I keep hearing about “baggage”, but I don’t recall all that much. He cheated on his wife, and...what? He was taken out of context with that “wither on the vine” remark? I think all this talk of baggage is more media spin than actual baggage.
Bill Clinton’s “baggage” didn’t seem to matter much to the voters.
NAFTA
World Trade Organisation
Council on Foreign Relations
Most Favored Nation Status for China
Globus Warming snuggles with Nancy
Health Care reform with Hillary
Quit immediately after reelection
RE: He cheated on his wife, and...what?
In the Nov 2009 special elections for Congress in NY-23, Newt endorsed the liberal RINO Dede Scozzafava (voted for same-sex marriage in the New York State Assembly,[20] and she had also received an award from a Planned Parenthood affiliate in 2008) over the Conservative, Doug Hoffman.
She of course did not win the GOP nomination, inspite of Newt’s endorsement, and then threw her own support to the DEMOCRAT, Bill Owens ( who eventually won ).
Thanks very much Newt for supporting the liberal.
RE: I keep hearing about “baggage”, but I don’t recall all that much.
See above list by other posters. Did anyone mention his favoring ETHANOL SUBSIDIES?
See here:
http://thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/6175-ethanol-subsidies-newt-gingrich-and-the-2012-election
During Gingrich's first marriage, he cheated on his wife with the woman who became his second wife. Then, he cheated on his second wife with the woman who became his third wife.
His ethics charge was about a college course that Gingrich taught through a tax-exempt foundation. Democrats charged that this was tax evasion, but Gingrich settled the matter before it went to a full House vote. Personally, I believe that this was retaliation for Gingrich being the primary person in the ouster of former Democrat Speaker Jim Wright. Gingrich is the one who filed the charges against Wright, alleging that Wright was using bulk purchases of a book/pamplet to get around House finance limits.
To pay off his ethics settlement, Gingrich accepted a controversial sweetheart loan from Senator Bob Dole, which Gingrich ultimately did not take, probably due to Democrats making a big deal about it.
Gingrich was the Speaker during the period of the Clinton government shutdown, where Bill Clinton appeared to outmaneuver Gingrich in the PR front, ultimately leading the public to blame Gingrich and Repulbicans for the shutdown, and not Clinton. Because of this and the impeachment of Clinton in the House, Republicans lost control of the House, and Gingrich resigned from Congress.
Recently, Gingrich famously endorsed nominal Republican Dede Scozzafava in a special House election in upstate NY-23. Scozzafava was challeneged on the right by Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, who received Tea Party support. Hoffman passed Scozzafava in the polls, leading to her dropping out of the race and endorsing the Democrat over Hoffman. Gingrich later admitted that he didn't really follow the race, leading many to believe that he was a knee-jerk supporter of all things "establishment GOP."
Gingrich also infamously appeared in a public service announcement with Democrat Speaker Nancy Pelosi, sitting together on a couch to jointly support advancing global warming initiatives.
Finally, as Gingrich launched his 2012 presidential campaign, he began by demeaning the Paul Ryan budget plan as "right-wing social engineering," while Conservatives were trying to put pressure on Democrats to pass a budget in the Senate, and get Obama to come forward with a jobs plan of his own. Gingrich's remarks were seen as not helping Republicans, who were angling for a position of strengh against Democrats.
This is the "baggage" that Gingrich has to overcome.
-PJ
Which wife? He has more than all the Mormons running have combined.
He is the champion speaker for the “ethanol lobby” and has given many speaches extolling the virtues and cost effectiveness of this green product. Newt can be bought and paid for very easily. He is just like any other politician.