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Blast from the past: Romney uses vintage video to hit Gingrich (charges Newt was cleared of)
Los Angeles Times ^ | January 28, 2012 | Paul West

Posted on 01/28/2012 10:11:30 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife

CLICK

Since Friday morning, the Romney campaign has been beaming an unusual 30-second spot into media markets across the state of Florida. It consists almost exclusively of a vintage video clip from Jan. 21, 1997, the day Newt Gingrich was sanctioned by his House colleagues after an ethics investigation.

What makes the ad striking is the content: NBC Nightly News anchor (at the time) Tom Brokaw, is introducing his network's report that evening on Newt's downfall earlier in the day. That's all there is, and the video bite is perfectly sized for a political ad.

The Romney researcher who discovered the clip must have done handsprings to discover the bonus at the end: Brokaw's kicker--raising questions about Gingrich's "future effectiveness"--seems eerily prescient, even viewed 15 years later.

Romney and his super PAC compadres have been whacking Gingrich for weeks over the ethics violations, part of a broader assault on their main opponent's character.

Now, they are adding Brokaw's considerable credibility to their case--as a character witness to counter anyone who may have been swayed by Gingrich's recent efforts to play down the significance of the event, which paved the way for his downfall as House speaker.

By airing what is, in effect, a mini-documentary, (the campaign calls the ad, "History Lesson."), the Romney camp is delivering a powerful punch at a key moment in the GOP race.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: gingrich2012; gopprimary; msm; romney
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On Ethics Charges, ‘Gingrich Was Exonerated’ "Mitt Romney has been attacking Newt Gingrich for alleged ethics violations during his tenure as speaker of the House. But as Byron York writes, the Gingrich ethics scandal was a product of vindictive partisan politics, it was inflamed by a complicit press corps, and it resulted (with little press coverage) in the Clinton-era IRS’s exoneration of Gingrich."......
1 posted on 01/28/2012 10:11:38 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

We all know the media lies, but lets hope the rest of the country knows it.


2 posted on 01/28/2012 10:16:47 AM PST by Spunky (Sarah Palin on Polls "Poles are for Strippers and Cross Country Skiers")
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To: Cincinatus' Wife; All

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3 posted on 01/28/2012 10:18:09 AM PST by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Now, they are adding Brokaw's considerable credibility to their case-

Because there is nothing that makes conservatives stand up and salute quicker than a pronouncement from Tom Brokow. How clever of Mitt to know exactly how to appeal to conservative voters.

4 posted on 01/28/2012 10:18:43 AM PST by vbmoneyspender
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
I just hope Newt is airing commercials with Milt signing O'RomenyCare, 24/7, along with the detrimental effects it's had on his state.

And...that's telling the truth...not pulling twisted, dated newsbites out of the air.

5 posted on 01/28/2012 10:22:38 AM PST by Jane Long (Soli Deo Gloria!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Awfully bold of Romney, to air a discredited report by a discredited reporter. Sad thing is, plenty of people will accept the “history lesson” as truthful.


6 posted on 01/28/2012 10:23:12 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: vbmoneyspender

Mitt is not now, and never has been a conservative in our sense of the word. He is an establishment progressive dedicated to progressive plans and policies. Vis a Vis Obama, he is what in Vegas they call a ‘slow crap’. Marxism by the drink.


7 posted on 01/28/2012 10:24:35 AM PST by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: vbmoneyspender
How clever of Mitt to know exactly how to appeal to conservative voters.

And to think that Tom Brokaw decided in 2008 that John McCain's Keating 5 connection was ancient history.

8 posted on 01/28/2012 10:27:27 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: vbmoneyspender

We will vote for a man whose character allows him to do this ad at this time if he is the R nominee and the GOP knows we have no place else to go?


9 posted on 01/28/2012 10:30:07 AM PST by maranatha (Texas really is unlike any other place)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Btw thank you for all your excellent posts.


10 posted on 01/28/2012 10:33:31 AM PST by maranatha (Texas really is unlike any other place)
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To: maranatha; Jane Long; Cboldt

Imagine MSM headlines when Newt responds.....

Newt “Attacks” Mitt

....while here, it’s a “hit” on Newt.


11 posted on 01/28/2012 10:37:42 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Perhaps that’s the reason for the love fest with the liberal RNC , MSM and establishment RINO’s . The only major difference between Mitt and the bamster is Mitt will be happy to show his birth certificate .


12 posted on 01/28/2012 10:49:18 AM PST by Lionheartusa1 (-: Socialism is the equal distribution of misery :-)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Mitt Romney's real record in Massachusetts
13 posted on 01/28/2012 10:50:18 AM PST by Berlin_Freeper (NEWT GINGRICH 2012)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Some of the material in the January 21, 1997 Congressional Record is flat out stunning. Gingrich is lambasted then for trying to change an ultimate goal of Congress from making the US into an opportunity society, rather than a welfare state.

Mr. CARDIN (of Maryland): [Gingrich] had a vision to launch a political movement to change the country, in his words, from a welfare state to an opportunity society. ...

When GOPAC ran short of funds, Mr. Gingrich sought contributions from several tax exempt entities in order to continue his partisan political crusade.

. . .

Looking toward the 21st Century, Respondent developed an approach which he referred to as the `five pillars' of renewing American civilization: (1) quality; (2) technological advancement; (3) entrepreneurial free enterprise; (4) principles of American civilization; and (5) psychological strength. Based on these principles, Respondent sought to initiate a movement to replace the welfare state and renew American civilization to occur at every level of American society. Renewal would require the accomplishment of various goals including the education of the general population and creation of a majority of citizens committed to reform, thereby spawning activism; education of business leaders; and education of the media as to the ideals and concepts of renewal. In effect, Respondent sought to create a national dialogue for reform and a methodology by which citizen activists could accomplish the stated goals of the movement.

This is what the Democrats, and Romney, are against. They appear to reject the goals that Gingrich articulated and aimed to make part of the public dialog. And for articulating these principles, Gingrich was forced to resign in disgrace? Perhaps current events are more illuminating of Congress's and the GOP's goals than Congress and the GOP would like.

Perhaps Mr. Romney would explain what is disgraceful about using taxpayer funds to advocate for an opportunity society.

14 posted on 01/28/2012 10:54:51 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: Berlin_Freeper

That is a DYNAMITE 1:39 video.


15 posted on 01/28/2012 10:56:39 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Lionheartusa1

POST # 12 ,,,, sorry ,,, wrong thread .


16 posted on 01/28/2012 10:57:53 AM PST by Lionheartusa1 (-: Socialism is the equal distribution of misery :-)
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To: Cboldt

It seems that Speaker Gingrich is a threat to the BIG government “business” model.

Thank you for the LINKS!


17 posted on 01/28/2012 10:58:52 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Lionheartusa1

Actually, it sort of fits here.


18 posted on 01/28/2012 10:59:54 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife; Pride in the USA

I was just talking with someone (another Newt supporter) yesterday regarding how very few potential Conservative/Republican voters today have any memory of how Newt Gingrich was Palinized by the combined forces of the Establishment GOP, the DNC, and the MSM. Imagine the scorched earth policy towards Sarah Palin, only in the days before an internet presence, talk radio, or Fox News.

I worried out loud that it seems Newt may assume that people know what he’s talking about when, as happened on Greta’s interview yesterday, he was asked why Tom Delay and former House colleagues were condemning him now. Newt just chuckled and answered, “Tom Delay was one of the leaders of the coup against me.” Of course, that answer makes total sense to explain DeLay’s behavior towards Newt today, but only if the listener knows the history to which Newt was referring. What percentage of people are going to understand that?

Same with the ethics investigation.

IMO, the Newt campaign needs to find a highly visible and not overly complicated means to educate American voters about Newt’s congressional history, and what happened to him there. In other words, Newt needs a mini-version of Sarah Palin’s “Undefeated”. Quickly.


19 posted on 01/28/2012 11:15:04 AM PST by lonevoice (Klepto Baracka Marxo, impeach we much.)
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To: lonevoice
Mitt's counting on having the timing of these attacks leaving no time in FL to respond and the media isn't going to help clean up the lies or false impression left with the voters.

Now that the damage has been done.....

NBC asks Romney to remove news material from [HIT PIECE] ad

20 posted on 01/28/2012 11:23:34 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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