of those they see as sub-human slaves? the Rove idea of reaching out to minorities was always a farce for the average republican because of the rampant racism in their party. I wouldn''t expect them to honestly reach out to black voters any more then the KKK would.

[lawandorder7]

Gingrich, A no good S-B. He needs to leave the USA. I wonder what his wife has to say about him, his EX that is. If he runs and gets more that 1 vote, his own, it will be a sad day in the USA.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by toldyouso21,

I don''t think that they have ever really tried to hide it, I mean, how can you when the most virulent racists on the political scene recently, for example, David Duke, Pat Buchanan, Bush, Pat Robertson, Lott, Falwell, and others too many to mention in under 1500 letters, all profess to be Republican?

If they actually wondered for a split second why "Black" folk don''t vote Republican, then they are even far more deluded than they seem, and Gingrich is one of the old school racists, who apparently thinks we have forgotten how he used fear and hate to gain his not brief enough turn in power

[getloud1]

Ron Paul has it all.

**** TAKE AMERICA BACK ****
**** STOP THE WAR & Corporate Corruption****

Ron Paul has it all.

He has NEVER voted:
* to raise taxes
* for an unbalanced budget
* to raise congressional pay
* for a federal restriction on gun ownership
* to increase the power of the executive branch

He HAS voted:
* against the Iraq war
* against the inappropriately named USA PATRIOT act
* against regulating the internet
* against the Military Commissions Act

He will eliminate the IRS, Wasteful Government Spending & Stop The Iraq War Immediately!

Most importantly, he voted NO on anything in Congress that is not allowed by the Constitution.

He is the only candidate not a member of the CFR!

Shouldn''''t ALL members of Congress uphold the Constitution? Aren''''t they SWORN to uphold it? You can bet Paul won''''t call the Constitution "just a G**D***ed piece of paper" like George Bush is reported to have.

If you want a candidate you can TRUST due to a proven track record, visit ronpaul2008.com and get busy spreading the word. The Mainstream Media is a lagging indicator!!

Ron Paul Revolution: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ron+paul

Get Active Join The Revolution In Your City Today! http://ronpaul.meetup.com/cities/

Also checkout http://video.google.com search for Federal Reserve Fraud

[bm6005]

Gingrich; A mistake!!

[toldyouso21]

I don''t think Republicans should bother to go to any Black or Hispanic forums. Why pretend to care or be interested in those groups when they are not? Just for the votes? Many may think that the GOP is racist--but there is something refreshing about them not trying to hide that fact any longer--even if it costs them votes--that''s better than pretending to tolerate those groups from Sept through November of an election year--then disregarding them until their vote is needed again.