At CBS Republican debate, Newt Gingrich backs off Mitt Romney critique

Politico ^ | 11/12/2011 | JONATHAN MARTIN & GINGER GIBSON

[South40]

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Newt Gingrich, gaining in the polls, retreated Saturday from a line of attack that he’s been using more frequently against frontrunner Mitt Romney.

Asked at a debate here to reassert his critique that Romney was merely a “manager” and incapable of changing Washington, Gingrich flatly declined to do so.

“No,” the former speaker told moderator Major Garrett of National Journal after Garrett asked him to apply the critique to foreign policy.

[2ndDivisionVet]

So Newt’s running for vice president?

[goat granny]

Wish he would run, but not for office, right back to the college he taught at...

[South40]

So Newt’s running for vice president?

That would be the conclusion of some. :-)

[South40]

Hi GG!

[org.whodat]

Newt is running for higher speaker fees.

[Graybeard58]

he’s been using more frequently against frontrunner Mitt Romney.

There it is again, Mitt's the "front runner" despite Herman Cain being ahead of him in every reputable poll.

[South40]

Just more of the leftist media trying to decide who the Republican nominee will be.

It's not working on me. I support the man the leftist media has attacked the most; the man that the leftist media considers the biggest threat to a Obama second term, Herman Cain!

[Junior_G]

My vote for funniest moment of the debate was when Jon Huntsman makes his whiney crack to the moderator: “It gets a little lonely over here in Siberia from time to time”, and then a moment later you hear the faint voice of Rick Santorum in the background: “Tell me about it”

[onyx]

How many times does Newt have to tell the stupid a## media that he’s not going to use the debates to play their games?

SHEEEEEESH.

He clearly said “NO”.

And then went onto state that everyone on the stage was better than obama!

[Eva]

I thought that it was a great debate. Every single one of the candidates did a great job, with exception of Ron Paul.

I feel really good about the Republican primary field for the first time in this election season.

I have decided that I will vote for whichever candidate wins the nomination and feel good about. It’s a great field.

[South40]

When Newt said NO I didn’t take it to mean he didn’t want to critique Romney but that he just didn’t want to play along with the mod’s attempt to push the two men at each other. Of course Politico would never tell their readers that because it’s a leftist rag.

[South40]

I missed Santorum’s response but I recall Huntsman’s comment. Huntsman had a point but it’s just a fact that any time he gets is time wasted.

[South40]

You have a great outlook there Eva. I hope we can come out of this with a strong, conservative candidate so we can be sure Obama is a one term president.

[MN_Mike]

Nude Gingrich plays Tim Pawlenty quite well.

[Humal]

“When Newt said NO I didn’t take it to mean he didn’t want to critique Romney but that he just didn’t want to play along with the mod’s attempt to push the two men at each other.”

That was my impression too. Had he gone along with the moderator, that would be all the headlines would have mentioned in tomorrow's paper. I thought his was an excellent answer.

[Sea Parrot]

Oh hell, the moderators said the debate was to be about national security and foreign policy, then they tried to get a cat fight going about unrelated subjects.

Got to admit, it is a pleasure to watch Newt slap their prissy arses around.

[South40]

The mods wanted the two men to depart the civil discourse that was taking place and go at each other. Newt’s response of “NO” was perfect.

[South40]

Got to admit, it is a pleasure to watch Newt slap their prissy arses around.

Indeed it was. He does it at least once every debate. Can you imagine how a President Gingrich would be when facing the same members of the leftist media? :-)

[CT]

This is like watching a car wreck - in slow motion.

If Romney's in, I'm gone. He's McCain with better hair.