Gingrich: RNC Ad is 'Destructive Distraction'

Atlantic Magazine ^ | 16 Dec 2008 02:07 pm | Marc Ambinder

[lewisglad]

Dear Chairman Duncan,

I was saddened to learn that at a time of national trial, when a president-elect is preparing to take office in the midst of the worst financial crisis in over seventy years, that the Republican National Committee is engaged in the sort of negative, attack politics that the voters rejected in the 2006 and 2008 election cycles.

The recent web advertisement, "Questions Remain," is a destructive distraction. Clearly, we should insist that all taped communications regarding the Senate seat should be made public. However, that should be a matter of public policy, not an excuse for political attack.

In a time when America is facing real challenges, Republicans should be working to help the incoming President succeed in meeting them, regardless of his Party.

From now until the inaugural, Republicans should be offering to help the President-elect prepare to take office.

Furthermore, once President Obama takes office, Republicans should be eager to work with him when he is right, and, when he is wrong, offer a better solution, instead of just opposing him.

This is the only way the Republican Party will become known as the "better solutions" party, not just an opposition party. And this is the only way Republicans will ever regain the trust of the voters to return to the majority.

This ad is a terrible signal to be sending about both the goals of the Republican Party in the midst of the nation's troubled economic times and about whether we have actually learned anything from the defeats of 2006 and 2008.

The RNC should pull the ad down immediately.

Sincerely,

Newt Gingrich

Chairman, American Solutions

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives

[penelopesire]

Only the press was ‘outraged’ over Ayers.

Great pictorial reminder of what happens when we don’t fight back!

[MortMan]

Newt, BITE ME.

BHO deserves just as much respect and support as President Bush has received.

And he’ll get it - in spades.

[Sawdring]

Mr. Gingrich, could you please just stick to Global Warming issues with Rep. Pelosi?

[buccaneer81]

Let’s see- since the election many of the Einsteins around here want to overturn the results of an election in which the president elect won a sizable majority, with runors of ineligibility without one scrap of proof and continue to point to an investigation that at every turn seems to indicate that he did nothing wrong.

All Obama has to do is produce the piece of paper. But you're OK with an exemption for him because 60 million Americans are morons.

Tells me a lot about you, Sparky.

[andy58-in-nh]

Guys: Newt is right about this. In order to win, Republicans need to have a positive, unabashedly conservative message. It doesn't matter if the Democrats are wrong about everything (and they pretty much are). Say what you will about Obama, but he had a message, and the voters responded to it.

What did McCain have other than Sarah Palin (the only reason many of us trudged to the polls in November)?

It is only enough for a political party to be negative and in permanent opposition when three things happen in concert, as they did this year:

1. The party in power is profoundly unpopular, especially due to a an unpopular war and a shaky economy. 2. The ruling party is led by a weak candidate who lacks a unifying message. 3. The news media uniformly and nakedly support the opposition.

Again, I know that Newt has his weaknesses as a presumptive candidate, but he is a smart man and a cogent political analyst. What he is saying now is that the Republicans need to find their "mojo" and it will not happen in the absence of a coherent, positive agenda based on ideas rather than mere opposition.

[mad_as_he$$]

Dear Newt:

Your time has passed pull over and stop. You sat on the couch with Pelosi that was your moment of death.

Sincerely,

Mad

[buccaneer81]

I think Newt is right also.

Sorry, Newt's not going to get you that auto bailout.

[awake-n-angry]

We are on the same page. I did not say I wanted unity. I want conservatism and I can promise the nation will flock to it. nasty comments about the opposition and slurs against individuals will do nothing to turn things around. reagan never attacked his opponents. he stated his beliefs with sincerity and it attracted the right and middle which isolated the left.

we can call the oppoosition names or get our house back in order- take your pick. the voter does not like rude and petty.

[tobyhill]

Just playing the same way the Rats have played for almost 8 years.

[bronxboy]

I remember the Dems and Repubs in congress on the capitol steps singing God Bless America and sending a message to the terrorists with one voice. We are in a crisis. Become statesmen. Give the voters reason to want to be Repub.

[Enterprise]

I think we shouldn't tax the mental capabilities of the general public too much. I suggest the following for 2010:

OBAMA SUCKS. DEMOCRATS SUCK.

[KingSnorky]

I’m surprised Newt didn’t co-write this with his fellow “Stop global warming!” pal, Nancy Pelosi

[tobyhill]

***Republicans should be offering to help the President-elect prepare to take office.***

Kind of like the Rats did for 8 years? /sarc

[awake-n-angry]

Oh, so if Obama comes up with the right document he’s just fine with you. Sure- whatever.

Just STFU. Serious adults have work to do.

[buccaneer81]

1. The party in power is profoundly unpopular, especially due to a an unpopular war and a shaky economy. 2. The ruling party is led by a weak candidate who lacks a unifying message. 3. The news media uniformly and nakedly support the opposition.

Yes, the same could be said about 2009 being like 1977. And we were delivered from the wilderness in 1981.

But this is a much different country, whereas in the late '70s there were still Democrats, both politicians and regular Americans, who were decent and patriotic. Not today.

[NormsRevenge]

nice try but tossing flowers is for parades and weddings, imo. ;-)

It’s the nature of the mess we are in and if we don’t get real about what we are up against from within our own borders and take it on directly, this nation will be too.

What Reagan did will matter nought.

[buccaneer81]

the voter does not like rude and petty.

Then pray tell, explain the results of the elections in 2006 and 2008. Rude and petty are congenital 'Rat traits.

[lowbridge]

There seem to be legion who want to see the GOP stand for Government of the Petty. Political power will always fall to the party that the voters identify as capable of solving problems. If the GOP is not viewed as the party of solutions and instead is seen as the party of bitter whiners it is over for the party and conservatism will be swept down in the vortex.

I agree with this.

[buccaneer81]

Just STFU. Serious adults have work to do.

Ah, the mantra of the newb when he runs out of ideas.

[exit82]

Andy, I liked your post but I disagree with your conclusion.

We haven’t lost our “mojo” as Conservatives: the GOP doesn’t have any leaders who believe in the principles of our “mojo”.

We don’t need to do anything—the GOP has to change towards us unless they want to be the permenant minority party.

This election is proof of that. Running as a Democrat only results in the real Democrat getting elected.

That the GOP leaders such as McCain and Gingrich can’t even see that, shows that the GOP either changes or goes the way of the Whigs.

The truth is, the RINOS have so infested the GOP that they are not salvageable. Bush, Lott, Frist,McConnell, Spector, McCain, etc. have so damaged the brand and the media so fatally stamped Republicans as a joke, we can’t fix the GOP.

We need a new party to articulate Conservative ideals and to promote Conservative candidates. Sarah Palin is the best hope of the GOP, and they are trying to Dan Quayle her from within. That’s not mojo—that’s rank stupidity.

The Gingrichs of the world can go sing Kumbaya with their new Messiah.

I want no part of it. Or them.