Gingrich Threatens to Skip Debates if Audiences Can’t Participate [another NY Slimes lie]

NYT ^ | Tuesday January 24, 2012 | Gingrich Threatens to Skip Debates if Audiences Can’t Participate

[Bigtigermike]

Newt Gingrich insists his fans will not be silenced.

Mr. Gingrich, a former House speaker, on Tuesday morning threatened not participate in any future debates with audiences that have been instructed to be silent. That was the case on Monday, when Brian Williams of NBC News asked the audience of about 500 people who assembled for a debate in Tampa to hold their applause until the commercial breaks.

In an interview with the morning show “Fox and Friends,” Mr. Gingrich said NBC’s rules amounted to stifling free speech. In what has become a standard line of attack for his anti-establishment campaign, Mr. Gingrich blamed the media for trying to silence a dissenting point of view.

[swampfox101]

“I’ve got no interest in winners being chosen by applause meter.”

I have no interest in winners being chosen by a “boring” news anchor asking third grade questions.....Boring!!!!!.

What a bunch of snobs you elitest are.......!!!!

[onyx]

We never know who donates and who doesn't, unless the donors wish to be recognized on the monthly donors lists or on the donor lists here.

I know for a fact napscoordinator is one of our very generous donors.

It's always best to keep in mind, that we never know the screen names of our members who donate large sums. During our 4th Quarter FReepathon, four [4] members donated $1000, and each one did it anonymously.

I have to say, that a lot of our members still use snail mail, so they're completely anonymous, too, and even the members donating by credit card, are only identitfied by their states, not their screen names.

Let me also add, that out of our Sixty-Three [63] New Monthly Donors thus far during this FReepathon, only three or four have asked to be listed on the $1-A-Day or Monthly Donor Lists, so they're anonymous Monthly Donors, too, unless you see their screen names in the link above.

On behalf of Jim and all FReeper Donors, thanks very much to everyone who donates. It takes every member and regular user to Keep FR's Lights On!!

Please try to get along. You're all good people.

[onyx]

We never know who donates and who doesn't, unless the donors wish to be recognized on the monthly donors lists or on the donor lists here.

I know for a fact napscoordinator is one of our very generous donors.

It's always best to keep in mind, that we never know the screen names of our members who donate large sums. During our 4th Quarter FReepathon, four [4] members donated $1000, and each one did it anonymously.

I have to say, that a lot of our members still use snail mail, so they're completely anonymous, too, and even the members donating by credit card, are only identitfied by their states, not their screen names.

Let me also add, that out of our Sixty-Three [63] New Monthly Donors thus far during this FReepathon, only three or four have asked to be listed on the $1-A-Day or Monthly Donor Lists, so they're anonymous Monthly Donors, too, unless you see their screen names in the link above.

On behalf of Jim and all FReeper Donors, thanks very much to everyone who donates. It takes every member and regular user to Keep FR's Lights On!!

Please try to get along. You're all good people.

[onyx]

Sorry about the double posting!!!!

I previewed the thing and heck if I thought it would post twice!!!!

[caww]

Debates are a great setting for cheering points a candidate makes when it speaks for what Ameericans desire to have stated. Newt’s media comments have been a long time comming which is why it brought the house down. The public is simply fed up to the ears with media pundits....and the press.

Since Newt is quite aware the media is a good part of the problem I have no issue with any candidate taking them on...and would gladly “clap”. Most would.

[Windflier]

Thanks, MK.

It appears to me that most of the folks commenting here, have recognized the fundamental aspects of the argument; that is, it’s absolutely tyrannical for the media to hold the people’s public debate hostage to their own nefarious agenda.

By the way, your comparisons to the North Koreans controlling their people’s public responses, was particularly appropriate. NBC did the exact same thing last night, by not allowing applause or responses from the audience.

The left can’t win, if they can’t control every aspect of the process in one way or another. In my opinion, we saw a perfect display of that very thing last night. Newt is totally right to condemn that, and to argue for allowing free expression on the part of the public.

[onyx]

I met him in Tampa after that September 12 debate and I liked him in the debates. Sarah didn’t run and I was wanting to like Governor Perry, whom I also met that night. I liked Bachmann, too. I liked them all, but I just knew that Newt Gingrich was far above the others.

[reasonisfaith]

Newt’s connection with the people is his strength. Of course NBC would try to stifle the audience.

[Lakeshark]

In the middle of the debate I turned to the lovely lady of the house and asked if this wasn't the most boring, pasty, dull debate of the lot.

She nodded affirmatively as if I just woke her up. All I remember thinking was if the audience had been allowed to be vocal, there would have been a lot of booing for both the questions and for Romney.

[cripplecreek]

So watch wrestlemainia.

[onyx]

I couldn’t tell you what was said last night!

I tuned out.

[presently no screen name]

pardon me if I don't hold my breath for that

Please don't - although some would be happy to 'gag' conservatives. And if you don't agree to be gagged - they spew lies about you just like their romney does. Thanks for being on the side of free speech and conservatism!

[Vendome]

Seriously?

You had your head in the sand on every issue where Mitt is identical to Obama:

Crap for job creation. Check.

Free for all Abortion “rights”. Check.

Gun Grabbing. Check.

Fascist dicta and dictate for healthcare and compulsion to buy a product. Check.

So your opus is to stick your head up your derriere and call us out for??????

[Lakeshark]

Smart gurl. I switched to a great hockey game......

[mkjessup]

We have occasionally clashed in the past, but that’s going to happen anytime that different opinions are tossed into the mighty FR Mixmaster, on this however?

We agree 100 percent. :)

[ConfidentConservative]

I will try one more time and then if you can’t see the difference fine.

the focus is on the people of the united states in a debate for president, what THEY want.

In court the focus is on the defendant.

In a court you have chosen people or the judge listening to EVIDENCE.

The audience is not involved at all and shouldn’t be.
(and you know that.)

[Windflier]

if Gingrich was going to pull a Reagan he would have raised hell last night right on the stage like Reagan did at the time... THAT was what made it special not waiting a day later and then threatening to not show up in the next debate unless he got his way..

So Gingrich is being candid about the situation. I don't know why you've got a problem with that. He recognized that NBC stifled the entire event with their stultifying rules, which did a dis-service to everyone in the country. He's now vowed to not let it happen again.

Apparently, you're also still buying the NY Times lie that he's refusing to show up to any more debates unless the rules are changed. That's not what he said.

[onyx]

LOL. Good on you. I just merely lost interest.
Can’t stand Romney. Too much attention going to him.

[Road Glide]

“I hope everyone here is comfortable in some of the stuff they are espousing. We have always championed we are the philosophy of values and taking the emotion out of issues.”

I disagree.

We have reached that point where the most polite civil discourse will no longer suffice.

Embracing a philosophy and a certain set of “values” can not, can never discount the power of emotions that underpin and nourish such values.

The “political Civil Cold War” that we are now in to regain control of the country is as “emotional” an issue as one could ever hope to find.

And you don’t win wars without stomping, cheering, and some booing along with it.

[firebrand]

This business of silencing the audience is the latest demonic trick of the Left.

There were times when your brain was screaming “So where’s the applause?!!” Several times last night there was a silence like that clunk sound your computer makes when you hit the wrong thing. It was unnatural.

Notice how slanted the Times piece was. Gives you a kind of warm, toasty feeling that the gray lady of left-wing vitriol is still in top form in her dotage.