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Does Newt Gingrich’s S.C. win show we’re looking for a mean leader? (New meme to attack him?)
The Washington Post's On Leadership ^ | January 22, 2012 | Jena McGregor

Posted on 01/22/2012 1:19:19 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Of all the qualities people look for in their leaders, here’s one you don’t hear very often: Mean. Filled with integrity? Yes. Visionary? Certainly. Magnanimous? Sure. But mean? Not one that comes up that frequently.

This, of course, was the response one voter gave to Post reporters for why he voted for Newt Gingrich in Saturday’s primary in South Carolina, which the former speaker won by 12 points, thereby upending the Republican race. “I think we’ve reached a point where we need someone who’s mean,” an 85-year-old Harold Wade said in Sullivan’s Island, S.C.

Others weren’t so candid, but said they were “looking for a good fight” or wanted someone who could “handle” Obama. And two-thirds of voters in surveys at South Carolina polling stations said the debates, in which the former Speaker tore into moderators, launched into sharp exchanges with his opponents and taunted Romney for not releasing his tax returns, played an important role in their decision.

Yes, the man who said he was “committed to running a positive” campaign but changed his tune following his loss in Iowa is now more known for his pugnacious debate style and his willingness to go negative than any semblance of a positive campaign. Since Iowa, he has lashed into his competitors, the media and President Obama with a swaggering zeal.

This about-face doesn’t appear to bother many voters of South Carolina. Nor, it seems, does Gingrich’s efforts to run a campaign that trumpets fear. In Thursday’s debate, Gingrich called President Obama “the most dangerous president of our lifetime, and if he is reelected, after the disaster he has been, the level of radicalism of his second term will be truly frightening.” He repeated a similar phrase in his victory speech Saturday night....

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: South Carolina; Campaign News; Issues; Parties
KEYWORDS: gingrich; newt; obama; palin
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Maybe we're tired of neutered Poodles and looking for a


21 posted on 01/22/2012 1:38:58 PM PST by Salamander (as a razor and as hard as a stone.)
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To: Vigilanteman
The media is becoming totally confused. Obama has got to be cringing at the thought of running against Newt. Obama hasn't any idea how hard "Newt the mean" will hit or where.

I notice that everyone has been keeping away from foreign affairs.

22 posted on 01/22/2012 1:40:27 PM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

They call it “pugnacious” but I think Gingrich has a very good sense of humor. His barbs are very witty.

And if you’ll notice, when he deals with people one on one, even opponents, he is very gracious.

Truman said something to the effect that “I don’t ‘give’em hell’, I just tell the truth and they think its hell”. Or words to the effect.

Thats Gingrich. He just tells the truth and they think he’s “angry” when really, he’s having the time of his life. He loves this stuff.


23 posted on 01/22/2012 1:41:05 PM PST by marron
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Anyone notice how Gingrich engages with his opponents when they approach him in person? Very respectful.

Anyone remember the Kerry rally where the guy asking questions got tazed? Somehow, that seems meaner. When Gingrich gets a hostile questioner, he engages and gives the guy a serious and respectful answer (smarmy journalists excepted). When Kerry gets a question he doesn’t like, someone gets zapped and carried out by the cops.


24 posted on 01/22/2012 1:47:05 PM PST by marron
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The only ones that will see Newt as mean because he verbally beat up on a hack “journalist” are left wing, hand wringing, America hating liberals. So who cares?


25 posted on 01/22/2012 1:47:37 PM PST by albie
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Does Newt Gingrich’s S.C. win show we’re looking for a mean leader?

In a word, YES!

The Taliban.
The koranimals.
The world socialists.
The radical left.
The Soros world octopus.
The "Democratic" Party.
The public employee unions.
The DNC.
The Communist MSM.

They all know they have been able to infest the body politic and the foundation of the country, under the gift of "a kinder and gentler" GOP. Dubya bought into the fiction and failed to veto the "spend like a drunk sailor" legislature.

That list of enemy can only understand mean. They rely on the siren song of "nice" for the opposition. It is their greatest preven political weapon --- when consistently applied to the opposition.

26 posted on 01/22/2012 1:50:06 PM PST by Publius6961 (My world was lovely, until it was taken over by parasites.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

newtgingrich Newt Gingrich
We passed 1 million in less than 24 hours! Let’s go for 2 million. Donate today for the Knockout Punch in Florida. bit.ly/xvEvEc
2 minutes ago


27 posted on 01/22/2012 1:51:43 PM PST by Berlin_Freeper (NEWT GINGRICH 2012)
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To: Sacajaweau

ObaMao and his handlers will do everything necessary to stack the debates, shape the debates and, failing that, avoid or minimize the debates.


28 posted on 01/22/2012 1:51:43 PM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Photobucket
29 posted on 01/22/2012 1:57:31 PM PST by Huskrrrr
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To: 2ndDivisionVet


Wait a Minute! This guy was the firstest meanest!

He should run for President!

30 posted on 01/22/2012 1:59:21 PM PST by bunkerhill7 (mean?? Who knew?)
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To: FrankR

What you said!


31 posted on 01/22/2012 1:59:28 PM PST by shove_it (just undo it)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Negative ads may have led to Gingrich's results in Iowa, but his articulation of ideas seems to have been penetrating through the mass GOP and establishment media (both left and right) promotion of Romney since then.

Last night and today, Romney tries accusing Gingrich of criticizing "free enterprise," which is, on its face, false. Gingrich well understands and promotes the Founders' belief in "freedom of individual enterprise" as being the economic dimension of liberty. Next debate, watch for that Romney accusation to crumble under the clear historical definition Newt will provide.

Romney's weaknesses, now that the Republican Establishment and their media spokesmen lost control of the message, are apparent. To say that they are revealed in his mishandling of the "tax return" and "explaining of Bain" is simply not adequate.

Even now, as evident from Brit Hume's "analysis" last night, Romney's supporters wrongly conclude that the overwhelming defeat in SC was due to two or three zingers in "debates" by Gingrich and these surface tax and Bain issues. Such shallow analysis underestimates the wisdom and intelligence of SC voters. The "people" are way beyond that, and they are exhibiting a "spirit of liberty" (Burke's view of the colonists) perhaps unheard of since 1776, because their sense of urgency demands it.

Romney's weakness for the November task cannot be remedied by handlers or coaches. The strength needed for winning the battle of ideas for what he calls "the soul of America" must come from a deep and abiding understanding of the ideas of liberty, as well as an understanding of the poisonous well of ideas from which the opponents of those ideas have drawn.

Without such an understanding, the skill of the well-trained representative of the counterfeit ideas (Obama) may fool "the People" into continuing to surrender their liberty in exchange for the proverbial "pot of porridge."

Romney, as Krauthammer observed last week, has shown no such ability to explain the ideas of what is commonly referred to as "conservatism."

Gingrich has, and it has resonated with "the People" (as in, "We, the People").

32 posted on 01/22/2012 2:00:40 PM PST by loveliberty2
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’m telling you, they have totally flipped out with Newt’s win. In their minds, this wasn’t supposed to happen and we nasty knuckle draggers somehow outsmarted them.

I am completely stunned by the level of hatred and anger that is surging out of them (”them” meaning both the liberals and the RINOs, such as Anne Coulter). They’ve called Gingrich every name in the book...and he’s only won one primary out of three. I hope the Secret Service is keeping an eye on him down here in Florida.


33 posted on 01/22/2012 2:00:53 PM PST by livius
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
It is just amazing how Obama supporters think that Newt's tongue lashing at media bobble heads is "mean." Those poor babies must have very short memories.

Remember: "Let me eat my waffles?" And the several times Obama left them waiting while he disappeared? Oh, but his fans think that he was so justified in treating the press that way...they admired his "spunk." But when a Republican calls out the media for their actions...he is considered "mean." It is sickening.

34 posted on 01/22/2012 2:04:16 PM PST by CitizenM (Obama's legacy will be to be remembered as The architect of the decline of the USA)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I wouldn’t exactly call Obama a nice guy...


35 posted on 01/22/2012 2:05:15 PM PST by BobL ("Heartless" and "Inhumane" FReepers for Cain - we've HAD ENOUGH)
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To: albie

Hard to imagine how Romney, Santorum, Paul or any other candidate would have responded to such a disgusting line of questioning as that of Juan Williams and John King.

I do not recall Kerry being asked how he liked living off of John Heinz inheritance, or Clinto being asked about sexual assault accusations, or Edwards being asked if he was currently diddling the help, or Obama being asked if he knew Larry Sinclair.


36 posted on 01/22/2012 2:12:51 PM PST by sodpoodle ( Newt - God has tested him for a reason..)
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To: dr_lew
I wonder if it wasn’t partly voter push-back on the Marianne interview.

You might have explained that the "marianne" interview is from a bitter, vindictive, neurotic ex-wife.

37 posted on 01/22/2012 2:14:01 PM PST by Publius6961 (My world was lovely, until it was taken over by parasites.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The ‘lamestream’ media sure can dish it out but can’t take it.
What incredible arrogance and hypocrisy!!


38 posted on 01/22/2012 2:22:22 PM PST by citizencon
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I thought the Washington Post was all about Speaking Truth to Power. Now they want a Presidential challenger to ignore the truth and be “nice”?


39 posted on 01/22/2012 2:33:15 PM PST by oblomov
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To: livius

He doesn’t have Secret Service protection, as far as I know. He should get some good private persoanl protection officers (”bodyguards”) like these guys:

http://www.reynoldsprotection.com/Executives.html


40 posted on 01/22/2012 2:38:36 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (You can't invade the US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.~Admiral Yamamoto)
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