Gingrich warns Republicans Americans want change

Reuters ^ | Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:36am ET10 | Newt Gingrich

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican Party is in serious danger of losing political ground in November elections if it does not enact reforms that eliminate waste and hold the federal bureaucracy to higher standards, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said on Sunday.

"I think they're in very serious danger of having a very bad election this fall," Gingrich said on Fox News Sunday.

"You have to respect the right of the American people to say they want change," he said, criticizing the federal government's bungled efforts to cope with Hurricane Katrina and the Republican-led Congress' failure to enact immigration reforms.

"Are they going to learn some lessons and get their act together?" Gingrich asked.

Republicans currently outnumber Democrats 231-201 in the House and have a 55-44 advantage in the Senate.

The former representative from Georgia said the "debacle" over measures to strengthen U.S. borders and create a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants "was one more piece of the puzzle" for many voters who have lost faith in Republican leadership.

"The country absolutely wants control of the borders," Gingrich said. "The country absolutely wants us to insist that becoming an American citizen requires that you passed a test in English."

A well-designed guest worker program would have the support of 75 percent to 80 percent of the American people, he said.

With the federal budget deficit at record levels, Gingrich said Americans are losing patience with "pork," the discretionary spending earmarked to benefit local political constituencies.

"We were sent here to reform Washington, not to be co-opted by Washington," he said.

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

"Are they going to learn some lessons and get their act together?"

Probably not.

[Deagle]

Heh...no, I don't in any way compare Corporate America with the far left! No comparison! Just a bit disappointed with President Bush and his pro-Mexico immigrant policies. Of course that also includes his lack of veto's on spending.

[Thunder90]

I was just saying that the two groups have made an alliance on this issue.

[Deagle]

I do want to say regarding this statement Newts:

"A well-designed guest worker program would have the support of 75 percent to 80 percent of the American people", he said.

Bull! He is not only wrong..if he took a poll, he would know just how off he was! Otherwise, he usually does have great futuristic ideas..

[Loud Mime]

For the Democrats, their "solutions" are all invested in party unity. Who cares if their plans don't work? At least they're in power!

[Deagle]

Yes...your absolutely right! I guess politics and economics come together at some point. Sorry to see it occur here since it tends to undermine American interests. Seems that the simple folk are slowly losing the battle....

[Deagle]

Heh...I'd say that they (Democrats) only want power and from that comes their unity... Well hmmm, maybe that works both ways..hehe.

[restornu]

But Newt needs to suggest positive changes rather than focusing on what he thinks President Bush did wrong.

***

We need to build on our successes never dwell on stumbles but pick ourselves up and press forward!

[ncountylee]

Might support a guest worker program if they tattoo the expiration date on their foreheads.

[Loud Mime]

awww....come on! There are at least two or three republicans that are constitutionally principled! There's....ahhh...ummm...

[Deagle]

Yes, I agree with your selection of principled Republicans!

[NapkinUser]

Ron Paul and.........

[mazda77]

Again, many of you are guilty of reading or hearing the sound bites that are selectively published to give a one sided and incomplete picture of what Newt is saying. I have heard his entire dissertation on this issue and it is complete to suggest a "guest worker" program in addition to several other key points. As with most other things Newt comments on, they cannot be reported in a sound-bite. His program keys on the single worker (not family) having a determined life span, say two years and they have to go back home. The other key factor is to make it so punitive on employers to hire illegals that the current job market for them would dry up and the illegals would have to find their way back home or end up in prison. First, this would keep us from having to round up all the illegals since most would opt to go back since they cannot find a job. What is so tough about this? I would suggest that a little research on his total view of this issue be gleaned before popping off like a volcano on him because of your perceived opinions which have been generated by or friends in the MSM. Newt keeps a website (and it is not hard to find) where he has the full context of his views for all to see. Don't make the same mistake over and over again relying on a sound-bite world.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

The Republican Party must stop representing BIG BUSINESS or it's going to get it's teeth kicked out!!

[old republic]

His program keys on the single worker (not family) having a determined life span, say two years and they have to go back home.

---

This guestworker program is a no go. It won't stop the workers from coming here and having an anchor baby to keep them in the country. We must fix the anchor baby problem before we even consider a guestworker program.

[xzins]

I wouldn't have any trouble with workers being here from another country IF they were immediately trackable, and if there was no doubt that they would leave the country as soon as their time had expired.

We have workers in Germany right now with the American military and other agencies, but they're not automatically given access to the German social system. After their time's up, they leave. There is a program for extensions, and some get them, but even then they don't become German citizens.

[ohhhh]

No, it's going to be the republican leadership that dooms the election for us...

I wish the Congress would just stay home and never meet again, America would be much better off with the feds wreaking everything.

[Sam the Sham]

The issue of 'guest workers' falls along class lines. Non college educated Americans who compete in service jobs with illegals will never support any 'guest worker' program. It is not in their socioeonomic self interest.

[marvlus]

A well-designed guest worker program would have the support of 75 percent to 80 percent of the American people, he said.

Don't think he got that one right.

Of course he got that right. The problem is that there may never be a guest worker program that 75 - 80 percent of the Americans will approve.

[meowmeow]

The Democrats have no solutions, so it is going to be the Republican voter who stays at home that will doom the election for us.

That is exactly right. Then the media will spin it into a how the country is swinging to the "center" (read: Far Left) again and all is well. In reality, frustrated Republicans will simply have tuned out politics and just quietly moved on with life in whatever form it takes.