Does Newt Gingrich’s S.C. win show we’re looking for a mean leader? (New meme to attack him?)

The Washington Post's On Leadership ^ | January 22, 2012 | Jena McGregor

[2ndDivisionVet]

Of all the qualities people look for in their leaders, here’s one you don’t hear very often: Mean. Filled with integrity? Yes. Visionary? Certainly. Magnanimous? Sure. But mean? Not one that comes up that frequently.

This, of course, was the response one voter gave to Post reporters for why he voted for Newt Gingrich in Saturday’s primary in South Carolina, which the former speaker won by 12 points, thereby upending the Republican race. “I think we’ve reached a point where we need someone who’s mean,” an 85-year-old Harold Wade said in Sullivan’s Island, S.C.

Others weren’t so candid, but said they were “looking for a good fight” or wanted someone who could “handle” Obama. And two-thirds of voters in surveys at South Carolina polling stations said the debates, in which the former Speaker tore into moderators, launched into sharp exchanges with his opponents and taunted Romney for not releasing his tax returns, played an important role in their decision.

Yes, the man who said he was “committed to running a positive” campaign but changed his tune following his loss in Iowa is now more known for his pugnacious debate style and his willingness to go negative than any semblance of a positive campaign. Since Iowa, he has lashed into his competitors, the media and President Obama with a swaggering zeal.

This about-face doesn’t appear to bother many voters of South Carolina. Nor, it seems, does Gingrich’s efforts to run a campaign that trumpets fear. In Thursday’s debate, Gingrich called President Obama “the most dangerous president of our lifetime, and if he is reelected, after the disaster he has been, the level of radicalism of his second term will be truly frightening.” He repeated a similar phrase in his victory speech Saturday night....

[2ndDivisionVet]

Vicious truthing of Obi-won is not allowed.

[Parley Baer]

So now the media thinks Newt is mean for picking on them and is trying to trot out this story to see if it flys. Hahahaha.

[madmominct]

Mean = Honest. Get used to it, lefties.

[freedomfiter2]

No, it means we’re not looking for a marshmallow.

[sissyjane]

Someone needs to post the crybaby picture....

[SumProVita]

Mean? NO!

Strong and willing to fight the battle for GOOD? YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!

[FrankR]

Obviously, most liberals and the media were raised in single parent households, with no male role-model.

Standing up for yourself, and standing for what is right, and articulating what you think, is not being "mean".

"Mean" is subjecting Americans to a life of dependency on a group who - instead of caring for them - are only trying to make themselves richer, and more powerful.

"Mean" is destroying the economy and jobs, life savings, and American pride.

"Mean" is taking the life of the unborn.

"Mean" is subjecting elders to "death panels".

"Mean" is endenturing our children for the next three or four generations to pay for the greed of democrat presidents and congressmen.

You want "mean"...then don't look at Newt Gingrich; if he defeats obama he will be the kindest man in my lifetime.

Obama is the "mean" one, he cares for nothing or no one, except himself and his agenda.

[Vigilanteman]

Actually, the main reason that Newt surged to an easy win in what was supposed to be a close election was his effective counterattacks on the enemedia. More and more people are beginning to understand that the enemedia is the the main problem with our nation and corrupt politicians like ObaMao are merely their surrogates.

Discrediting ObaMao will, at best, win us one election cycle. Discrediting the enemedia could win us many more. Newt is now the front-runner (in delegates, not national polling) and should be prepared for many more attacks.

[dr_lew]

I wonder if it wasn’t partly voter push-back on the Marianne interview. “Why are you showing us this? I’m not going to be swayed by this!”

[Berlin_Freeper]

[Jukeman]

The “statist media and the elites don’t realize the level of anger out here. If they go down the road of playing the anger card they are playing right into our hands. You are damned right we are angry. Our country, our republic is being destroyed. Our freedoms are at stake, our economy is at stake. Our constitution is being trampled. Hell yes, we are angry. We support Newt Gingrich. He feels our anger and speaks for us.

[righttackle44]

Heck yes! I for one am ready see the kind, loving, American dear leader destroyed in an avalanche of truth and the revelation of his lies, corruption and personal evil. The same goes for his wife. The same goes for the Washington Post and the New York Times et all. Bring him on. Turn him lose.

[etcb]

The only redeeming feature about President Clinton was his willingness to fight back when attacked. Neither of the Bush presidents were willing to do so nor was Senator McCain and we paid dearly for their meekness. I agree with Mr. Wade from South Carolina. We need someone who can get mean when necessary for we are certainly living in mean times.

[VanDeKoik]

The press knows that Newt’s style attracts.

They know that the more attacks on Obama, the more that empty suit will HAVE to respond.

Obama sucks at this. He always relied on others, like the press, to do that for him. Other candidates cowed at the resulting barrage from them.

The problem is that Newt isnt afraid of the press.

Both will be sitting targets. The ultimate “Oh $hit” moment for their side.

[Caipirabob]

Mean? Like denying a new oil pipeline and depriving the jobless of tens of thousands of jobs while raising gas prices on the poor?

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Mean? I dont think so.Conviction? Without a doubt.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Post of the Day.

[Bryanw92]

Hell yes, we’re looking for a mean leader! We’ve been brutalized by the Left and it’s media lapdogs for 30 years with their innuendos, double standards, and outright lies. I want a President who will come down off the podium and slap the taste out of their mouth when they ask one of their loaded, smarmy questions. I want Andrew Jackson + George Patton + Darth Vader!

[BwanaNdege]

Does Newt Gingrich’s S.C. win show we’re looking for a mean leader?

In the phraseology of the USMC grunt, we are looking for someone to:

"Kick A** and Take Names!"

We are fed up with the likes of the WaPo, the NYT, CNN, etc. and all of the permanent Washington elites.

Sarah, Cain & Newt have understood. The WaPO, NYT, CNN and Republican National Convention have not.

The Federal Government is the major part of the problem. The Federal Government is the solution to a very limited number of needs in this country. When it intrudes elsewhere, the country & the world suffer.

[Stand W]

So having the poor breeding to call attention to the failures of the anti-American Marxist Muslim in the WH is now a sign of meaness. I weep for my children.

[Salamander]

Maybe we're tired of neutered Poodles and looking for a

[Sacajaweau]

The media is becoming totally confused. Obama has got to be cringing at the thought of running against Newt. Obama hasn't any idea how hard "Newt the mean" will hit or where.

I notice that everyone has been keeping away from foreign affairs.

[marron]

They call it “pugnacious” but I think Gingrich has a very good sense of humor. His barbs are very witty.

And if you’ll notice, when he deals with people one on one, even opponents, he is very gracious.

Truman said something to the effect that “I don’t ‘give’em hell’, I just tell the truth and they think its hell”. Or words to the effect.

Thats Gingrich. He just tells the truth and they think he’s “angry” when really, he’s having the time of his life. He loves this stuff.

[marron]

Anyone notice how Gingrich engages with his opponents when they approach him in person? Very respectful.

Anyone remember the Kerry rally where the guy asking questions got tazed? Somehow, that seems meaner. When Gingrich gets a hostile questioner, he engages and gives the guy a serious and respectful answer (smarmy journalists excepted). When Kerry gets a question he doesn’t like, someone gets zapped and carried out by the cops.

[albie]

The only ones that will see Newt as mean because he verbally beat up on a hack “journalist” are left wing, hand wringing, America hating liberals. So who cares?

[Publius6961]

Does Newt Gingrich’s S.C. win show we’re looking for a mean leader?

In a word, YES!

The Taliban.
The koranimals.
The world socialists.
The radical left.
The Soros world octopus.
The "Democratic" Party.
The public employee unions.
The DNC.
The Communist MSM.

They all know they have been able to infest the body politic and the foundation of the country, under the gift of "a kinder and gentler" GOP. Dubya bought into the fiction and failed to veto the "spend like a drunk sailor" legislature.

That list of enemy can only understand mean. They rely on the siren song of "nice" for the opposition. It is their greatest preven political weapon --- when consistently applied to the opposition.

[Berlin_Freeper]

newtgingrich Newt Gingrich
We passed 1 million in less than 24 hours! Let’s go for 2 million. Donate today for the Knockout Punch in Florida. bit.ly/xvEvEc
2 minutes ago

[Vigilanteman]

ObaMao and his handlers will do everything necessary to stack the debates, shape the debates and, failing that, avoid or minimize the debates.

[Huskrrrr]

[bunkerhill7]

Wait a Minute! This guy was the firstest meanest!

He should run for President!

[shove_it]

What you said!

[loveliberty2]

Negative ads may have led to Gingrich's results in Iowa, but his articulation of ideas seems to have been penetrating through the mass GOP and establishment media (both left and right) promotion of Romney since then.

Last night and today, Romney tries accusing Gingrich of criticizing "free enterprise," which is, on its face, false. Gingrich well understands and promotes the Founders' belief in "freedom of individual enterprise" as being the economic dimension of liberty. Next debate, watch for that Romney accusation to crumble under the clear historical definition Newt will provide.

Romney's weaknesses, now that the Republican Establishment and their media spokesmen lost control of the message, are apparent. To say that they are revealed in his mishandling of the "tax return" and "explaining of Bain" is simply not adequate.

Even now, as evident from Brit Hume's "analysis" last night, Romney's supporters wrongly conclude that the overwhelming defeat in SC was due to two or three zingers in "debates" by Gingrich and these surface tax and Bain issues. Such shallow analysis underestimates the wisdom and intelligence of SC voters. The "people" are way beyond that, and they are exhibiting a "spirit of liberty" (Burke's view of the colonists) perhaps unheard of since 1776, because their sense of urgency demands it.

Romney's weakness for the November task cannot be remedied by handlers or coaches. The strength needed for winning the battle of ideas for what he calls "the soul of America" must come from a deep and abiding understanding of the ideas of liberty, as well as an understanding of the poisonous well of ideas from which the opponents of those ideas have drawn.

Without such an understanding, the skill of the well-trained representative of the counterfeit ideas (Obama) may fool "the People" into continuing to surrender their liberty in exchange for the proverbial "pot of porridge."

Romney, as Krauthammer observed last week, has shown no such ability to explain the ideas of what is commonly referred to as "conservatism."

Gingrich has, and it has resonated with "the People" (as in, "We, the People").

[livius]

I’m telling you, they have totally flipped out with Newt’s win. In their minds, this wasn’t supposed to happen and we nasty knuckle draggers somehow outsmarted them.

I am completely stunned by the level of hatred and anger that is surging out of them (”them” meaning both the liberals and the RINOs, such as Anne Coulter). They’ve called Gingrich every name in the book...and he’s only won one primary out of three. I hope the Secret Service is keeping an eye on him down here in Florida.

[CitizenM]

It is just amazing how Obama supporters think that Newt's tongue lashing at media bobble heads is "mean." Those poor babies must have very short memories.

Remember: "Let me eat my waffles?" And the several times Obama left them waiting while he disappeared? Oh, but his fans think that he was so justified in treating the press that way...they admired his "spunk." But when a Republican calls out the media for their actions...he is considered "mean." It is sickening.

[BobL]

I wouldn’t exactly call Obama a nice guy...

[sodpoodle]

Hard to imagine how Romney, Santorum, Paul or any other candidate would have responded to such a disgusting line of questioning as that of Juan Williams and John King.

I do not recall Kerry being asked how he liked living off of John Heinz inheritance, or Clinto being asked about sexual assault accusations, or Edwards being asked if he was currently diddling the help, or Obama being asked if he knew Larry Sinclair.

[Publius6961]

I wonder if it wasn’t partly voter push-back on the Marianne interview.

You might have explained that the "marianne" interview is from a bitter, vindictive, neurotic ex-wife.

[citizencon]

The ‘lamestream’ media sure can dish it out but can’t take it.
What incredible arrogance and hypocrisy!!

[oblomov]

I thought the Washington Post was all about Speaking Truth to Power. Now they want a Presidential challenger to ignore the truth and be “nice”?

[2ndDivisionVet]

He doesn’t have Secret Service protection, as far as I know. He should get some good private persoanl protection officers (”bodyguards”) like these guys:

http://www.reynoldsprotection.com/Executives.html

[livius]

That would be good.

[G Larry]

Whatever it takes to undo the damage by a President who HATES America!

[savagesusie]

I would have loved to vote for this guy!!! Love him. These guys (and Newt) know that it is EVIL to be “tolerant” of evil....

WAKE UP PARENTS, DONT TOLERATE EVIL—BE MEAN:
1. Don’t allow the elites to teach and condition your 5 year olds to think anal sex is “good” and “normal”. Keep their innocence and morality.
2. Don’t allow your freedom of religion in public to be squashed.
3. Don’t allow our military men to be brainwashed to think sodomy is “good” and a “right” and make Christianity (basis of our legal system and Common Law) to be removed from military. Virtue is essential in militaries (Machiavelli) and sodomy is always EVIL.
4. Don’t force our military to help people who sodomize boys. We should destroy such a culture-—multiculturalism teaches lies. All cultures are NOT equal.
5. Don’t allow your daughters to promote the killing of babies and promiscuous sex and “hate God” and love Wicca and Earth gods and do dances over mirrors and watch vile entertainment which glorifies lesbians raping girls. Get them out of Girl Scouts-—and end any government subsidy of a organization which promotes evil like sodomy and killing infants.

6. I could go on and on -—my point: IT IS TIME TO BE MEAN!!!!!!! before you lose the souls of the next generation. It will be too late then if it isn’t already.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Mean? More like willing to break PC rules and take the fight to them. They will try their best to make him an Angry old white dude—mean spirited (They used this with success with Dole). Mean, un-feeling, racist, hate monger, Nazi, you name it—they will call him that. That and worse! They will accuse him of murder—rape and death. Mad and worse than Hitler. Look for it on MSNBC if nothing else.

[tired&retired]

A Newt is not a Gecko! He’s more like a wolverine! He’s fast on his feet and quick to return a punch that is ten times harder than thrown at him. It won’t be long until others who live in glass houses stop throwing stones at him.

[Bernard Marx]

"Mean" is newspeak for any speech that exposes the Left's phony politically correct version of reality. By controlling speech they control the outcome.

Newt is a truth-teller. He sees that the emperor has no clothes and says so in effective, sound-bite fashion. Nothing could frighten the elites more. They thought they drove a stake through his heart in the 90s. But he's b-a-a-a-ck!

[The Shrew]

The “statist media and the elites don’t realize the level of anger out here. If they go down the road of playing the anger card they are playing right into our hands. You are damned right we are angry. Our country, our republic is being destroyed. Our freedoms are at stake, our economy is at stake. Our constitution is being trampled. Hell yes, we are angry. We support Newt Gingrich. He feels our anger and speaks for us.

"If you're not pissed off, you're not paying attention." TM

TS

[annieokie]

You think this is bad. Wait until Newt wins in the General, your TV set will actually melt in your room, as you view. They will ALL need a straight jacket by the time the evening is over.

I have never seen such vicious Hatred from "what we thought was our side", before in any election, EVER. Not one of them can ever pretend to be nice, THEY HATE US.

We are taking our Country Back, and there is nothing they can do about it. Nothing.

[RedMDer]

What Washington needs is adult supervision.



Throw the rat out

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[Hotlanta Mike]

Newt Gingrich Sums Up “Community Organizer” Barack Obama: “He wasn’t organizing Girls & Boys Clubs – He was Teaching Political Radicalism. . . He believes in a Very Radical Vision of America’s Future” – Video 1/22/12

http://freedomslighthouse.net/2012/01/22/newt-gingrich-sums-up-community-organizer-barack-obama-he-wasnt-organizing-girls-boys-clubs-he-was-teaching-political-radicalism-he-believes-in-a-very-radical-vision-of-americas-fu/