Newt Gingrich’s Greek Vacation Becomes Campaign Talking Point

ABC News ^ | Nov 15, 2011 | staff

[BarnacleCenturion]

SHEFFIELD, Iowa – With the political winds shifting in his favor, Newt Gingrich is turning an incident that almost unraveled his entire presidential bid earlier this summer into a campaign trail talking point.

Gingrich, whose luxury Greek vacation in June led to the mass resignations of several members of his campaign staff, now says he used the overseas trip to talk with Europeans about the banking crisis there.

The former House Speaker told a crowd in West Des Moines on Monday, that he listened to the Greek people talk about their economic woes and even noted that his observations about the state of the global economy were “very much influenced” by his Mediterranean sojourn.

“I visited Greece in June I talked to people about what they were faced with in Greece. And I listened to them and I tried to understand they face a crisis of enormous proportions,” Gingrich said. “The Greeks can’t pay off their loans at half the value. This is an enormous collapse of their quality of life in this category.”

[BarnacleCenturion]

[South40]

He was only getting $25,000 a month from Freddie Mac. How could he afford a vacation? /s

[Lou Budvis]

Last time I checked it was not against the law to go on an expensive vacation.

[MNJohnnie]

Gingrich embraces Washington “insider” label (Video)

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7388533n ^ | 11-17-11 | CBS news

Stick a fork in Newt he is done.

No way he wins now.

All the 0 campaign will have to do if Newt is our nominee is run this clip in the swing states the last week in Oct 2012.

[D-fendr]

Newt’s turn with the Smear Machine.

When does Mitt get his turn? Obama?

[annieokie]

Nope it isn’t, wish I could.

[Menehune56]

Did he mention he was with Calista?

[Gator113]

LOL.... My wife agrees with you.

[fightinJAG]

But if you've ever spent time chatting with the locals on an expensive vacation, don't you think this spin sounds a little over-the-top?

Gingrich, whose luxury Greek vacation in June led to the mass resignations of several members of his campaign staff, now says he used the overseas trip to talk with Europeans about the banking crisis there. The former House Speaker told a crowd in West Des Moines on Monday, that he listened to the Greek people talk about their economic woes and even noted that his observations about the state of the global economy were “very much influenced” by his Mediterranean sojourn.

Good grief, how in the world could talking with the towel lady "very much influence" one's understanding of the global economy?

FACEPALM.

I have no problem with Newt taking a vacation and the consequences for taking a vacation, if any. But this kind of phoney spin is just insulting.

[onedoug]

Evidently, his campaign staff saw it differently. And would we really choose one liar over another?

[fightinJAG]

Last time I checked it was not against the law to go on an expensive vacation.

BTW, no one said it was. So what's the point of your point?

[who_would_fardels_bear]

We have crappy candidates. Ideological purists, like conservatives on FR and liberals on Daily KOS, will always have to choose among crappy candidates.

Either we have to choose squishy moderates with lots of experience, or ideologically pure candidates with little or no experience.

Ideologically pure candidates can't become (and stay) governor for long unless they moderate their views and actions. The best we can expect are senators from safe states, or congresscritters for safe districts. They may have lots of experience giving speeches and passing bills, but precious little executive experience.

So one by one the ideological purists are being knocked off because they can't handle the pressure. What remains are the squishy moderates who are able to fend off the blows because of their considerable experience achieved in part because they knew when to moderate their views.

Perry is the only exception. He has moderated his views considerably, so he should be riding high. However, he has proved to be a suprisingly inept candidate who shoots his foot on a daily basis. It's a wonder he isn't also in favor of gun control!

[ontap]

It’s pretty obvious you did not listen to it.....he comes off relly good!!

[Gator113]

“Stick a fork in Newt he is done.”

“No way he wins now.”

Agreed, it looks horrible for Newt. Hey, how’s that Cain guy doing?

---

Rasmussen Poll from Iowa Nov 15

2012 GOP Nominee Preference

32% Newt

19% Romney

13% Cain

700 likely IA GOP caucus-goers

[ontap]

They may be crappy but anyone of them is infinitely better than the present occupant of the Whitehouse.

[Gator113]

I agree and I’ve been laughing at his posts all morning, again, again and again. LOL

[stormer]

Next is so incredibly full of it, it defies credulity that anyone with a modicum of intelligence could not see him for what he is...

[ontap]

His campaign staff went to Rick Perry...how’d that work out for him or them!!!

[ontap]

I agree NEXT has a lot of people working for him so dumb they probably don’t read what they post!!

[montag813]

Gingrich, whose luxury Greek vacation in June led to the mass resignations of several members of his campaign staff, now says he used the overseas trip to talk with Europeans about the banking crisis there

Who on Earth believes this? I guess the same dopes who believe that he served as the Freddie Mac House "historian", and was paid the highest salary in history for such a position. When all the wheels come off this Newt booklet, it will be very ugly, and Romney will be very pleased.