During the Clinton presidency, Gingrich put forward his “Contract on America.” It was a laundry list of things desired by financial “conservatives” and demanded by social (read religious) “conservatives. The plan was another of the GOP’s assaults on the middle and working class. It was an opening for evangelicals who wanted and still want to gut those portions of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, which prevent a Christian theocratic takeover of our government at all levels.
It was Gingrich who shut down our government when he was displeased about seating assignments on an Air Force One flight. That’s unacceptable behavior in an elected official who is supposed to defend and protect the nation, not plunge it into a shutdown.
It was an ethical complaint that removed Gingrich from his Speaker role. In all honesty, the anti-Gingrich folks could have chosen from a long list of indiscretions and actions that demonstrate his lack of concern for personal ethics. I have no need to cite his numerous marriages, poorly timed divorce announcements, and post-House behaviors.
What has not changed and will not change from the Gingrich of the Clinton era to the current slime generator is his undeserved high opinion of his own merit and worth. He is still the same petulant demagogue who saw nothing wrong in forcing a governmental shutdown because he felt insulted.
I can’t think of any reason to put him into a POTUS candidacy position. If he feels insulted by China, Russia, Afghanistan, or Iran, will he mimic Bush II and start another unfunded war, just because he can? There are enough teavangelists who would otherwise find him too moderate who will back him if he starts serious saber rattling. We can’t afford another term of teavangelist idiocy or Gingrich following the GOP southern strategy. This time we need to shut Newt down, for good.
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