GOP angst: Gingrich's rise could be their downfall (CNN hit piece with contribution from John King)

CNN ^ | 01/24/2012 | Dana Bash (CNN Chief National Correspondent John King contributed to this report)

[SeekAndFind]

Washington (CNN) -- Newt Gingrich might have led Republicans to their first House majority in 40 years in the 1990s, but the prospect of the former House Speaker becoming their presidential nominee is producing significant GOP angst.

"If he's the nominee, it's a disaster. There is no way to sugar-coat it," said one GOP congressional strategist describing the tension after Gingrich won South Carolina.

"There is a reason most people who know him best aren't supporting him," said a former House colleague still serving in Congress.

Asked why he had endorsed opponent Mitt Romney if he had served with Gingrich for so long, a House Republican replied with a smile, "Because I served with Gingrich for so long."

Those GOP congressional sources and many others spoke on condition of anonymity because they believe Gingrich, who is running against the "Republican establishment," will only turn the criticism into his advantage.

"The less they talk to the better," said one of the GOP sources concerned about Gingrich, "it only feeds into his narrative that the establishment is out to get him."

Gingrich's spokesman R.C. Hammond scoffed at the criticism, noting that the candidate himself said during CNN's debate last week what he regrets most in this campaign is wasting time attacking anyone besides President Barack Obama.

Veteran Republican leadership aide Ron Bonjean said on the record what most of his colleagues would only tell CNN privately.

"Most people on Capitol Hill and in Washington are very nervous about a Gingrich candidacy," he said. "It sends a shiver down a lot of Republican spines."

"You can actually feel the nervousness from Republicans around town that Gingrich could actually bring the craziness back of his speakership from the 1990s. It's everywhere."

[digger48]

Dana Bash is John Kings wife.

[Internet Walnut]

“It sends a shiver down a lot of Demoncrat spines.”

[GraceG]

If the elites are pissed off at Newt, i am overjoyed with him.

[BradtotheBone]

“The less they talk to the better,” said one of the GOP sources concerned about Gingrich, “it only feeds into his narrative that the establishment is out to get him.”

Well, isn’t that the case?

[dragonblustar]

Dana Bash is John Kings wife.

He has a wife? But he looks so gay......

[SpaceBar]

Payback for the bright red handprints on John King’s backside.

[Da Coyote]

Relying upon CNN for good political advice would be equivalent to relying upon the Cretin-in-Chief for the correct answer to a calculus problem.

No, make that an algebra problem.

Oops, let’s try simple addition and subtraction.

Heck, can the idiot even count his fingers?

[Berlin_Freeper]

Those GOP congressional sources and many others spoke on condition of anonymity because they believe Gingrich, who is running against the "Republican establishment," will only turn the criticism into his advantage.

These people admit they are scum.

[Pit1]

I’d like to see a list of the 60 some repubs supporting Romney. Probably the old guard, not the newly elected crowd.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Its all talking in the wind—Newt might be the best thing conservatives have since Sarah Palin—I bet he might pick her for VP. Don’t look at his past mistakes—look at what he has done. Mitt would be an OK president—but I just feel in my gut that Newt would be better. I got to go with the gut. It made me pull the lever for Ronaldus Reaganus.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

"It sends a shiver down a lot of Republican spines."

Oh, so NOW they have spines!!!

[RC one]

Yeah, we don’t want to return to all that craziness of the 90s, you know all that economic prosperity and all. a shiver just ran down my spine

[AndyJackson]

Those GOP congressional sources and many others spoke on condition of anonymity because they believe Gingrich, who is running against the "Republican establishment," will only turn the criticism into his advantage

I am not a coward. I just don't want folks to know that I support crony capitalism.

[WXRGina]

Look at all the unnamed “sources” in this article. Hmmm....

[Amntn]

“If Gingrich does win, veteran GOP strategists tell CNN to expect pressure on Senate Minority Leaders Mitch McConnell, House Speaker John Boehner and other Republican leaders to call key GOP donors and ask them not to contribute to Gingrich’s campaign”

This tells you all you need to know about this election. Not only do we have to beat Obama. We have to beat establishment republicans too.

[LibsRJerks]

There is a reason most people who know him best aren’t supporting him,” said a former House colleague still serving in Congress.

**

Well, perhaps it’s the American people who are now here to say .....WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 90’s AND WHAT YOU THINK OF NEWT IS IRRELEVANT. In fact, YOU are now irrelevant — because you’re nothing but a pack of RINOS.

And a bunch of cowards, too — obviously, as they can’t even speak opening about who they are.

IF this story is even real ...

[InterceptPoint]

"The less they talk to the better," said one of the GOP sources concerned about Gingrich, "it only feeds into his narrative that the establishment is out to get him."

I mean the great Shakespeare couldn't write better copy than this but of course he could try. It might go something like this:

"Speaketh not of our conspiracy least it be recognized that we are conspirators."

I'm sure our resident Shakespeare wizards can improve on that but you get the idea.

[LibsRJerks]

This tells you all you need to know about this election. Not only do we have to beat Obama. We have to beat establishment republicans too

**

Seems like we’ve already GOT our third party.

[isthisnickcool]

There is nothing here. 90% of this piece "quotes" unverified and nameless people:

said one GOP congressional strategist...

said a former House colleague still serving in Congress...

Those GOP congressional sources and many others spoke on condition of anonymity...

said one of the GOP sources...

what most of his colleagues would only tell CNN privately...

Several GOP congressional sources...

Republican leaders worry...

Most GOP congressional sources who tell CNN...

said a senior GOP leadership aide...

veteran GOP strategists tell CNN...

I'm reminded of Rick Perry: "Ya got a name? Ya got a name"

This is spineless "reporting".

[I still care]

Guess CNN must listen to Rush. This is exactly what Rush said the other day - but he was thrilled about it.

[jpsb]

E=MC^2 -CO2

[Bigh4u2]

“”You can actually feel the nervousness from Republicans around town that Gingrich could actually bring the craziness back of his speakership from the 1990s. It’s everywhere.”

Yeah.. That ‘crazy’ Newt.

Those ‘crazy’ ideas he had like..

balancing the budget and creating a surplus

Cut taxes and giving money back to the people.

Holding Republicans accountable..

Yeah.. ‘crazy’ things like that.

Can’t have that... no sir..

[Joe the Pimpernel]

It’s amazing how state-controlled media can campaign for people they like and against people they don’t, but it’s the campaign contributions of actual citizens that are suspect.

[EGPWS]

"Most people on Capitol Hill and in Washington are very nervous about a Gingrich candidacy," he said. "It sends a shiver down a lot of Republican spines."

Oh how Reaganesque. : D

GOOD!

It's about damn time they start feeling the pressure from their ways!

[Cyber Liberty]

I feel sorry for King, being married to Skeletor.

[Biblebelter]

one GOP congressional strategist

I had no idea the GOP congress even had a strategy let alone anyone who would own up to being responsible for a strategy.

I been blaming that Bozo Boner and one of those so-called Republican leaders names Mitch something, I get those Mitch guys confused.

[canuck_conservative]

Yeah, I saw that too ... then again, all these “people” could be just made-up fictions, invented by CNN to smear the one candidate that Team Obama can’t intimidate.

[AndyJackson]

Gingrich could actually bring the craziness back of his speakership from the 1990s

That Contract with America thing was just nuts. We just got our trotters in the trough, after waiting half a century for "our turn" and the Newter started up that nonsense. Boy did we show him.

[Yankee]

Those GOP congressional sources and many others spoke on condition of anonymity because

they believe Gingrich, who is running against the "Republican establishment," will only turn the criticism into his advantage.

they are abject cowards.

There, I fixed it.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

The MSM and political left, in all forms (as well as RINOS, Establishment Republicans, and Elitist Republicans) will get nastier and nastier against Newt, and the total left will, profoundly, attack the final ‘12 GOP POTUS candidate, no matter who this is. What’s new about this?

[InterceptPoint]

Well, isn’t that the case?

LOL. No kidding Dick Tracy. See my post #18.

[womanvet]

“If Gingrich does win, veteran GOP strategists tell CNN to expect pressure on Senate Minority Leaders Mitch McConnell, House Speaker John Boehner and other Republican leaders to call key GOP donors and ask them not to contribute to Gingrich’s campaign”

This just proves what I keep saying: the b@stards who think of themselves as elite would rather lose the election than lose their power. OMG, Allow the unwashed, ignorant voters to decide for themselves who should be president?

If we don't elect Newt and cleanse the GOP of these establishment Liberals, then we need to stop voting Republican.

[Question Liberal Authority]

Why quote all these anonymous sources, when there are plenty of people who will publicly state the same thing? If someone was saying something bad about Obama, you’d know their name, their employer’s name, their spouse’s name, their medical history, 3 rebuttals from Democrat operatives and speculation as to whether or not the person might be a racist.

[hinckley buzzard]

"The less they talk to the better," said one of the GOP sources concerned about Gingrich, "it only feeds into his narrative that the establishment is out to get him."

He said, as he continued to figure out ways to "get him."

[hinckley buzzard]

This is the ruling class in action. Crosses party lines.

[albie]

I can tell John King contributed. I can see tear drops.

[Gator113]

First we get Newt elected, then we go after every single one of those corrupt and spineless elites, cowards all.

[Amntn]

We can start getting rid of some of them in this election. We need to make sure Newt's coattails are conservative.

[WXRGina]

Yeah, I saw that too ... then again, all these “people” could be just made-up fictions, invented by CNN to smear the one candidate that Team Obama can’t intimidate.

Yep. The first thing I thought was 'those are fake sources.' It was an automatic reaction to that kind of "reporting."

[Yankee]

One of the Newt-haters that has been on TV is "Republican Strategist" Dee Dee Benkie.

She is a Republican National Committeewoman from Indiana.

She posted the following tweet on Twitter during last night's debate:

RT@deedeegop: Newt is so mean fat and ugly

She doubled down saying it again on FOX this afternoon, appearing as part of a panel of GOP insiders and even those that don't like Newt were aghast at such childish stupidity.

I sent her the following tweet:

Hey @deedeegop, @mccainblogette (that's Meghan McCain) already has the mindless, Newt-hating mental-midget gig sewn up. You need a new act.

I then sent the following two tweets to ReincePriebus:

@ReincePriebus Is this the kind of juvenile fool that you want representing the RNC?: RT @deedeegop: Newt is so mean fat and ugly

and

@ReincePriebus as long as Dee Dee Benkie is a part of the RNC you'll get no $$$ from me. RT @deedeegop: Newt is so mean fat and ugly

I'm sick of these Romneybots.

FUMR and all your RINO flying monkeys.

[livius]

Good for u!

[AndyJackson]

Such a sweetheart. Here is some more on her /[source: http://stevescomments.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/republican-strategist-dee-dee-benkie-iowa-gop-will-not-allow-ron-paul-to-win/]:

Republican strategist Dee Dee Benkie revealed during a radio show appearance last night that the GOP establishment has resolved to prevent Ron Paul from winning tonight’s Iowa primary by offering sweetheart deals to move large voting blocks to vote for Romney or Santorum.

A UStream radio show broadcast with Faux News commentator Dee Dee Benkie, asserting that the Iowa GOP plans to manipulate the vote by whatever means; to prevent a 1st place Ron Paul win on January 3rd, 2011.

From her is disclosure of the Iowa GOP’s definitive *plans* to inhibit a first-place win by Congressman Paul, not just by shoulder-persuation at the county caucus locations, but via behind-the-scenes trickery. Such as their ‘secret vote’ count announced *just minutes* following Occupy’s plan to disrupt the caucuses.

The move occurred despite Occupy protest leaders confirming there were no plans to disrupt the caucuses themselves.

It’s necessary to emphasize the fact that Dee Dee Benkie is by no means decrying the subversion of the Iowa primary. She is openly anti-Paul and is brazenly advocating that he be prevented from winning Iowa by means of establishment insiders exerting undue influence on voters.

[gman992]

Again, it’s not the craziness, it’s just that he’s not likable...