Newt hit buzz saw in meeting with Right leaders

Washington Examiner ^ | Thursday December 8, 2011

[Bigtigermike]

A flattering account of a meeting earlier this week in which former House Speaker Newt Gingrich met with a group of 63 conservative leaders is prompting angry reactions among at least some of the attendees.

The Conservative HQ story described Gingrich's exchange with Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in terms suggesting it was anything but tense:

"One of the earliest and toughest questions came from Virginia Attorney General Cuccinelli who noted many of the ideas Speaker Gingrich had championed seemed like they might end-up growing government.  'How can we be sure, what’s the restraint on you that these ideas won’t end up being more big government?'

"Speaker Gingrich replied to laughter that 'there’s nothing to restrain a President from doing something dumb, but I trust the people in this room to tell me if that is the case.' But then he noted more seriously that, 'I’m a Federalist.  I look to the Federalist Papers and the Constitution to guide me and restrain government.'"

But an attendee stated that "Cuccinelli had five followup questions and it was like a prosecutor cross-examining a defendant. Newt kept trying to change the subject, but Cuccinelli wouldn't back down."

[.....]

Another heated exchange occurred when the American Conservative Union's Donald Devine challenged Gingrich's support of President George W. Bush's prescription drug benefit.

"Devine said 'we had the votes to beat it, but then you went to the Republican Study Committee the day before the vote and turned it around. Now we have you to thank for the third biggest entitlement in the budget, so how can you ask us to support you".

In response, Gingrich claimed that Sen. John Kerry, would have defeated Bush in the 2004 election had the new Medicare drug benefit not been pushed by the president and approved by a Republican Congress.

[Bigtigermike]

Hmmm!

[whd23]

In response, Gingrich claimed that Sen. John Kerry, would have defeated Bush in the 2004 election had the new Medicare drug benefit not been pushed by the president and approved by a Republican Congress.

Be careful playing 'what if' Newt.

If John Kerry had won in 2004, it's extremely unlikely Obama would have run or won in 2008.
So is Newt saying we have him to thank for Obama?

[onyx]

Anonymous sources again.

Bottom line even with anonymous sources:

More candid than tense. Gingrich, certainly, never showed anger.

[Timber Rattler]

And the truth comes tumbling out...

[Buckeye McFrog]

Newt is full of it.

The prescription drug benefit did not gain Bush a single vote (see what happens when ya listen to Rove?), and until Obama took office, was the single biggest factor in the exploding deficit.

[US Navy Vet]

The Washington “Examiner” sounds like a RINO Loving, “Inside-the-Beltway” “Publication”.

[Timber Rattler]

Ebell confirmed in an email the contentious nature of his exchange with Gingrich during the meeting, saying it was "the longest back and forth" of the meeting.

[Reagan69]

Video???

[Timber Rattler]

It’s more Conservative than WaPo.

[kenmcg]

I caught some of Huckabee’s debate last weekend. It appeared that Cucinelli was out to get Newt and trip him up.In contrast the exchange with Santorum was markedly more friendly.

[skeeter]

I understand Gingrich isn't perfect.

But I will poke myself in the eye with a sharp stick rather than damage in even the slightest way someone who has a good chance of facing Obama in the general.

Anyone who does is definitely part of the problem. Try to sell your own favorite, but knock off the negativism about the other guy.

If nominated it doesn't matter what was written about Newt in the primaries - I will break a finger punching the button for him.

[uncbob]

Was or will Romney be questioned ?

[Timber Rattler]

Cuccinelli is a sharp Conservative and someone to watch in the future. He’s running for governor of Virginia next year.

[Alex Murphy]

Another heated exchange occurred when the American Conservative Union's Donald Devine challenged Gingrich's support of President George W. Bush's prescription drug benefit. "Devine said 'we had the votes to beat it, but then you went to the Republican Study Committee the day before the vote and turned it around. Now we have you to thank for the third biggest entitlement in the budget, so how can you ask us to support you". In response, Gingrich claimed that Sen. John Kerry, would have defeated Bush in the 2004 election had the new Medicare drug benefit not been pushed by the president and approved by a Republican Congress.

In other words, Newt is willing to jettison conservative values in order to win an election.

[GOPJ]

They gave Newt a standing ovation when he left... was this fact left out or is it buried at the end of this?

[parksstp]

In the article, 3rd Paragraph:

“That wasn’t a standing ovation, we were all getting up to leave,” said an attendee who requested anonymity. “It was a very skeptical audience, there were at least three very tense exchanges. It was anything but an endorsement meeting.”

[Gator113]

OMG that is a stupid comment.

Here, let me see if I can top it.

Newt is related to Eve. Eve ate the apple and women were cursed with periods. Therefore, through association, all periods are Newt’s fault.

Obviously, Newt is responsible for cramps, headaches, suspension of sex, bloating and on and on.

I say we hang him!!

[GraceG]

[ If John Kerry had won in 2004, it’s extremely unlikely Obama would have run or won in 2008.
So is Newt saying we have him to thank for Obama? ]

I always have a nagging feeling that if Gore had Won in 2000 that after he bungled the response to 9/11 we would have been able to get in a true rock ribbed conservative...

[Spunky]

I was listening to John Gibson on radio this morning and he said in some debate Newt and Romney really got into it and that Romney crucified Newt.

I know John Gibson is a Romney fan so I tend not to believe it. That being said does anyone have a video of this exchange?