Pat Buchanan: Reagan White House saw Newt as ‘something of a political opportunist’

Yahoo ^ | 1/28/12 | Jeff Poor - The Daily Caller

[NormsRevenge]

Over the last week, several people that worked in the Reagan administration have come forward and countered former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s claim that he is a “Reagan Republican.” These people say Gingrich “wasn’t on board with a lot of what President Ronald Reagan tried to accomplish during his two terms.”

And although that claim has been disputed by other Reagan administration officials, former Reagan communications director Pat Buchanan told “The McLaughlin Group” this weekend that Gingrich wasn’t seen favorably by those in the administration.

“[I]n the Reagan White House, Newt Gingrich was considered quite frankly by a lot of folks to be something of a political opportunist and who was not trusted and who had played no role whatsoever,” Buchanan said. “He was a Rockefeller Republican in the great Goldwater-Rockefeller battle, where conservatism came of age.”

...

Later Buchanan reiterated his criticisms of Gingrich, recalling his opposition to Reagan’s 1986 veto of a South African anti-Apartheid sanctions bill and about how Gingrich used it to score points against Reagan.

“I don’t think he has a core,” Buchanan said. “I don’t think he has a fundamental, ideological and political core. I think, look he moved, he was a Rockefeller Republican, he comes up — I remember meeting him in ’78 when he came to town, you know he is knocking Reagan. … Reagan believed that sanctions on South Africa would cripple the economy that the Africans would inherit. So it was a tough decision. Reagan vetoed it. And he scored points off us by you know voting for the sanctions and doing that. I don’t think he has an ideological core. I think he moves from one issue to another to another.”

[carola]

I’m glad Newt looked the opportunity to lead
Republicans to win the House for the first time in more than 40 years.

[abb]

That was in the 2000 campaign, IIRC.

[Rocky]

et tu, Pat?

[GeronL]

That describes every politician.

Newt cooperated with the oppo party more than any Speaker ever, co-sponsoring more bills that any such duo. He did spend a lot of time on her couch, of course.

I still don’t know if he supports the individual mandate or not, he did say he likes about 300 pages of ObamaCare.
He did basically approve of amnesty during this campaign.

Everything a politician does is ‘political opportunism’. I guess except the ones who never flip flop.

[OneVike]

Paul Weyric would disagree.

He thought Newt would be as great president.

Paul Weyrich Warns Conservatives on Romney and Endorses Gingrich From the Grave (this is a Free Republic Post)

Yes the same Paul Weyrich that founded the Heritage Foundation and the Free Congress Foundation, two of the most influential think tanks in the conservative movement. Weyrich co-founded the Moral Majority and coined the phrase.

• Weyrich was afraid Newt would run for President BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE WOULD WIN.  He felt Gingrich was the only person who keep the coalition of Republicans with such different persuasions together.
• He is adamant that Gingrich’s conservatism is deeply based.
• He is convinced “reform” is Newt’s primary objective as a conservative.
• He was never completely comfortable (at the time of this interview) because Gingrich based his conservative values on history and not scripture.
• Weyrich says although he realizes his (Weyrich’s) advice wasn’t always correct, that Gingrich fervently sought him out for advice, especially in his early years.
• He agrees it was Gingrich’s leadership that bucked the establishment in taking the idea the GOP could become a majority.
• Weyrich says Gingrich is defined by being “intellectually honest.”
• Weyrich says Gingrich won't compromise what he believes for popularity.

[OneVike]

Jim, do you have a rogue moderator?

This was posted yesterday on 1/28/12 @ 16:58:46, but it was moved to the top of the list for Front Page news today just a few moments ago. Why would a moderator re-post a story very critical of Newt by a Romney supporter to the top of Front Page?

Just asking is all.

[Jim Robinson]

fixed it.

[OneVike]

Your the best,

:>)

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

I will bet if this were favorable to Gingrich it would be in front page breaking news; its not so it is bloggerland.Putting up only the Good Gingrich articles does not make it all go away.I can’t stand Romney but denial will get no one nowhere.

[NormsRevenge]

A sign of the times? lol

I posted it as a straight up ‘propaganda’ piece.

I see it eventually got re-routed and re-tagged .. wasn’t by my request..

[Cowman]

I don’t think he has an ideological core. I think he moves from one issue to another to another.”

I've been saying that since he drank the green kool aid and got caught on the couch with Pelosi.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks NormsRevenge.