By Douglas V. Gibbs
Rush Limbaugh won't endorse a candidate, speaks favorably of them when they articulate conservatism, and talks about their failings when those faults murk their way to the surface. He is careful to only report as objectively as he can, though he will say things like, "I think Santorum would fight for conservative values."
Nonetheless, callers will still call him to defend their favorite candidates against him, telling Rush he's speaking too favorably of Newt, or Santorum, and one today even accused him of speaking favorably about socialist Romney (though aside from defending Romney's capitalism he has done nothing of the sort).
Today, Rush Limbaugh recognized that there is a coordinated attack going on that is obviously designed to take Newt out before the Florida primary. Rush indicated he didn't know really where this attack was coming from, but it seems to me to be a combined effort by the liberal media and establishment republicans.
Limbaugh was also questioning some sound bites of Newt from 1988 when he seemed to be saying that the era of Reagan was over, and if Bush 41 wanted to get elected he would not run on Reagan's policies. Rush said he didn't remember anything of the sort back then.
Has Newt Gingrich acted less than conservative in the past?
Absolutely, but perhaps not in that case.
Blogger, Dan Riehl, says the comments by Newt Gingrich in 1988 is taken out of context, and one must listen to the whole thing to understand what he was saying.
As expected, the callers that hold Gingrich's banner began to call in, but I thought two of the arguments by the callers deserves consideration.
One caller said that Washington hates Newt, and Washington is the problem. . . which makes Newt even more appealing!
The other said that Newt's association with the establishment decades ago makes sense. To become Speaker, or have any chance of any advancement in the party, he had to play along with the establishment. He had to play their game to get on the inside, and inject conservatism into the Republican Party again. But, they got rid of him in 1998 once they realized they had been duped. Notice it is mainly party hacks that are attacking Newt's conservatism.
As I have said before, Newt has a history of putting party before principles, so I often question his conservatism. However, he has stated that in his past he has made a number of mistakes in both his political and personal life, and he has put it all in the Lord's Hands. He has changed, and grown from his mistakes, he has told us. If we can take him at his word, then he's a good candidate. If he's lying, we are being duped.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
The thing is, Newt is articulating conservatism quite well right now, and if he continues to do so, he may very well win the nomination, and the general election. But, Gingrich can be unpredictable, and say some wild and crazy things that makes you scratch your head (Lunar colonies, anyone?). We will have to wait and see how this all shakes out.
But amid all of this finger pointing at Gingrich, and even the other candidates, let me remind you that a raging Marxist is in the White House, and if he gets re-elected, there is no telling what the lame duck president would do. Without worrying about re-election, he may finish his task of destroying the Constitution, capitalism, and this country as founded.
Quarreling over the GOP candidates like this, as Obama destroys the country, is like yelling at the dog for pooping on the carpet as the house burns down.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Coordinated Avalanche Against Newt Doesn't Match My Memory of Reagan Years - Rush Limbaugh
Video of Newt Bashing Reagan is Bogus - Riehl World View
Newt's Supporters Aren't Swayed - Rush Limbaugh
Voters See Gingrich Fighting for an Ideal and Romney Fighting to Get Elected - Rush Limbaugh
Caller Accuses Host of Backing "Socialist" Romney - Rush Limbaugh
To the Moon, Callista! Newt Gingrich Promises Lunar Colony by 2020 - The Atlantic
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