Newt Gingrich: White Americans ‘Don’t Understand Being Black in America’

The Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | July 8, 2016

[Cecily]

Never let it be said that Newt Gingrich is predictable.

As the political world waits to see if the former Georgia congressman and U.S. House speaker gets tapped to be Donald Trump’s running mate, Gingrich teamed up with his former Crossfire partner Van Jones to discuss this week’s shootings in Dallas, Baton Rouge and Minnesota.

Speaking on Facebook Live, Gingrich was his typically direct self. But, in this age of polarized politics, whether it be of the electoral or racial variety, Gingrich’s comments were also remarkable. Here is the key quote:

“It took me a long time, and a number of people talking to me through the years to get a sense of this. If you are a normal, white American, the truth is you don’t understand being black in America and you instinctively under-estimate the level of discrimination and the level of additional risk.”

[ScoochDude]

So true. I find it interesting how each one deals with it, real or perceived. My boss, brushes it off and stays above it, while my pseudo boss lets it affect him and I think deep down, hates whitey.
The solution is love and concentrating on what unites us. It's hard in an atmosphere of divisiveness perpetrated by our Divider in Chief.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Apparently Newt is unaware that cops shoot about the same percentage of white people in a year as black people. Its just that there is no outrage over the whites.

[4rcane]

Newt is constantly looking for validation from the Left

[Chauncey Gardiner]

Horrible comment from Newt. It is far more important to understand what being an AMERICAN is first, before anything else.

[Kid Shelleen]

Just take a listen to Black Progressive Talk if you want to learn more. I heard two callers yesterday call for the killing of white cops (BEFORE the Dallas tragedy).

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Any black who stays in school, acts decently, and works hard, has always succeeded as much as any white person.

I have a friend who has a master's in theology, works as a professor and pastor, wears a suit to work, nice clothes when not at the office, drives a modest car, doesn't party or anything else. Has been pulled over twice this year for no real reason and had his car searched both times.

Never received a ticket, never received a warning. Once they had searched his car, they just sent him on his way. It's called "driving while black" and it is a reality that even the most law-abiding, hard working, decent acting black people have to deal with.

And it is patently unfair if you believe in individual rights.

[Josa]

I call BS on this. Blacks aren’t searched unless they are observed doing something illegal. The fact of the matter is people are terrified to confront them for of violence or legal persecution.

[BobL]

“Go away, Newt. Please, please just go away.”

He’s the Republican version of Joe Biden.

[AnthonySoprano]

Gingrich can lecture me after he gets a real job, works the midnight shift for a couple years, is working and away from his family on Holidays, and sends his kids to Public Schools.

Gingrich doesn't know what it's like to be middle class in America, need a job in failing America, or raising a family in America.

He has the same guilt as Roseanne Barr and Rosie O'Donnell and the same work ethic as Hillary Clinton of Chappaqua.

[Yaelle]

I keep telling all of you. NO NEWT.

[mjp]

white people don't understand what it's like to be black

Everybody has their own experiences and subjective model of world. Nobody really knows what it is like to be someone else. This is no excuse for blacks to have so much trouble fitting into and adapting to civilized behavior.

[JayGalt]

Problem is that olive branch is poisoned just like all the Liberal handouts. Want respect...work to earn it. None of us should be using our pigment for an explanation.

[PeteePie]

They will never be satisfied. They can’t come to grips with themselves. They are the same in Africa as they are here...

That says it all, brother! I too have been to Africa and you're right, it's the same. The flavor may be different but it's the same damn stew with the same damn outcome.

[central_va]

The off shoring of manufacturing has contributed greatly to the lack of wealth creation and lack of opportunity to Americans with less than average IQ and motivation. Globalization sucks. We are paying the price.

[Fantasywriter]

Newt sounds like a college sophomore who’s just discovered he’s smarter than most other people—and who has an irresistible need to share his new discovery with the world.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Why should we “understand?” One must ask oneself is it worth the effort to even try? Newt is mouthing all the standard nonsense; i.e. “dialogue,” “discussion,” “different points of view,” “the big tent,” “understanding,” and all the rest of the twaddle. Tell the families of those killed about “understanding.”

[SgtHooper]

I was talking to this AA at the medicare call enter yesterday. She was no wizard, but at least after a half hour she agreed with my situation and forwarded my paperwork up the line. Her phone skills were severely lacking, but I have hope that my situation will be corrected.

[flaglady47]

I think Trump was sending a signal to “Newt for VP” proponents when he said that Newt would have some position in his Administration, whatever that position might be. Trump was telling them Newt WASN’T going to be VP, but WOULD have a good position (probably as a Presidential Advisor).

I think Trump instinctively knows Newt isn’t the right man for VP for a myriad of reasons, age, too liberal on certain issues, too flighty, too much wanting leftist approval (although less so than when he was younger). Trump himself knows he needs a stable, practical partner as a VP, as Trump himself is prone to flights of fancy and like Newt is chock full of ideas.

It’s what I love about Trump, but I want a steady conservative hand on the till as his VP partner, so that they will complement each other and thus be really good partners in accomplishing so many of Trump’s mandates, like building the Wall, getting rid of Obamacare and replacing it with something good, keeping terrorists and illegal immigrants out of our country, etc. Newt as an Advisor, but not as VP.