Newt Did Not Resign in Disgrace

Weekly Standard ^ | February 03, 2012

[Steelfish]

Newt Did Not Resign in Disgrace FEB 3, 2012 • BY MARK SOUDER

Newt Gingrich was hardly a perfect speaker of the House, but he did not resign in “disgrace” as has been repeatedly claimed by Mitt Romney. I say this as a former member of Congress who was part of both the “coup attempt” against him and the subsequent successful effort to remove him as speaker after the 1998 election.

There is a distinct difference between removing someone from a position because of ineffective management, as, say, Bain Capital regularly does, and resigning in “disgrace.”

The word “disgrace” implies a moral failing. I know this better than most because I failed not legally, electorally, or in doing my job: I failed at a personal moral level, so I resigned. I am thankful for God’s limitless grace. Newt was not a candidate for sainthood, but he wasn't removed because of the ethics report. Rather, his leadership had become indecisive and confused, his anger flared too often, and operationally we House Republicans could no longer function.

The proof is that we first sought Bob Livingston as his replacement, and then Dennis Hastert. They were not especially known as idea men or even electoral leaders of our party, but as skilled at management.

[srmorton]

Great article! Thanks for posting it. This is one of the things that REALLY bothers me about Romney. He knows this claim of his is not true - and can be shown by the evidence to be untrue - yet he keeps putting it out there. I am also disgusted with the establishment Republicans who know the truth but are letting Romney getting away with it!

[berdie]

“we House Republicans could no longer function.”

Dang...the more things change, the more they remain the same.

[CharlesWayneCT]

This is the best explanation I’ve seen so far as to why the word “disgrace” should not be applied to the resignation.

I agree with Souder.

[Rashputin]

"Rather, his leadership had become indecisive and confused, his anger flared too often, and operationally we House Republicans could no longer function. "

Actually, the Vichy Republicans were dragging their feet and doing everything they could to obstruct the functioning of the House and to undermine Newt.

They were ticked off that they had a democrat fascist President who badly wanted to return top business as usual and was willing to pass out huge chunks of graft in return for Vichy cooperation. Instead, Newt was insisting on a Balanced Budge, paying down the debt, and other things that flew in the face of what the Vichy had been enjoying for decades as the minority party.

[berdie]

That is how I remember it, as well.

[Earthdweller]

Newt knows where all the bodies are buried from the long progressive republican era.

[mosesdapoet]

Thanks for that post...I have no respect for Romney at all because of this or any supporter of his who knew this was done but ignores it. And the guy can’t even call Obama for what he is ...a socialist .....let alone what he really is.. a fascist

[trebb]

Great article! Thanks for posting it. This is one of the things that REALLY bothers me about Romney. He knows this claim of his is not true - and can be shown by the evidence to be untrue - yet he keeps putting it out there. I am also disgusted with the establishment Republicans who know the truth but are letting Romney getting away with it!

And he would use the same sorts of lies to justify screwing us if he became President...

[sodpoodle]

****The proof is that we first sought Bob Livingston as his replacement, and then Dennis Hastert. They were not especially known as idea men or even electoral leaders of our party, but as skilled at management.****

Lazy losers. Once the socialist Dems institute their programs; the lazy GOP are too fearful and lazy to attempt repeal or push back. They just want to ‘manage’.

Now I know what motivates Newt - he has seen the enemy in both Parties and is compelled to reverse the rot.

[joe fonebone]

"we House Republicans could no longer function"
and this is different from any other day...... how???

[Cboldt]

-- Lazy losers. Once the socialist Dems institute their programs; the lazy GOP are too fearful and lazy to attempt repeal or push back. --

Newt's political ambitions are too big. I don't mean that in the sense of his personal ambitions, rather, his political vision, dream, or goal for the country. He was "convicted" by his own party (the vote to sanction Gingrich was 380 something), for attempting to set in motion, this "political" movement:

January 21, 1997 Congressional Record

Mr. CARDIN (of Maryland): [Gingrich] had a vision to launch a political movement to change the country, in his words, from a welfare state to an opportunity society. ...

When GOPAC ran short of funds, Mr. Gingrich sought contributions from several tax exempt entities in order to continue his partisan political crusade.

. . .

Looking toward the 21st Century, Respondent developed an approach which he referred to as the `five pillars' of renewing American civilization: (1) quality; (2) technological advancement; (3) entrepreneurial free enterprise; (4) principles of American civilization; and (5) psychological strength. Based on these principles, Respondent sought to initiate a movement to replace the welfare state and renew American civilization to occur at every level of American society. Renewal would require the accomplishment of various goals including the education of the general population and creation of a majority of citizens committed to reform, thereby spawning activism; education of business leaders; and education of the media as to the ideals and concepts of renewal. In effect, Respondent sought to create a national dialogue for reform and a methodology by which citizen activists could accomplish the stated goals of the movement.

To those in political power (and that includes many outside of elected office), this sort of sea change cannot be allowed to take place.

[sheikdetailfeather]

At 26:00 in the audio Mark Levin explains how dishonest the Romney attack ad against Gingrich is and how moderate Molinari and Jim Talent were cowards and did not support Newt against the bogus Democrat attacks. At 33:00 Mark tells Talent “You removed him as Speaker because you were cowards. Because the Democrats decided to take him down..”:

http://rope.zmle.fimc.net/player/player.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpodloc%2Eandomedia%2Ecom%2FdloadTrack%2Emp3%3Fprm%3D2069xhttp%3A%2F%2Fpodfuse%2Ddl%2Eandomedia%2Ecom%2F800185%2Fpodfuse%2Dorigin%2Eandomedia%2Ecom%2Fcitadel%5Forigin%2Fpods%2Fmarklevin%2FLevin01182012%2Emp3

[johncatl]

The original "Contract With America" called for term limits.

This started the "anti-Newt" movement in Congress of which Delay was the leader

It doesn't take much for the Republicans to form a circular firing squad.

Now you know why they have earned the monicker the "Stupid" party

[JohnD9207]

Rather, his leadership had become indecisive and confused, his anger flared too often, and operationally we House Republicans could no longer function.

Yep just what this Country needs to lead us out of our current problems.

[TBP]

But the media wants you to believe he did because they’re partisan propagandist hacks.