Again, a New Front-Runner for America’s Republicans
Published in Neue Zürcher Zeitung
(Switzerland) on 27 November 2011
by Peter Winkler (link to original)
Former Speaker Gingrich’s surprising high flight
Newt Gingrich, a dinosaur of American policy, has surprisingly swung himself to the top of the list of Republican presidential hopefuls for next presidential election. The question is: How long will he be flying high?
Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and a conservative opponent of President Clinton for many years, has swung to a surprising high in Republican polls in his candidacy for the presidential elections of the United States.
However, the edgy dinosaur of the Washington political establishment has been his own worst enemy, often damaging his own reputation, as in the first TV debate in his new role. In addition, Gingrich is dragging along some pretty bulky baggage from his past, with many commentators asking just how long the high flight of this controversial, sharp-tongued, bullying politician, who is often perceived as arrogant, will last.
The latest “anti-Romney”
The media is already describing Gingrich as the newest ”anti-Romney.” The Republican base seems to be testing him as an alternative to the former governor of Massachusetts, who appeared to be too slippery smooth for many conservatives.
Before Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and Herman Cain were already in the same boat. Their numbers in the polls fell as quickly as they rose. They had to go through the bitter experience of being the front-runner, whose words and histories are being watched much more closely than those of other candidates. Gingrich, after his Nov. 25 performance, experienced much the same thing.
In the debate about homeland security, which was organized by CNN and the conservative think tanks, the Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute, Gingrich pleaded for amnesty for those illegal immigrants who came a long time ago, started families and have integrated themselves into society. The Republican Party, as the party for family values, would certainly not be swayed to destroy families, he assumed. Gingrich called his suggestion humane; his rivals immediately spoke against it, calling it a “magnet for illegal immigrants” and “back door amnesty.” For many conservatives, these are the two brightest red flags in regards to immigration policy.
It’s still too early to determine the effect on voters’ favor. It was noticeable how badly Gingrich’s comments were received by the Republican base in Iowa, where the first primary elections will take place on January 3. Aside from that, Gingrich is not exactly without guile. Religious conservatives could be opposed to the fact that he is on his third marriage. His present spouse was his mistress at the time that he was up in arms against Clinton’s extra-marital escapades. Gingrich had to resign from his post as speaker after getting penalized with a record-high fine for unethical behavior in a business transaction of expense claims.
More damaging, although a more recent development, is that his consulting firm was receiving a monthly honorary sum of roughly $30,000 from mortgage giant Freddie Mac until September 2008, which obviously came for political lobbying. Freddie Mac, along with affiliated company Fannie Mae, had to be put under state control during the mortgage crisis and now belongs among the favorite targets of Republican critics of the Obama administration’s crisis management.
Miraculous recovery
“The Newt,” as Gingrich is often called, put a damper on his newly announced candidacy in May when he criticized Republican Paul Ryan’s budget proposal “right-wing social engineering,” which he said was no better than a “left-wing social engineering.” Although he apologized to Ryan, the damage was done. In June he appeared to get suffocated by his campaign bills and almost his entire election campaign staff left. Until recently, nobody thought it possible that he could ever recover from that.
Newt Gingrich, a dinosaur of American policy, has surprisingly swung himself to the top of the list of Republican presidential hopefuls for next presidential election. The question is: How long will he be flying high?
Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and a conservative opponent of President Clinton for many years, has swung to a surprising high in Republican polls in his candidacy for the presidential elections of the United States.
However, the edgy dinosaur of the Washington political establishment has been his own worst enemy, often damaging his own reputation, as in the first TV debate in his new role. In addition, Gingrich is dragging along some pretty bulky baggage from his past, with many commentators asking just how long the high flight of this controversial, sharp-tongued, bullying politician, who is often perceived as arrogant, will last.
The latest “anti-Romney”
The media is already describing Gingrich as the newest ”anti-Romney.” The Republican base seems to be testing him as an alternative to the former governor of Massachusetts, who appeared to be too slippery smooth for many conservatives.
Before Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and Herman Cain were already in the same boat. Their numbers in the polls fell as quickly as they rose. They had to go through the bitter experience of being the front-runner, whose words and histories are being watched much more closely than those of other candidates. Gingrich, after his Nov. 25 performance, experienced much the same thing.
In the debate about homeland security, which was organized by CNN and the conservative think tanks, the Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute, Gingrich pleaded for amnesty for those illegal immigrants who came a long time ago, started families and have integrated themselves into society. The Republican Party, as the party for family values, would certainly not be swayed to destroy families, he assumed. Gingrich called his suggestion humane; his rivals immediately spoke against it, calling it a “magnet for illegal immigrants” and “back door amnesty.” For many conservatives, these are the two brightest red flags in regards to immigration policy.
It’s still too early to determine the effect on voters’ favor. It was noticeable how badly Gingrich’s comments were received by the Republican base in Iowa, where the first primary elections will take place on January 3. Aside from that, Gingrich is not exactly without guile. Religious conservatives could be opposed to the fact that he is on his third marriage. His present spouse was his mistress at the time that he was up in arms against Clinton’s extra-marital escapades. Gingrich had to resign from his post as speaker after getting penalized with a record-high fine for unethical behavior in a business transaction of expense claims.
More damaging, although a more recent development, is that his consulting firm was receiving a monthly honorary sum of roughly $30,000 from mortgage giant Freddie Mac until September 2008, which obviously came for political lobbying. Freddie Mac, along with affiliated company Fannie Mae, had to be put under state control during the mortgage crisis and now belongs among the favorite targets of Republican critics of the Obama administration’s crisis management.
Miraculous recovery
“The Newt,” as Gingrich is often called, put a damper on his newly announced candidacy in May when he criticized Republican Paul Ryan’s budget proposal “right-wing social engineering,” which he said was no better than a “left-wing social engineering.” Although he apologized to Ryan, the damage was done. In June he appeared to get suffocated by his campaign bills and almost his entire election campaign staff left. Until recently, nobody thought it possible that he could ever recover from that.