When did Newt become sexy? (Politically speaking)
Just a few short months ago, pundits were writing off the former House Speaker's candidacy. Despite possessing conservative credentials, Newt's early blunders such as favoring, then opposing intervention in Libya, revelations in May that he once owed as much as $500,000 to Tiffany & Co., and the resignation of all his senior campaign aides, left his candidacy in tatters. Moreover, Gingrich's apparent lack of personal appeal made the likelihood of his nomination even more remote.
Newt's surge to the top, and his newfound political sex-appeal, seem like they can only be explained by something other than Newt. His rise appears rooted in desperation among Republicans to find a conservative candidate who can be taken seriously when matched up against Pres. Obama. Because it looks more and more like only Gingrich can answer this call, Republicans have entered a state of denial about the qualities they initially disliked in him.
The buzz Newt's generating is reminiscent of the hype surrounding John Kerry in '04, as he headed into the Democratic Primaries. Like Gingrich, Kerry had been tested on the national stage, was ideologically in sync with his party, and offered a tonal contrast to the sitting president. In spite of Kerry's apparent lack of charisma, Dems squeezed every bit of political capital out of the seasoned Senator. This was on full display when the war hero marched onto the stage at the Democratic National Convention, and announced to a fever pitched crowd:
"I'm John Kerry and I'm reporting for duty."
The electricity in the room that night wasn't enough for Kerry to overcome his political shortcomings. If Newt gets the GOP nomination, his personal and political liabilities, like Kerry's, won’t continue to be ignored. And if in fact there's nothing new about Newt, Republicans may be laying the groundwork for defeat at the polls in November.
-Amitai Perline is an Associate Producer for Up w/ Chris Hayes
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I sure hope so. Gingrich as President really scares me. I'd much prefer Romney as I think he wouldn't be horrible given his record in Massachusetts. So if Gingrich increases the liklihood of Obama...great! But I'm not sure it's worth the anxiety of him actually having the chance of becoming President.
I think a large part of the country is in denial about Gingrich problems as a leader, of what Obama has accomplished, and what they really want for American. (Don't like the way the country is headed? slowing lowering unemployment, attempting to get tax cuts for middle class? How do they want it to go?)
I agree, it is just scary to think of Gingrich as President and I'd rather he pull the pin now than later!
John Kerry, a "hero"?
John Kerry lied before Congress in 1971 during the so-called "Winter Soldier Investigation". He denigrated his fellow veterans with fabricated tales about atrocities he never witnessed, and hopped into the political sack with Jane Fonda, and the V.V.A.W. (Vietnam Veterans Against the War); a wonderful organization that voted on whether to commit political assassinations during a November 1971 meeting. He also traveled to Hanoi, shook hands with the VC, and offered his support. His picture still hangs in the Ho Chi Mihn museum. His "war hero" persona has some flaws. The embellished circumstances involving his Purple Hearts and his subsequent behavior are clearly indicative of lack of character, integrity, and the leadership it takes to be a respected member of our government. He shouldn't have been a Senator, let alone Presidential candidate.
Former members of his Navy Swift Boat unit revealed some aspects of Kerry's unethical behavior in Vietnam. Kerry "reenacted" his adventures in Vietnam with a movie camera, conned the Navy out of 4 Purple Hearts for Band-Aid "wounds" (one of which was self-inflicted), and threw someone else's medals over the White House fence during an anti-war publicity stunt.
For a complete expose on the 1971 "Winter Soldier" sham check out this website:
BTW: Hayes is a worthless hack.