[TheBattman]

Are Freepers actually fooled into thinking Newt is NOT an establishment candidate? I thought the overall average IQ was far higher here.

Newt is every bit as much of a Republican “Establishment” candidate as Romney. The GOP establishment isn’t dumb enough to have just one “horse” in the race. Just as the Dems had two back in ‘08 - Obama and Hitlery. While their “chosen one” was Obama (he was picked long ago for the role), To give the “voters” an illusion of an option, they had Hillary as the “anti-Obama” candidate. Even if she had pulled off a “win”, she would have still given the Dems a gift.

The GOP has Romney, and Newt (the Anti-Romney). Either one is an establishment candidate.

[VinL]

Are Freepers actually fooled into thinking Newt is NOT an establishment candidate?— The GOP has Romney, and Newt (the Anti-Romney). Either one is an establishment candidate.
****************

So how come the Establishment is universally attacking Newt?

[Earthdweller]

"Newt is every bit as much of a Republican “Establishment” candidate as Romney."

The list below reflects publicly committed GOP backers of 2012 presidential hopefuls.

Mitt Romney (68)
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.)
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)
Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.)
Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) (endorsed Sen. John McCain in 2008)
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) (endorsed Romney in 2008 cycle)
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.)
Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.)
Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) (endorsed McCain in 2008)
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) (the 2008 GOP nominee)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)
Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho)
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) (endorsed McCain in 2008)
Rep. Sandy Adams (R-Fla.)
Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-La.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.)
Rep. Charles Bass (R-N.H.)
Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.) (endorsed former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in 2008)
Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.)
Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) (endorsed Giuliani in 2008)
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.)
Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah)
Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)

Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.)
 (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) (endorsed McCain in 2008)
Rep. Robert Dold (R-Ill.)
Rep. John Duncan (R-Tenn.) (endorsed ex-Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) in 2008)
Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) (endorsed McCain in 2008)
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.) (endorsed Giuliani in 2008)
Rep. Tim Griffin (R-Ark.)
Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.)
Rep. Nan Hayworth (R-N.Y.)
Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.)
Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.)
 (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.)
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) (endorsed McCain in 2008)
Rep. Leonard Lance (R-N.J.)
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) (endorsed Giuliani in 2008)
Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.)
Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) (endorsed Thompson in 2008; dropped White House bid in September)
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.)
Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.)
 (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.)
Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.)
Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) (endorsed Thompson and later McCain in 2008)
Rep. Jim Renacci (R-Ohio)
Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.)
Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.)
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.)
Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.)

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) (endorsed McCain in 2008)
Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.)
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio)
Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.)
Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.)

Newt Gingrich (9)
Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas)
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas)
Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) (endorsed Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) in 2008 and initially backed Bachmann in 2012)
Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.)
Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.)
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) (endorsed Thompson, and later, Romney, in 2008)

[Revolting cat!]

Newt is every bit as much of a Republican “Establishment” candidate as Romney.

Batty, man!

[TexasFreeper2009]

um..

you are sort of right...

but their are TWO major “establishments” in the republican party.

Newt is part of the conservative establishment - aka Reagan conservatives

Romney is part of the RINO establishment - aka HW Bush RINO’s

[Jay Santos CP]

The GOP has Romney, and Newt (the Anti-Romney). Either one is an establishment candidate.

Ok. What's your suggestion?

[mrreaganaut]

Newt is every bit as much of a Republican “Establishment” candidate as Romney.

I remember back when Newt was Speaker, and the token 'evil conservative' whipping boy of every news organization. We all wanted Newt to run for President, then, as the conservative alternative to the 'establishment' squishes.

He may have made a few odd statements since, but has he changed all that much? Specifically, has he really become indistinguishable from Romney? I just don't see it.

[I still care]

The REAL anti establishment candidates have all been winnowed out. Bachmann, Cain, and the last one, Paul.

This is the one area where the MSM works with the republicans. They are terrified of having a real reformer in. Sarah sent them ballistic. The MSM likes Obama, but they won’t die as long as a big spender is in who won’t really change DC.

I think Newt, while a DC insider, is not someone they trust to keep their gravy train going. He’s not what they want.

[Christie at the beach]

—>Newt is every bit as much of a Republican “Establishment” candidate as Romney.

I disagree-he's not like they are-They said tonight on most of the news shows that the GOP is going to try to destroy Newt. I think he will go clean house-they don't want any changes. Hume on Fox even said the GOP will try to destroy Newt now. They want weak Romney who they can control as a puppet. Newt is unconditional.

[Windflier]

Are Freepers actually fooled into thinking Newt is NOT an establishment candidate? I thought the overall average IQ was far higher here.

Class of 2000. I might have known.

[JediJones]

In the early ‘90s Newt reportedly described himself as an “insider revolutionary.” IMO he hasn’t changed a bit. The idea that we can put a true outsider into Washington and expect them to know enough about how Washington works to take it apart and change it might be a pipe dream. It is far better to have a man on the inside who knows the system and who is committed to taking the system down from the inside.

[Las Vegas Ron]

The GOP has Romney, and Newt (the Anti-Romney). Either one is an establishment candidate.

Ah, now I get it....Paulbot.